| Studies show that job satisfaction rises with | | | | |
| an employee's salary. It's a simple equation: | | | | Tell the Boss: "Have you met our supplier's |
| The more money you make, the more valued | | | | new assistant? You should grab lunch with us |
| you'll feel. | | | | today, I'll introduce you." |
| | | | |
| Money can't buy happiness, but proof that | | | | The Bottom Line: A powerful network can put |
| you're important at work can be very | | | | you in touch with different people and |
| important both in and away from the office. A | | | | skills, increasing your own value. |
| low salary could be the biggest reason why | | | | |
| you're unsatisfied at work, but there are a | | | | 5. Use Your Experience |
| number of things you can do to increase your | | | | |
| worth. | | | | In the journal Training, Jeff Barbian reports |
| | | | that workers with 13 or more years' |
| 1. Watch Your Benefits | | | | experience can expect to earn 33% more than |
| | | | their coworkers with less than three years of |
| Many employees are still reeling from the | | | | experience. If you've been with one company |
| layoff scares of the 1990s. However, some | | | | for a while, you have a powerful bargaining |
| reasons behind layoffs and low pay health | | | | chip towards a better paycheck. If you're new |
| care insurance benefits, for example, have | | | | to the company or the field, however, you can |
| since changed. According to an article in | | | | still use the experience you have to your |
| U.S. News & World Report, "since 1995, the | | | | advantage. A familiarity with machines or |
| spread of managed care, plus other | | | | computer programs at work could make you an |
| cost-containment measures, has freed up dough | | | | appealing trainer for new hires, earning you |
| that otherwise would have been consumed by | | | | more respect and an argument for a raise. |
| health care inflation." Ask your HR | | | | |
| department for the numbers on health care and | | | | Tell the Boss: "Let me give James the |
| pension plans from the past ten years. | | | | tour--I'll show him how to un-jam that |
| Sometimes, employers are willing to pass the | | | | printer that's giving you trouble." |
| savings on to their experienced employees. | | | | |
| | | | The Bottom Line: Experience can be measured |
| Tell the Boss: "Since the new insurance plan | | | | in more ways than years. |
| raised my deductible, I need a dependable way | | | | |
| to cover the difference." | | | | 6. Go Where You're Needed |
| | | | |
| The Bottom Line: If your salary hasn't | | | | A recent survey in Network World found that |
| changed since the Clinton administration, but | | | | employees often benefit from "job hopping," |
| your benefit package has, asking for a raise | | | | or quitting one job in favor of one with more |
| shouldn't put your job in jeopardy. | | | | benefits or higher pay. IT professionals |
| | | | loyal to their company made an average of |
| 2. Take On Responsibility | | | | $74,010 a year, while job hoppers averaged |
| | | | $85,200. More employees are keeping their |
| Even small tasks can make a difference in | | | | eyes on the classifieds even if they are |
| your value as an employee. If you're the only | | | | somewhat satisfied with their jobs, and |
| one in the office who can operate the | | | | enjoying the rewards for doing the same work |
| projection machine or maintain the company | | | | in a new office. |
| website, you'll be a leader among your | | | | |
| coworkers and an asset to your boss. | | | | Tell the Boss: "I want to be on board with a |
| Employers appreciate a willingness to | | | | company that values its employees, and I've |
| volunteer, and a list of your unique | | | | heard great things about your team." |
| abilities can be a benefit to you at a | | | | |
| performance evaluation. Of course, the more | | | | The Bottom Line: If you're ready to change |
| training you have in the field, the more | | | | your routine, a new job in the same field can |
| likely you'll be able to handle new tasks and | | | | be a challenge and a reward. |
| technology. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Change Your Scenery |
| Tell the Boss: "We could organize this | | | | |
| paperwork into an Excel file pretty easily. | | | | Your location can mean a big difference in |
| Do you want me to set up a template?" | | | | the money you bring home. According to |
| | | | Salary.com, human resources managers making |
| The Bottom Line: If you have the time and | | | | $77,885 in Des Moines, Iowa, might average |
| knowledge, a new task can both challenge and | | | | $80,967 in Syracuse, New York, or $83,477 in |
| benefit you. | | | | Portland, Oregon. You'll need to take things |
| | | | like relocation cost and cost of living into |
| 3. Educate Yourself | | | | account, but a change of scenery can |
| | | | revitalize your outlook on life, as well as |
| There are real financial benefits to getting | | | | your paycheck. |
| an education. In 2005, the U.S. Census | | | | |
| reported that a college degree nearly doubles | | | | Tell the Boss: "I've always heard this part |
| a worker's salary, on average. Workers over | | | | of the country was beautiful, but I had to |
| 18 in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree earn | | | | see it for myself." |
| over $23,000 a year more than workers with a | | | | |
| high school diploma, and any level of | | | | The Bottom Line: A new location is a drastic |
| education can mean a permanent raise in your | | | | change, but moving can mean more than a |
| salary. Because employers often want their | | | | better salary. |
| employees to be trained and educated, some | | | | |
| companies offer tuition assistance for | | | | 8. Bargain Smart |
| workers willing to go to school on their own | | | | |
| time. | | | | When it's time to negotiate a raise, you need |
| | | | to be prepared. Come to the table with your |
| Tell the Boss: "If you invest in me, I'll use | | | | qualifications, and anticipate your |
| my education and training to benefit the | | | | employer's concerns. In Business Week, |
| future of this company." | | | | management professor Deborah M. Kolb suggests |
| | | | coming up with rebuttals for an employer's |
| The Bottom Line: Higher education can be a | | | | likely concerns. Among them: "I realize the |
| financial commitment, but the benefits could | | | | budget is tight; it has been that way for |
| last a lifetime. | | | | some time, but we have some new hires," and |
| | | | "I know the budget is tight, let's see if we |
| 4. Shake Some Hands | | | | can work around it." In both cases, empathy, |
| | | | or taking the time to understand your |
| From multinational corporations to the row of | | | | employer's concerns, combines with your own |
| stores in a small-town block, success in | | | | plan to make the negotiation more of a |
| business is all about who you know. A recent | | | | cooperative effort. |
| article in Black Enterprise illuminates the | | | | |
| secrets of the casual network: "Lunchtime and | | | | Tell the Boss: "We both care about the future |
| coffee breaks provide an excellent | | | | at this company. I want to feel confidant |
| opportunity for informal meetings, while | | | | that I'll be here for many years to come." |
| workplace organizations such as affinity | | | | |
| groups, softball teams, and voluntary | | | | The Bottom Line: Realizing that your employer |
| committees offer more structured methods of | | | | has his or her own set of concerns can help |
| getting to know people from all walks of the | | | | you work together. |
| organization." If you want to advance in your | | | | |
| field, think of the tasks you complete at | | | | For every salary boosting strategy, |
| work as only half of your job--the other half | | | | confidence is the key. Once you realize that |
| is meeting people, expanding your circle, and | | | | you're worth a more lucrative day at work, |
| getting your name out. | | | | make sure your boss knows, too. |