Pay rise stories from Kiwi workers and what they learned

The best way to ask for a pay rise is to back your request with evidence of your work and what similar roles pay, name a number and stay professional whatever the answer. These anonymous stories from Kiwi workers show how that plays out in different situations, so you can walk into your own conversation prepared.

We asked Kiwi workers to share how they went about their pay conversations, because the nerves are familiar to most of us. The stories cover asking when you take on more responsibility, during a review, when you're promoted and when you start a new job. Each one ends with what the person learned, and there are some bonus tips at the end.

This person researched the job market and found their pay was below the industry standard. They'd taken on extra responsibilities beyond their job description and were exceeding expectations, so they asked for a 25% rise and were willing to settle at 20%. While that was in motion, they applied for a role at another company and got an offer with a 45% increase. When they told their current employer, it came back with a counteroffer of a 33% increase, and they stayed.

What they learned was to recognise your value. If another employer offers more, consider taking it and share it with your current employer to see how they respond. The worst outcome is that they decline to match it and then you know where you stand.

At the end of a regular meeting, this person raised it with a bit of nervous laughter, saying they'd love to be considered for a pay rise in the upcoming reviews because their work was at a level above their current pay. They learned that these conversations don't need to be scary. A pay conversation between a manager and a direct report is expected and they hadn't needed to wait so long to bring it up.

This person was in a junior role but doing a more senior job and knew the company had no plans to hire. They raised it with their manager with clear examples of how they contributed well above their role and researched what a senior role paid. After lengthy conversations and ongoing negotiation, they agreed on a promotion with a $30,000 increase.

The lesson is to keep going if it isn't an easy yes. Be confident in your research and your reasoning. If the employer can't offer the salary, there may be other benefits on the table or they might agree on a plan for what you need to do to earn the raise. Applying for other roles is a good way to test your worth in the market, and it shows your employer you're serious.

When this person started a new job, they were asked for their salary expectations. They asked for $5,000 above their current salary, thinking that was a big step up, and the employer came back with an offer $15,000 above it. They happily accepted. Looking back, they wish they'd negotiated higher.

If you're in that position, our guide on how to negotiate a job offer covers how to research a pay band and what to say.

If your request doesn't go the way you hoped, read what to do when your pay rise request is rejected and our guide to pay rise mistakes to avoid. To check what your role typically pays, check out our salary guide.