If you’ve budgeted every penny and still can’t seem to get ahead, it might be time to think about trying to make more money at work. These tried-and-true tips will help you figure out if there’s anything you can do to increase your salary:
Keep up with your job skills.
How is this related to budgeting? Studies have proven that people who undergo continuing education or seek advanced degrees and certification in their chosen fields make more money than those who simply go to work every day. Continuing education keeps you on top of the latest technology and techniques, making you more valuable to your employers, and it also opens doors for you to move on to bigger and better opportunities. Value as an employee = more money. More money makes it easier to budget and cover all of your financial needs.
Play to your strengths.
This is another case where being successful at work brings more money into your life. Don’t just find a job that ‘pays the bills’ – find a job that truly utilizes your talents and skills. Just about anyone could do ‘any old job,’ but finding a job at which you perform exceptionally well virtually guarantees you promotion opportunities. Do you have a good sense of style? You could do everything from working in retail as a clothing stylist to working as an interior designer. Regardless of your level of education, look for a job at which you’ll perform well, and advancement opportunities will come – and bring you more money. Go to work every day at a mediocre job just to ‘pay the bills,’ and you’ll never get ahead.
Find out how much you should be making.
Before you can think intelligently about your salary and how to make more money at work, you must first determine how much money you should be making. Many online resources, such as Salary.com, offer basic reports as to average salary in a field, region, etc. For more detailed (and free!) information, check out The Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov for breakdowns of salary average, high and low for people in your region. If you’re already making well above the industry standard in your area, you might not have a lot of room to negotiate for higher wages. If you’re lagging behind earnings in your region, though, you’ve got a great starting point from which to address your salary.
Track your achievements.
Keep track of your notable achievements or contributions to the company. Start a portfolio with reports, sales information, notable designs or even positive customer feedback – any way in which you stand out from the crowd and do positive things for your company. Bring this portfolio with you to your annual review so that you’ve got documentation on-hand to demonstrate how valuable you are to your company. If your raise has already been set at X dollars, try asking for a bonus, instead. If you can easily prove how valuable you are to your company, you’ll get more money than the guy who just shows up and waits to be told what he’s earning.
-Money Maven
Leave a comment