Career Talk with Paul Eze is a weekly series on Bellanaija bringing insights, ideas on career growth, personal improvement and work issues for graduates and career individuals in collaboration with Ngcareers.com.

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Do you feel like you have been doing a great work consistently over the past months or years and should be ripe for a pay rise? Do you believe that despite your work the management may not just give you a raise until you ask for it? Then you probably should go ahead and ask for a salary increase.

Asking your employer for a raise doesn’t guarantee you anything positive from them. There are several reasons your employer might not feel like giving you the raise you want: they don’t think you’ve done enough to deserve it; the economy is going down; cashflow is tight, and so on. So how do you effectively approach your employer for a raise and get it?

Think Like the Employer

Today, apparently no company wants to be handing out money. If you’re going to make them do it then you must understand how they think and what could move them to hand over more money to you.

An employer primarily will only reward excellent performance that plays a role in boosting company growth and revenues. They also want to be sure they are not going to give you a raise and not get even better productivity in return.

If you think like an employer before asking for a raise you will also understand the importance of data and analytics. Do you see why there is always a target to be met? By how much have you exceeded the minimum work or target expected of you? If you can have the data at your finger tips the better for your argument.

Thinking like an employer will help you base your arguments on the things that matter to the employer. No socialist thinking here! Just real data and information on what you have brought to the company since you were hired or since your last promotion plus specific information on how getting a raise will spur you to achieve more.

The premise is simple; employers don’t care about all the socialist bullshit lazy employees think. They are in business to survive and make big tons of money. Thinking like them or trying to picture their motivation and reaction will help you make a better argument.

Do You Have Leverage?

In most sectors it isn’t easy to get a raise unless you have the leverage. The leverage is anything that gives you a leg up, a bargaining power. Leverage can be in form of a job offer from another company (whether direct competitor or not), being a star employee (pulling in the best results consistently) etc.

However if you must approach the employer with the offer of a job from another company as a leverage you must be careful. Many will not see it kindly and in fact a few might see it as a dark manipulative act (you wanting to push them to give you more money out of fear of losing you). Then also you should be sure the job offer is already cast in concrete as the boss might want to test your resolve and insist you should go for the new job because they won’t or can’t give you a raise. If this happens then you must be ready to walk.

Know What is Obtainable

It doesn’t help your cause if you are going to ask your boss for a raise and you make a demand very much above the industry rate average. Unless you are a superman employee and they will do anything to keep you in the company.

And since that likely is not the case you will need to have the right information on what others in similar positions could be earning. The more moderate your demand is the higher the possibility that it would be met.

Doing the Asking

This actually is where the ball rolls to a stop for most people. Is it enough or even okay to send a letter asking for a raise? Some experts argue that simply writing a letter denies you the opportunity to make a case that could appeal to the human senses of the employer. So by all means request for a meeting from the person who could act or request for action on your request. When you have a face to face with your big boss then what?

Know Your Company’s policies

Does the company require annual performance reviews before they actually determine if you are good for a raise? Consult your employee handbook or talk to someone at HR so you have the right information before going in for a talk.

Building a Case

Prepare a list of your accomplishments in the past year. Be definite and don’t come with a long boring essay on how you have worked your ass off for the company. Simply outline data driven list of notable and very relevant stuff you have achieved so far in your work. If you have helped increase userbase or revenues state clearly what you have brought on board.

Here are some posers you could use to develop your case:

Did you complete or help to complete a tough project? And get positive results from it?
Did you work extra hours or meet an urgent deadline? Are you continuing to demonstrate this type of commitment?
Did you take initiative? In what ways?
Did you go beyond the call of duty? In what ways?
Did you save the company time or money?
Did you improve any systems or processes?
Did you support or train others? “A rising tide lifts all boats,” you can bet that most bosses will want to keep people who make others work better

continued: http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/12/23/career-talk-with-paul-eze-how-to-ask-for-a-raise-and-get-it/

Active, smart students are needed to earn money serving as campus reps for a fast growing research firm.

The campus reps will do the following functions;

- collate data on student audience as described by the research team
- promote academic services of the firm through posters and handbills
- act as awareness creators and attention grabbers for the organisation

Campus reps will easily function during their leisure period and will only communicate with their manager via phone, skype and or email.

Vibrant campus reps are needed in these following schools;

1. Abia State University, Uturu
2. Adamawa State university
3. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
4. Anambra State university
5. University of Uyo
6. Akwa ibom State University
7. University of Nigeria Nsukka
8. Enugu State University of Science and Technology
9. Benue State University
10. University of Calabar
11. Cross River State University of Science and Technology
12. Delta State university
13. Ebonyi State University
14. university of Benin
15. Ambrose Alli University
16. Gombe State university
17. Imo State university
18. University of Lagos
19. Lagos State University
20. Nasarawa State university
21. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
22. Adekunle Ajasin university
23. University of port Harcourt
24. Rivers State university of Science and Technology
25. Zamfara State university

Interested students in any of the above schools should send their name, school, level, phone number to chukswriter@yahoo.com.

NB: This part time work will only last for 2 months maximum and promises to be exciting!!

If you need faster growth up the career ladder at your organization you need to take matters a little more in your hands and do some innovative things.

1. Make Sure Your Work is Measurable

When your work has indices by which your performance can be measured it will make it easier for assessment. In your weekly summary reports you can put up data that conveys clearly the impact and level of the work you have done.

2. Keep Your Work Visible

Following on from the above advice it could make a difference if you make subtle efforts to ensure that your bosses see your work and feel its impact. You could work your ass off but when the people that matter in your organization do not know it’s as good as you do little or no work.

Create and send weekly or monthly (whichever sounds better) situation reports to your immediate and higher level bosses. The key is to make the reports look purely informational (no hyping and unnecessary over bloating of your achievements). Always send feedback to your bosses on assignments completed.

3. Work as Hard as You Can

If you are new in a place one of the surest ways to cement your value and rise up the ladder is to put in your very best from the onset. Be the first to get in the office and one of the last to leave. Your boss will certainly notice your eagerness and enthusiasm. For the career person that seeks to gain promotions there is no substitute for hard work.

4. Build the Right Connections

While it’s good to cultivate good relations with your co-workers the persons you should devote more time to build strategic relationships with are your superiors. In an ideal world promotions and elevations will be based on merit but then things are always far from ideal at the workplace. Office politics will always play a role on who gets promoted or not.

5. Apply for Internal Vacancies

When higher positions become available in your company you will need to apply and not just wait and hope to be called upon. Follow the internal application process and do the interviews diligently. Don’t be complacent and sell yourself to the people that matter.

6. Acquire New Skills

If you are seeking promotions it pays to improve your current ability and skill set. Gaining skills and knowledge that is far beyond what your current job requires sets you up for consideration when the company or organization needs someone to handle some tougher positions

7. Never be Indispensable

There is something ugly about being indispensable in your current position. When your boss thinks the organization needs you, in a particular position, as humans need air it could actually be a bad thing. You get passed by for promotions because everybody feels they can’t afford to let you off from that position. If you are so good in your current work that you fear being stuck there one thing you can do is to groom a successor.

Find someone who can learn to do your job almost, if not as well, as you can. In all try to make sure you are not stuck to a particular job because the organization deems you indispensable in that position.

source: Ngcareers Blog - Nigeria's top career development blog

If you need faster growth up the career ladder at your organization you need to take matters a little more in your hands and do some innovative things.

1. Make Sure Your Work is Measurable

When your work has indices by which your performance can be measured it will make it easier for assessment. In your weekly summary reports you can put up data that conveys clearly the impact and level of the work you have done.

2. Keep Your Work Visible

Following on from the above advice it could make a difference if you make subtle efforts to ensure that your bosses see your work and feel its impact. You could work your ass off but when the people that matter in your organization do not know it’s as good as you do little or no work.

Create and send weekly or monthly (whichever sounds better) situation reports to your immediate and higher level bosses. The key is to make the reports look purely informational (no hyping and unnecessary over bloating of your achievements). Always send feedback to your bosses on assignments completed.

3. Work as Hard as You Can

If you are new in a place one of the surest ways to cement your value and rise up the ladder is to put in your very best from the onset. Be the first to get in the office and one of the last to leave. Your boss will certainly notice your eagerness and enthusiasm. For the career person that seeks to gain promotions there is no substitute for hard work.

4. Build the Right Connections

While it’s good to cultivate good relations with your co-workers the persons you should devote more time to build strategic relationships with are your superiors. In an ideal world promotions and elevations will be based on merit but then things are always far from ideal at the workplace. Office politics will always play a role on who gets promoted or not.

5. Apply for Internal Vacancies

When higher positions become available in your company you will need to apply and not just wait and hope to be called upon. Follow the internal application process and do the interviews diligently. Don’t be complacent and sell yourself to the people that matter.

6. Acquire New Skills

If you are seeking promotions it pays to improve your current ability and skill set. Gaining skills and knowledge that is far beyond what your current job requires sets you up for consideration when the company or organization needs someone to handle some tougher positions

7. Never be Indispensable

There is something ugly about being indispensable in your current position. When your boss thinks the organization needs you, in a particular position, as humans need air it could actually be a bad thing. You get passed by for promotions because everybody feels they can’t afford to let you off from that position. If you are so good in your current work that you fear being stuck there one thing you can do is to groom a successor.

Find someone who can learn to do your job almost, if not as well, as you can. In all try to make sure you are not stuck to a particular job because the organization deems you indispensable in that position.

source: Ngcareers Blog - Nigeria's top career development blog

There are many things you could do in a job interview to decrease your chances of being considered for the job.

Here we showcase the important reasons why people end up not being considered for a position after interviews. Most times failing an interview is not because of one of the below reasons but due to the candidate being found guilty of two or more of these reasons.

1. Arriving Late

Nothing gives a bad impression to your interviewers as having to keep them waiting or coming late. Coming late means you are always going to meet an unhappy interview crew. You don’t want your interview starting on a wrong note because you came late.

2. Poor Looks

If you arrive at an interview wearing rough clothes, smelling foul or looking unprofessional you will likely be at a disadvantage when being considered for the position.

3. Zero Knowledge of the Job

Many times I encounter candidates who do not have any knowledge of the job they came to interview for. Not knowing the requirements or the details of the job shows you in a very bad light. If you have not taken the time to understand what the job entails before appearing before the interview it shows you are not ready for the job.

4. Constantly Interrupting the Interviewer(s)

It’s a bad habit to interrupt the interviewers and could be a reason for the interviewing panel to dislike you.

5. Appearing Desperate

While you should show sufficient desire for the job you should never look like it’s the only thing that can save your life. By all means demonstrate your ability and eagerness to do the job if considered and leave it at that.

6. Not Enough Interest in the Job

This requires no elaboration that if the employer feels you don’t have enough passion or interest for the job you are not going to stand a chance.

7. Lack of Awareness About the Company

Your basic interview preparation should include finding out about the company and the role. The biggest interview killer is asking the employer “So what do you people do exactly?”

8. Lack of preparation

Not preparing well for an interview is a major reason for not doing well. You have to anticipate the technical and personal questions that each interviewer will most likely ask. Specifically, relate experiences you have had to the skills and personality attributes being questioned. Be prepared to answer questions with specific examples of your strengths and accomplishments.

9. Negativity

It’s bad practice to criticise your former boss, position and company. You can “re-frame” your job frustration by talking about your desire to contribute more, participate on a team or assume greater challenges. It’s important to keep your comments and attitude positive during the interview especially as it relates to your current or former company, boss or co-workers.

10. Lying

If you ever lie to your interviewers be it about your age or your response to any question you are in other words trying to tell them you cannot be trusted with the job. If the employer discovers you are lying it is one of the surest ways to fail the interview and not be considered for the job.

source: The Ngcareers Blog