Successful requests are all about good timing. Ask yourself what you have done within a demonstrable time period that has made you more valuable to the firm or organization. It does not make sense to ask for a pay raise when you have not yet demonstrated anything amazing for the firm regardless of long you have been there.

☛ The time is right when your value to the organization is clearly high.

☛ This means seizing the iron while it is hot and asking for a pay raise off the back of excellent successes such as holding a highly successful conference, getting fantastic feedback, getting a big client signed on, producing outstanding work that outsiders have praised, etc.

☛ Do not choose a time when the company has just posted major losses.

☛ Asking for a pay rise based purely on "time done" is dangerous because it makes you appear like a timekeeper rather than someone interested in the company's progression. Never say to your boss: "I have been here for a year and I deserve a pay raise.