There are many things to consider before scheduling a meeting with your boss and performing the humbling act of asking for a promotion in position or an increase in pay. Make sure you’re prepared by going through this checklist and accounting for all of the things that may go wrong.

• Leadership is HUGE: To be in a position of power, you must first demonstrate that you are willing and able to shoulder the responsibility. This means doing things like taking younger and less experienced people under your wing and consistently volunteering your time and effort to do things that need to be done. Those who take the initiative will undoubtedly be noticed, they might be acknowledged, and if they’re lucky they’ll be rewarded. So do everything you can to show you’re a leader and leave the rest up to your boss.
• Time it right: Receiving promotions and raises is not based only on employment time, it could happen within three months of employment or three years down the line. Appropriate timing depends on several factors and has little to do with how long you’ve been with the company. For instance, is there someone who has been with the company for less time than you have but has out-performed you? Wait to ask for a promotion or raise until you’ve shown you are a consistently high performer, and be sure to schedule the meeting after a series of successes you’ve accomplished for the company. One writer at Harvard Business Review suggests that hopefuls type a “resume of accomplishments” to quantify their achievements.
• Be a team-player: In addition to being self-sufficient in your current position, be a visible and available part of the team. Reach out to and partner with those who can help you, or who you can help, and collaborate with them so as to keep everyone on the same page. Network within the company and regularly communicate with as many people as you see fit. A team needs to grow and improve just like individuals do, so ask for feedback often and accept it graciously.
• Know your company: An article by The Association for Talent Development encourages thinking about how your promotion benefits the team, not just you, saying, “Your promotion will help your leader do a better job and meet organizational goals, as well as grow your career. Focus on how you can help your manager and what value you can add to the team.” CEO and writer Theresa Zagnoli suggests, “be able to talk about the company’s needs, not just yourself, what you do, and how much money you want.”
• Own your role: Ask plenty of questions and engage with the job you’re doing on every level. Take responsibility for the role you’re doing and the one you hope to do and own it!
• Don’t: There are things to never do during this process that you should avoid like the Plague. Certainly never apologize, and definitely never complain. Instead, always be (or at least appear) grateful for the workload/pay/benefits package you’ve been given. In business, like many aspects of life, the only way to have more is to be grateful for what you already have.
• Adjust your attitude: Employers and supervisors want to reward high performers and over-achievers, but not those who have the type of entitled mentality that convinces them they necessarily deserve a pay raise. If you need to blow off steam at the bar this weekend and rant to your friends about how your wages are unfair and how you’re sick of drinking Tito’s, that’s one thing. But your boss doesn’t want to hear about your Grey Goose taste and Tito’s budget, he wants to hear about your potential contribution to the company’s success and how far you’re willing to go for the team.
• Appearance is the cherry on top: In business it’s typically better to avoid having a distracting appearance. You want your personality and confidence to be complemented by your style, not hindered by it. So consider toning down any over-the-top features like gaudy jewelry, heavy eye makeup, and unnatural hair colors, and be sure to cover any tattoos if possible. There are several apps that sell lightly used and affordable professional attire, so you don’t have to spend big money on your wardrobe. What matters is looking polished and professional, so no need to spend a ton of extra time or money on your appearance. The thing to remember here is that the weekend you and the work week you should look like very different people (unless you work weekends, of course).