How to ask for a raise with proof: trade wins with a coworker
Updated
Bring proof, not adjectives: three specific wins, each with what you did, when, and the result. The fastest way to get them is to trade: you write a coworker's wins, they write yours.
Why proof works
Your manager rarely decides alone. They have to justify your raise to their own boss or to HR. Specific wins are what they can repeat in that meeting. "Hard-working" and "great team player" are not.
The brag document, done with a coworker
Engineer Julia Evans made the "brag document" popular in 2019: a running list of what you did, so you don't forget it at review time. Most people still struggle to write it. You forget your own wins, or you find them too small to mention.
A coworker sees what you take for granted. And a win written by someone else reads as a fact, not as self-promotion.
The format: what, when, result
| Vague | Specific |
|---|---|
| Great with clients | In March, took over our biggest account alone; it renewed for two years. |
| Very reliable | Covered the night shift for six weeks in the summer with no missed handoffs. |
| Strong technical skills | Rebuilt the billing export in May; month-end close went from three days to one. |
Leave out client names and internal numbers your company keeps confidential.
How to trade wins
- Pick two or three coworkers who saw your work this year.
- Write your wins about them first. Giving first makes it easy to say yes.
- Send the request with a short message (below).
- Put the wins you receive in your review notes or your raise email.
"Reviews are coming. I wrote three things you did this year that I think your manager should know. Could you do the same for me? Ten minutes, tops."
Then add the market number
Proof says why you deserve more. The market median for your job and city says how much. How much to ask for.
See where your pay stands for your job and city. Takes 30 seconds. Free, no sign-up.
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