How Do I Ask for a Promotion or Raise in a COVID Economy?

This article originally appeared in USA Today's Ask HR on June 16, 2020.

Question: I've been working overtime at my job ever since my manager left. I've been tasked with doing (my manager's) job on top of my own, however, I haven't received a raise or promotion and I feel undervalued. How can I talk to my new manager about this? – Anonymous

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.:  If you’re working overtime and feeling undervalued, you should certainly talk to your new manager.

But before you do, take some time to reflect. What do you really want? A raise? Or a promotion? You might think “either would be fine!” However, I strongly encourage you to clearly define your goal. That way, you can build a strategy and pick the tactics most likely to help you make it happen. 

Regardless of your goal, be mindful of our economic context during your conversation. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for a raise or promotion, there are millions of Americans without a job at all right now. This makes tact an essential part of your approach. Yes, advocate for yourself. But strike the right tone and avoid sounding ungrateful.

One good way to ground yourself is to be realistic about your workload and performance. I say this because we, as human beings, have the habit of looking at ourselves through rose-colored glasses while seeing everything and everyone else in a less flattering light. In fact, this mental filter is called the self-serving bias, which is our “tendency to attribute positive events to (our) own character but attribute negative events to external factors.” In other words, overconfidence is common, which is why it’s always wise to stay humble, self-aware, and be prepared.

Being prepared means doing the research to get the numbers that support your points. What you’ve done and how hard you’ve worked are good things to note. But it’s even better – especially if a promotion is your goal – to highlight how your hard work:

(1) implemented business strategy and (2) produced bottom-line results.

You’ll also want to put yourself in your employer’s shoes: We’re enduring an unprecedented pandemic. So, consider the state of the business and whether the organization can afford to provide a raise or promotion at present. Granted, if your company is in a tough spot right now, that’s not to say you shouldn’t start this conversation. It’s an FYI that a “no” could very well have nothing to do with the value you bring to the organization. It could, quite simply, come down to dollars and cents.

That all said, if you don’t get what you hoped for, don’t miss the bright side. You’re taking on new responsibilities and learning skills that develop you as a professional. And that will pay off one day, be it within your company or with another one.  

Best of luck!