How to Get That Raise You Truly Deserve

We all want more money, but of course we don’t all deserve it. If you’re thinking about asking your boss for a raise, you need to stop and think about what you’ve done to help them believe your efforts warrant an increase in pay or other valuable benefits.

The first time I asked for a raise was during my undergraduate years at Temple University. At the time the morning show on the campus radio station was a paid position, and I was making an hourly wage for five hours a day.

I stopped by the General Manager’s office one day to talk to her about getting a raise. In retrospect, I would have prepared better because I didn't get the raise, but learned a valuable lesson. I think I felt that I deserved one and maybe I did, but I don’t think I did a good enough job presenting as to why I was worthy of one.

I was 19 years old at the time and have learned a lot since then. Many factors and strategies are necessary to help someone persuade their boss that they deserve a pay increase.

With the end of the year upon us, many bosses and employees will be meeting to discuss performance reviews. At many companies, a performance review doesn’t always mean a pay increase. However, it is a good time for an employee to discuss a raise. Don’t simply go in expecting one, you’ve got to sell yourself. Some people have a difficult time asking, however, there are steps you can take to help increase your chances.

One thing to think about is to make sure you know what you want to convey to your boss or manager, don’t go in cold. Leading up to the conversation you should list all of your accomplishments so you can present them in an organized manner. In other words, what have you accomplished at the company that warrants additional compensation?

You also want to be concise. If you’re too wordy you’ll lose their attention. It’s important to get your point across quickly without rushing, keep it short while sharing all the data you’ve compiled. Show them what you’ve done because there’s a good chance they’re unaware of everything you’ve accomplished for the company.

If you don’t think a financial increase is something you can get then think about other perks and benefits that they may be more agreeable to. For instance, try to negotiate working from home a few days a week. This it’s a huge benefit that can save you a lot of money, and it’s like getting a raise. Be creative.

It’s also important to not get discouraged if you don’t get what you want the first time. Be persistent, and stay confident, hard work pays off.

What would you say are the best episodes of The Office? Everyone has their own opinion and list, but are there some we can all agree on?

The Office is without a doubt one of the greatest sitcoms of all-time. It was such a strong cast of characters. Of course, nobody could do it quite like Steve Carell's Michael Scott. There are so many iconic episodes and scenes to consider, but are these the five best episodes of The Office?

While everybody has their favorite episodes of the show, that doesn't mean they're necessarily the "best." There's an important difference there. For example, my favorite episode of South Park is "AWESOM-O" but I wouldn't say it's the best or greatest episode of the show (that would probably belong to "Scott Tenorman Must Die"). So, we must understand the difference between our personal favorites and what's the best. Personal biases must be put aside.

That was a challenge for me. Some of my favorite episodes and what I think are the best episodes of The Office aren't going to make the list. I have to put my bias aside and consider what the majority would deem to be the best of the best. Unfortunately, that meant my favorite episode "Gossip" (Season 6 Episode 1) won't be making the list. It kills me every time Michael calls Stanley's wife. Every single time. Likewise, "Gay Witch Hunt" (Season 3 Episode 1) didn't make the final five and will instead be an honorable mention. You really get a sense of Michael's ignorance in that episode and it's a great character builder that also has a ton of laughs at Michael's expense.

Despite a few of my favorite episodes not being included on the list, I stand by the final five. I think the majority of fans would agree that these episodes deserve to be in the Top 10 and then where they fall within there is up for debate. I did do something kind of controversial, though. I'm counting the double episodes as one episode. They're the same thing, just broken up in two halves for the sake of time. To me, and this list, they are considered one singular episode. Don't like that? Create your own list! See what made the final five best episodes of The Office below! Do you agree?

I had to start the list with "Dinner Party." You can't talk about the best episodes of The Office without mentioning it. There are so many hilarious moments it feels like it's just one after the other. Who could forget Michael's infamous "Snip/Snap/Snip/Snap" and him totally botching the way he describes the wine. We learn a lot about Jan in the episode and get to see her true crazy side. There's also Michael's TV, his table, and more. It just might be the best episode of The Office.

https://youtu.be/x0N2ZxQJYTw?si=M0hlv51Dzp_pEqjc If you love cringe comedy, then you probably enjoyed the "Scott's Tots" episode of The Office. Personally, I love it. However, some of my friends and family say it's too cringeworthy to watch! They feel too bad for Michael. While I understand that, you can't feel bad for Michael! He brought it on himself. It's so funny watching him realize what's about to happen and how he tries to get out of it. It's one of those cool moments where we the audience know what's about to happen but the characters in the scene don't and they build it up so well. It's pure Michael.

There are so many great moments in this episode that live on today. Dwight putting the dummy's face on his like Hannibal Lector remains a popular meme online. Michael singing the wrong part of "Stayin' Alive." Even the way they treat Stanley and botch his recovery is hilarious. Yes, it's a two-parter but it's worthy of being named one of the best episodes. It just doesn't get old.

The Office was still finding its groove and developing the characters during Season 1. Michael was a bit more annoying, had a different haircut, and the rest of the crew wasn't fully formed yet. Did Kevin even have a different voice? It sounds like it. However, there were still some gems in Season 1 that let us know this show was going to be funny. The best example of that comes with "Diversity Day" in Episode 2. It really shows Michael's ignorance and how he places trying to be funny over being politically correct or appropriate in the workplace. Even once a professional comes in to train them, he still doesn't understand what he did wrong and continues doing so. We really got a look at Michael Scott here.

Was Jim and Pam's wedding the best TV wedding ever? I think so! There was Michael and Pam's mom, Kevin's feet in the ice machine, and Andy's unfortunate injury. So much happened in these episodes and it still lives on today. In a way, it's different than a lot of other episodes because there's a lot of emotion to go along with the humor. We're finally seeing the greatest will they/won't they of all-time get married! The show really delivered on the wedding episode(s) for TV's greatest couple.