Do you need a coach to help you get a raise or promotion?

Are You Leaving Money on the Table?

Most talented professionals underestimate their value at work.

They assume that their boss will recognize their efforts and reward them accordingly. But very few companies have a "people first" mindset when it comes to raises. If there’s no urgency to increase your salary, it often doesn’t happen.

Even at great companies, raises don’t just appear. You have to ask for them.

And asking isn’t as simple as saying, “I’d like a raise.” It’s about positioning yourself as an asset for the future, demonstrating your trustworthiness, and handling objections.

So how do you know if you need help with all that?

Signs You Might Need a Career Coach

1. You Struggle to Articulate Your Value

If you find it difficult to explain why you deserve a raise, you’re at a disadvantage. Your value isn’t just about working hard, it’s about your impact.

"Your value is determined by what you bring to the market, not by how hard you work." — Jim Rohn

Your contributions include the projects you’ve led, the revenue you’ve influenced, and the problems you’ve solved. But if you can’t confidently connect your work to business outcomes, a career coach can help you build a "value profile" that clearly communicates your worth.

Example: Let’s say you streamlined a workflow that saved your team 10 hours per week, but when asked about your impact, you just say, "I improved efficiency." That’s not compelling. A stronger case would be: "I implemented a new process that saved the team 10 hours per week, allowing us to complete projects 20% faster and improve client satisfaction."

A coach can help you craft these narratives effectively.

2. You Don’t Have a Strategic Approach

Timing, wording, and positioning all matter when negotiating a raise. It’s not just about asking—it’s about asking at the right time, in the right way, to the right person.

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet." — Bobby Unser

A career coach helps you craft a strategic approach, which may involve:

• Strengthening your internal reputation before making your request.

• Preparing a written proposal that lays out your contributions and market value.

• Identifying key decision-makers and ensuring you have allies in leadership.

Example: A software engineer asked for a raise immediately after the company reported budget cuts. Instead of getting a yes, they were told to wait another year. If he had waited until after delivering a major client project, his leverage would have been much stronger.

3. You Feel Anxious About Rejection

Many people are afraid of hearing “no” when asking for a raise.

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." — Jack Canfield

A career coach can help you:

• Understand your leverage (such as industry demand and competitor offers).

• Reframe a “no” into an opportunity for future growth.

• Build confidence in handling difficult conversations.

Example: A data analyst at a healthcare company was terrified to ask for a raise. She knew her boss would say no. With coaching, she prepared for the worst case responses. After realizing that she could in fact handle all of them, she decided to go for it. When she finally asked, she didn’t just make a request.

She presented a clear, data-backed case. Her boss initially resisted, but she stayed calm and asked, “What would need to happen for a raise to be possible?” Her boss realized that she wasn't going to be discouraged (and he valued her work highly). A few weeks later, he found a way to get her a 12% salary increase, even without a title change.

By preparing for objections instead of fearing them, she turned a likely “no” into a successful negotiation.

4. Your Past Negotiations Haven’t Worked

If you’ve asked for a raise before and been turned down, something needs to change. A coach can help you assess whether the issue is:

• Poor timing.

• Weak positioning of your request.

• A lack of internal support from key stakeholders.

Example: A marketing manager at a medium sized tech startup wanted a raise but was afraid of rejection. With coaching, she prepared responses for possible objections and ultimately turned a “not right now” into a plan for a 15% raise within six months. She contributed more conspicuously (articulating her value) and asked more than once for clarity on what the company needed most from her. She found out what she needed to do to make the raise a no-brainer.

5. You Struggle with Workplace Politics

Raises don’t happen in a vacuum. If your company is undergoing restructuring, layoffs, or leadership changes, your strategy needs to align with the current reality.

A good career coach can help you navigate office dynamics and position yourself strategically.

Example: A senior product manager at a cybersecurity company wanted a promotion, but his department was in flux. With coaching, he built relationships with key executives, gained insider insights, and secured a promotion when the dust settled.

The Importance of Reputation Before Negotiation

Salary negotiations shouldn’t be your first step.

They should be the last step in a well-executed campaign to build your internal reputation.

You want to be seen as someone who:

• Not only gets the work done but makes leadership better.

• Asks thoughtful questions and understands leadership struggles.

• Builds relationships with decision-makers before making requests.

By consistently demonstrating strategic thinking and reliability, your request for a raise won’t be seen as an isolated demand.

It will be the natural next step.

Should You Always Be Open to Other Jobs?

Yes. Even if you’re not actively looking, staying aware of market opportunities gives you leverage. Keeping your resume updated and casually exploring other roles helps in two ways:

• It provides salary benchmarks so you know what’s fair. You can see what other companies are offering for similar roles.

• It gives you negotiation power. Companies are more willing to match outside offers than raise salaries unprompted.

A career coach can guide you on how to gather this data and make the request without jeopardizing your current role.

Next Steps

If you feel stuck, undervalued, or unsure how to move forward, it might be time to refine your approach.

A great place to start? Download this free pay raise script for help to prepare the best negotiation possible.