Asking for a raise is a difficult conversation most people get spectacularly wrong. Here's the script that works.

The Pattern Most People Use

"I was wondering if maybe, when you have time, we could talk about my compensation. I feel like I've been doing a lot lately and I was hoping..."

This loses before it starts. Vague. Emotional. Apologetic. The boss already has the answer — no.

The Pattern That Works

Three parts. In order.

Part 1 — Set Context, Confidently

"I'd like to discuss my compensation. I've been thinking about this carefully and want to share where I'm at."

No apology. No softening. No "if you have time." Direct.

Part 2 — The Evidence

Three or four specific contributions that exceeded your role's expectations, with concrete impact:

"Over the last 12 months I led the migration project that saved us $400K annually. I took on the mentorship of two junior engineers. I shipped the partnership integration two quarters ahead of schedule."

Specifics matter more than passion. "I work really hard" loses to "I shipped X with Y impact."

Part 3 — The Specific Ask

Not "a raise." Not "more money." A specific number.

"I'd like to move from $95K to $115K — which my research shows is the market rate for this scope of work at companies our size."

If you don't know the number, you haven't done the homework. Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, payscale.com, conversations with industry peers — figure it out before the meeting.

What Not To Do

• Don't compare yourself to specific colleagues ("Maria makes $X and I do more work"). HR hates this and it makes you look petty;
• Don't threaten to leave unless you actually have an offer and will actually take it;
• Don't talk about personal financial needs ("I have a kid coming"). Compensation isn't based on what you need — it's based on your market value. Stay in market territory.

The Three Possible Responses

• Yes — accept warmly. Don't undersell your win;
• Maybe / "let me look into it" — get a specific date. "When can we plan to revisit this — would two weeks work?" Vague "I'll get back to you" lets it die;
• No — "What would need to be true for this to be a yes? And by when could we revisit it?"

The first conversation is rarely the whole conversation. But the first one sets up everything that follows. Have it well.