If you've recently been turned down for a raise, your first action should be to find out why, and your second should be to fix it. Do not be abrasive about this! If you're still a bit hurt or angry by your boss' response, wait until you've calmed down and can look at it objectively.

Now, approach your boss or whoever is in charge of the approval process. Make sure that he or she is not busy, then ask to set up a time to discuss the matter. Do not ask to discuss it now; you're trying to establish that you are not devoted to just a paycheck. You want to show that you are serious about your job, job performance, and that you respect that s/he has other responsibilities that may take precedence over you.

Once a time has been agreed on, be on time! Do not let irritation or impatience show if s/he is not immediately available for you. Once you've been invited to sit, begin with something like "I consider X Co. to be at the top of the X field, and I like to consider myself to be an admirable employee. I recently applied for a raise in pay and was turned down. Is there something in my performance that I can improve on?". Do not start with "Why won't you give me a raise?". Try to be non-confrontational and offer solutions.

Hear your boss out and pay attention to any problems s/he brings up. You can offer explanations where you see a misunderstanding occurred, but do not argue with their statements. This is how the company views you, and you want to improve that vision. A boss is never impressed by an argumentative employee.

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