Six Strategies to Get the Salary Boost You Deserve

The Six Strategies to Get the Salary Boost You Deserve

How much are you really worth? Probably more than you’re earning now. Here are six easy tricks, backed by science, to help you put more money in your pay.

Ask the Boss for a Million

When asked what kind of salary you’re looking for, say “A million would be nice.”

In a University of Idaho study, people who jokingly asked for a million dollars ended up with 9 percent more cash than those who made realistic requests. Why? The figure you throw out, even if it’s absurd, serves as a psychological starting point for counteroffers, says study author Todd Thorsteinson, Ph.D.

Don’t Accept the First Offer

“An employer does not want to start the search process all over simply because you ask to negotiate,” says Crystal Harold, Ph.D., of Temple University’s Fox School of Business.

Harold’s research reveals that people who counter an initial offer earn an extra five grand, on average. Check sites like salary.com to find what your experience is worth, and mention that number during negotiations.

Be the Glove, Not the Punching Bag

Be too agreeable and you can get screwed. A study from Cornell reveals that people who are competitive, aggressive, and even arrogant earn 18 percent more annually than their “nice guy” colleagues.

They’re also more likely to land management posts. No, you don’t have to act like a git. Just stick up for your ideas and self-promote, suggests researcher Beth Livingston, Ph.D.

Stop Ditching Your Workouts

Think of that gym membership as an investment, not just an expense. People who grind through three or more workouts a week — whether they’re overweight or not — earn 10 percent more than those who never exercise, a Cleveland State University study found.

Of course, those gym sessions could also improve your attitude, energy, and even intelligence, the researchers say.

Talk to the Competition

People who jump companies are paid 18 to 20 percent more than those who climb to similar posts internally, according to Wharton School figures.

Not ready to move on? You can try to leverage an outside offer for a pay bump at your current job, says study author Matthew Bidwell, Ph.D.

But first do some recon: If the gambit failed for any former colleagues, you may risk an abrupt firing.

Buy a Better Razor — and Use It

A well-groomed face makes you appear more driven and professional to employers, according to University of Miami research. That’s why tidy-looking men bring home 4 to 5 percent more bacon than their Sasquatchian colleagues.

If you’re trying to camouflage a baby face with fur, at least shave your neck and use an electric trimmer to tame those wild patches.

That amounts to a 67% increase if you follow all the tips. I hope you found this information helpful. Let me know how you apply this.

Just one more thing before you go … I’d like to ask you to do one important thing for me – spread the word about this article.

That is all -

David