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How to ask for a pay rise

Asking for a pay increase can be one of the most nerve-racking conversations you’ll ever have as an optometrist. This article presents a path for preparing, undertaking and following-up a pay rise discussion, including a few classic dos and don’ts.

You seem to have the perfect job: the people are great; and the location is convenient. So why are you checking the online job classifieds?

For many, the belief that we’re not paid what we could, or should, be paid is common. Not knowing what to do about it is equally common. We keep our concerns to ourselves because the thought of requesting a pay rise is so daunting, we don’t know where to start.

If you’re nodding, read on as we provide a few tips for navigating the pay rise minefield in the optometry sector.

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