Steps to Increasing Your Value as an Employee and Getting Paid More!

There's a lot of employment advice focusing on finding a new job or starting a new business. Advice on becoming a more valuable employee at one's current employer appears to be virtually non-existent. So, what is a woman supposed to do if she loves her job, but wants and needs to make more money? How does she guarantee herself an opportunity to advance from where she is now without jumping ship? Good news! There are many ways to earn the confidence of co-workers and become the kind of employee that bosses are willing to pay top dollar for. Looking to get ahead at work? Take some time to consider the following:

Don't Become Pigeon-Holed

Expertise can be a two-edged sword. Consider this scenario. Joan is a whiz when it comes to the email system her company is using. If there are problems with the email server, she knows just what to do to get it started up again. If one of her co-workers wants to figure out how to send an email with an electronic signature, Joan has the skills to help. In other words, Joan is the go-to person for that particular piece of technology. Chances are this has earned Joan quite a bit of praise. Here's the problem. A company's loyalty to a particular piece of technology is fickle. What happens if Joan gets a new boss who is a fan of another email system? Can she adapt? Will she be replaced by another go-to person? Hopefully, Joan has also demonstrated leadership skills and adaptability in addition to her technical skills. If she has, she might be up for a promotion.

Become an Example of Positivity

Many people underestimate the value of soft skills. That's a shame. Here's the truth - people want to work for and with people who make them feel good. Not only that, they talk about it to others. So, anybody who wants to earn that raise or promotion should take the following into consideration:

·      Life is stressful. Lack of sleep, arguments with loved ones, bad commutes etc., are things that everybody experiences. Shake it off at the door and become a positive, engaging co-worker.

·      Notice the accomplishments of co-workers and genuinely praise them.

See the Big Picture

In the corporate world especially, it can be very easy to develop tunnel vision. Marketing people tend to focus on marketing; IT people tend to focus on computers and networks; Operations staff tends to focus on the day to day nitty-gritty of running the business. Anybody who wants to get ahead should ask themselves the following questions:

·      What projects would my boss like to accomplish over the next twelve months, and how can I help?

·      What is the company doing in the community? Are there opportunities for me to become involved?

·      Is there any training I should be pursuing in order to become more valuable in my department?

·      Do I already possess talents that I can begin utilizing in order to become a more effective team member?

Finally, Self-Promote

It's a shame that so many people are taught to be modest to such an extreme extent that they cannot use their own hard work and accomplishments to get ahead. Fact is, bosses, admire those who are willing and able to list their triumphs. So, never be afraid of asking to be acknowledged for any positive contributions to the corporate culture or bottom line.

Employers do not want to lose valuable people – it takes a lot of time to recruit, interview, and train a new hire. Make yourself valuable by using the strategies above, and do not be afraid to ask for that raise, once you know that your boss values you!

Bio:

Kateline Jefferson believes that, only through experiential knowledge does one become an engaging and creative writer. Her degree in Journalism and a host of real-world study and experience has made her a permanent and popular blogger for PremierEssay.com