Q: I work in retail, and I can’t seem to get a raise out of my employer, no matter what I try. They tell me I am a hard worker and they make me feel valued, but it isn’t showing in my paycheck. What can I do to earn more money at work when they won’t adjust my hours?
A: There are a variety of solutions for you to look at.
One is offering to work overtime. Some companies would rather provide employees with a few hours of guaranteed overtime a week instead of hiring another worker to fill that role.
Another is putting together a proposal to work on a special project. Find out what your employer needs – it may be help with the launch of a new product or service, writing training materials, conducting workshops, or providing work outside the scope of your immediate responsibilities. If you can find a way to quantify the results you may get from the project your propose, you may see opportunities to earn one-time bonuses or supplementary pay.
Other options are to consider moving to a higher volume location, a department that offers sales incentives, or seek out a supplementary income leveraging the skills you use in the store right now.
Next time, I’ll talk about some opportunities to freelance without giving up your day job.
