What do you do if you need evidence to back your salary or raise negotiation?

You should always have evidence and record of your achievements, whether it’s for an internal position, a salary, increase negotiation, or for a new job outside of your present company. Always link your achievements to a dollar sign as cost savings or increased revenue. It’s possible to do that with just about any type of position you have.

Gathering data is important, but what is more important is gathering quality data. For general industry data the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook is my go to place to start. I follow this up with Glassdoor, Payscale and Salary.com as they are all reasonable sources for supporting evidence. There are many other resources available, but these are a great start. Combining this information with any industry specific reports help create a solid benchmark. The final and best data comes from your quantifiable achievements and win list. This data should show how you have directly impacted revenue, profit margin, and or company efficiency. Making it easy for all parties to see the value you bring to the table.

It’s also a good idea to keep record of what other people, especially your direct manager, are saying about you. For instance, if you were able to help the company improve a process that led to cost savings, make sure you directly “what your manager or another colleague said about you.

Building a 'brag sheet' or 'win list' is indispensable for career advancement, enabling you to highlight your value and achievements effectively. Documenting successes not only sets you apart but also serves as tangible evidence of your contributions. However, it's crucial to ensure that these accomplishments are widely communicated and recognized by decision-makers.

You build your value to the company through recording the accomplishments you’ve made. Especially those that lead to increased revenue or cost savings

I disagree with often. You don’t have to wait until the company is doing well financially to ask for a salary discussion. If you’ve taken on more responsibility or you’ve done amazing work that has led to increased revenue or cost savings, that’s the best time for you to have the conversation. don’t let your direct manager or HR use the excuse that the company is not doing well financially if you deserve a raise

Since salary negotiation, discussions can go all different sorts of ways, it is a good idea to practice the discussion but more importantly, just have a good handle on the facts and know what you’ll say in response to objections from the parties that you are negotiating with.

Don’t wait until you feel completely devalued before asking for a raise or promotion and then make it an ultimatum. Even if you get what you want out of the conversation, you and the company never quite feel the same about each other. I recommend making it clear early on if title/ compensation is a primary motivator. Get clear on what skills, experience and knowledge are required at the next level. Create a clear path for yourself to grow into it and then confidently ask for the increase and promo. If your company devalues what you bring to the table, despite bringing strong data points that support your argument, consider leaving.