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