•Before asking for increase in the salary, it is necessary to check out whether the company opts for such salary hikes or follow certain time span to provide salary hikes to its employees. You should also check out the procedure of pay rise in your company by referring to the company policy. Research about the market rates, salary scale or the average salary received by an individual at the position you are currently working in.

•Once you are informed about all the information related to position, then ask for a meeting where you can discuss the salary increase. Prepare a report which clearly specifies about your special initiatives undertaken, deadlines met, and products or services improved by you. It should include the information about your contribution towards the company in terms of revenue earned and saving money, satisfaction of the customers and much more in the report.

•In the meeting clearly justify your claim for salary hike. Avoid threatening the boss by saying that you are leaving the job or demanding a salary hike. It is necessary to keep options for negotiations open. In case, if your request for salary raise is rejected then you opt for negotiating for other benefits.

•Besides these, you can also opt for sending letter asking for salary hike. However, it is not an effective medium for asking salary rise as it fosters only one way communication. You can also opt for a combination of these two methods such as sending a letter as the first step and asking for a meeting to discuss it in much better way.

2. Develop an effective resume – This should showcase your skills, experience, and training so that potential employers can clearly see how they will benefit from hiring you.

3. Spend time preparing for every interview – Make an effort to research the company in question, dress appropriately, and be punctual. Try to stay calm, and focus on explaining the ways in which you can satisfy the employer’s needs.

4. Remember to search the hidden market – This is both rare and fertile territory, and you can access it by making direct contact with potential employers and doing your share of networking. Today, you can even register on organizations’ websites to request updates on openings that match their skills and experience.

5. Pay special attention to acknowledged growth industries – Be aware, also that, depending on your background, this may also require some retraining on your part. Many of these openings will be related to energy conservation, the medical field, the Border Patrol, National Guard, homeland security, and national defense.

6. Consider temporary employment or working as an independent contractor-Depending on your flexibility and versatility, you may succeed in a “temp to perm” position” if you have the patience to see it through, and you will be earning some income in the meantime. Once you learn what the tax implications are for freelancers, you may discover that you can go this route if you find the right client(s).

7. Be prepared to relocate if necessary – This is seldom an easy decision to make, but experts in the field of recruitment tell us that your chances for finding employment increase when you are willing to expand your horizons and agree to compete on a bigger playing field.

8. Try to keep a positive outlook – Every contact you make, every interview you experience, will bring you closer to hearing those magic words, “When can you start?” If Monday comes and you are still out of work, plan your job-hunting campaign for the week and remember that you may be starting a new job the following Monday.