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Getting a negative response to a request for a raise can be disheartening but there are ways to turn this negative into a potential positive. The first thing you should do is ask for the reasons you have been turned down, not in a whining way or as a poor victim, but with a sincere desire, strongly expressed, of wanting to do a better job so as to deserve a raise. And then follow-up on those suggestions and recommendations and make sure that your boss knows that you are doing so.

The other thing to do is a personal debriefing of the experience, maybe with the help of a friend. Was your presentation weak? Did you not make a good case for getting a raise? Was your documentation of your work not thorough and imprssive? Did you make a good case for your value to the company, not just in your own work but as a significant member of the company team?

Good employees are not easy to come by. If you are a good employee, you boss will want to keep you. If you were turned down for a raise, it's time for some soul searching. I know of people who thought they were great, hard-working employees and who I saw as total shirkers and scammers. You need to look honestly at your work ethic and see if you really deserved a raise. If you realize that you may not be the wonderful employee you thought you were, then you have the opportunity to make some changes. Do you spend a lot of time gossiping with your fellow employees in person, by phone, or in emails? Do you make a lot of personal calls during work. Are you punctual and do you keep to your designated break and lunch times? A good boss will notice these things and will take them into account when you are asking for a raise.

If you feel that you are a truly valuable employee and don't believe that will be rewarded financially, you should start looking for another job. If you are a valuable employee, looking for another job can be a card to play in asking for a raise, albeit a risky card.

Learn more about this author, Bob Trowbridge.
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