How to ask for pay rise after getting a Work Health and Safety qualification

No one likes talking about wages or salary with their boss. After all, as you work with a company throughout the years, there’s no doubt you become more valuable to an organisation. Convincing your boss of this fact, however, is another matter entirely.

What if we had a solution for you? Instead of relying just on tenure and examples of your hard work, what if you could formalise your experience and value in qualification? With health and safety training leading to a Certificate IV in WHS, for example, there’s a way to grow you skill set and legitimise your case for a pay rise.

Essentially, a qualification gives weight to your cause. However, this still doesn’t mean the conversation is an easy one. If you’re a bit nervous about broaching the subject, don’t be, here’s what you need to know.

1. Back your argument up with facts

Whether you’re a great salesperson or not, there are a number of ways to add credence to the point you’re trying to make. When asking for a pay rise from your boss, simply winging it and hoping for the best is not the answer.

While it’s likely your boss knows you’re a great employee and offer a positive contribution to the workplace, they’ll often need further proof that you’re worth further investment from them. It’s not necessarily that they don’t want to pay you more, but more that you need to provide tangible proof where necessary.

Instead of simply reminding your boss of times you displayed certain skills or competencies, a diploma in WHS or similar qualification shows that not only have you completed these tasks in the past, but that you have the knowledge to keep performing them and other responsibilities in the future. It’s also important proof that you’re committed to the role.

2. Understand the demand for WHS professionals

Competent WHS professionals are integral to the success of organisations across a number of industries. As such, qualified candidates are constantly in demand across the country. As Hays Australia reported, this is especially true for lead auditors. As an auditor, you’d be responsible for managing everything from operational practices to the legislation that concerns your business most.

By being aware of the high demand for quality auditors, you can make a much stronger case that supports your role in the business. Simply put, you need to know that not only are you valuable to your current place of work, but also that it wouldn’t be hard for you to find a similar role either with a competing company or in a whole new industry.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should walk in and threaten to leave if you don’t get your way, as this will only create tension. Talking about money with your employer can be hard enough without adding extra conflict. Instead, simply keep it in the back of your mind so you know how much you’re worth to your boss.

3. Be loyal and work hard 

It sounds self explanatory, but it’s often something that many people forget when they’re talking to their boss about the future. Your eligibility for an increase in pay depends as much on what you’ve done in the past as it does on your new qualification.

Think of a diploma in WHS or other related qualification as the icing on a cake made from hard work and loyalty. You need to have a strong foundation to build your argument on, and then seal the deal with details of your health and safety training qualification.

To find out more about why these qualifications are so valuable to people and employers, get in touch with our team today.