Determined to increase your salary in 2007? Follow these tips from Reesa Staten, vice president of communications and director of research at recruiting firm Robert Half International and Anna Ivey, a Boston-based career and admissions counselor, to increase your salary this year:
1. Get comfortable negotiating salary raises.
"Women fall behind here, because they generally aren't as aggressive and fall farther and farther behind with their salaries. You can't be shy about asking to be paid what you're worth," Ivey said. Along these lines, she said, it's important to keep detailed documentation of your achievements.
2. Research and compare your salary.
Staten urges workers to make sure they know how much their skills are worth before they pursue a different position or a promotion. Compare your salary.
3. Become an indispensable expert.
Continue to learn about your line of work, so that you stay current with trends and developments. Your strategy might include going to industry conferences, reading industry publications or setting up regular lunch meetings with others in your field to exchange information and ideas. This is a key to increasing your salary.
4. Make yourself visible.
Network and mingle, making sure you are continually visible to others in your industry and your workplace. At work, take on difficult challenges and make sure that management is aware of your contributions.
5. Update your skills.
Consider training or certifications that could lead to a promotion. "In some companies, if you don't have a bachelor's degree, you can't advance to the next level. Some jobs require an MBA; get as much education as possible," Staten said.
