Considering the financial uncertainty of a post-Covid world this information might sound surprising, but in 2023 a Middle East and North Africa Salary Survey revealed that 53 percent of people asked felt like a pay rise was coming their way this year. Conducted by bayt.com, it unfortunately stopped short of telling you how to actually get the thing.
With that in mind, Esquire Middle East consulted the experts to see if we could help you finally get the pay rise you deserve—or at least the one you want. We can talk about actually deserving it later.
Here’s what we learned…
Read the room
Has the business recently gone through a round of redundancies, for example, or emerged from a difficult financial period? If so, it might not be the best time to come crashing through the door with your demands.
Argue your case
No matter the circumstances, however, you can still put yourself forward. “If you’re meeting your objectives and helping the business, it’s still ok to put your point of view across while being sensitive to their current situation,” says Charlotte Davies, Career Expert at LinkedIn.
Options beyond pay
If they won’t budge on salary, maybe this could be agreeing on more flexible hours or working patterns which could potentially allow you to save on travel, food and other costs associated with being in the office.”
Do your research
Experts recommend doing a bit of research on comparable roles, and asking your HR department for the salary bands for your role. You could ask your mates what they’re on too, if they do a similar job. The more numbers you have to hand during your meeting, the better.
Meet face-to-face
It’s a lot easier to say no to someone over Zoom–and run through how you’re going to phrase what you say before you get there. You’ll have to vibe it a bit depending on what your manager’s like, but be friendly, be confident, don’t talk yourself down.”