What preparation did you do beforehand?

I did not go to the battle empty-handed. I researched salary benchmarks in the digital marketing industry and my role (digital marketing specialist). Fortunately, I keep a tracker of all my tasks and achievements, so it was easy to document my significant contributions. I also prepared an outline and analogy of how my work had impacted the company’s growth. And to be honest, I also rehearsed different scenarios for the conversation I’d be having with my boss.

What reasons did you give for a pay rise?

With everything documented, it was easy to point to my increased responsibilities, successful projects and the direct value I brought to the company, particularly in expanding our client base and improving our team’s operational efficiency.

Did you have a contingency plan if your request wasn’t met?

One of the scenarios I practised was this. And, yes, I was prepared to open the discussion about alternative forms of compensation, such as additional vacation time or a performance-based bonus structure.

Know Your Worth: “How I negotiated a 30% pay increase”