We front-end developers are a very special species.
We feel always underpaid, underrated, overworked and overstressed.
Sound familiar?
The following 4 tips will help you to get a pay rise you’ve worked so hard for and you can start implementing them straight away.
1. Keep A List Of Your Wins
Every time you complete a project on time or flawlessly handle a challenging project, write it down.
Another win could be something which contributed to your career development, maybe completing an online course or attending a seminar or conference.
Keep a list of all these small or big wins through out the year and you’ll have something in your hands for your salary negotiation.
Remember: Your wins are company wins. You grow = your company grows.
2. Give Something For Free
Ok, you might disagree with this one, but I am telling you that this is the easiest way to get what you want.
Next time your boss asks you to stay an hour late to complete a project or help him with something, just do it. Show your generosity by doing it without any fuss.
Next time your client asks for a small update or tweak, just do it and when they ask for an invoice, simply refuse with some friendly excuse.
You might lose an hour or two, or work a few hours for free, but when it comes to your annual review or you are sending a quote on the next project, this will be very handy.
You can bump the invoice up slightly or ask for a pay rise that is slightly over your dream salary.
The free gift you gave them earlier, will be returned in approved quote or salary, it will bring you more cash in the long run.
Of course don’t mention anything about the free gift when you do the negotiation, just keep it for yourself.
3. Teach Others
Another huge advantage you can gain is to start teaching others.
Working in a small team with some juniors?
Teaching them some of the techniques you are using, improving the team’s codebase, setting up and following a new standard without your boss actually telling you to do so will go a long way.
If you feel that you don’t have time for anything like that, go speak to your boss and ask for a few hours a week for this.
He would be stupid not to approve it.
By teaching others you will improve the efficiency and quality of projects. A better quality of project means a better relationship with clients, which means more projects and revenue for your company.
Remember that the more money in a company, the greater your chance of a successful pay rise.
4. Do Your Research And Come Prepared
Even if you do all of the above, you still need to do some research.
Skip this, and you’ll throw all your hard work out of the window.
One year I was working very hard and thought to myself:
It’s so obvious that I’ve had a great year, I’ll just rock up at the annual review meeting and have a few extra grands coming to my bank account next year.
Oh, how naive I was and disappointed when the pay rise wasn’t approved.
So, do your research and come prepared EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Research salaries in other companies in your city. Ask other front-end developers, look at job boards and print out a job offer with similar responsibilities to yours.
Remember your boss might also have a boss who needs to approve your salary, and by handing ‘something‘ to your boss you are making ‘his‘ life much easier.
Coming prepared to your annual review also tells a few things about you:
- you are a professional
- you care about your career and have a plan for the future
- you are keen to help the business grow
- you are ready to go the extra mile
Conclusion
By following these tips you are dramatically increasing your chance to get the pay rise you deserve.
One thing to remember though: there will always be someone else somewhere else making more money than you do!
Money is not everything, love your job and be happy. Priceless!
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