With annual reviews coming up, money talk with your boss can be a VERY touchy subject. Here are some tips that could get you closer to your raise, but there is a catch: these tips need to be done for 12 weeks.  So get you a pen and paper and jot them down (or if you prefer, just hit “print.”)

Week 1. Arrive early, leave late. Come in 30 minutes to an hour early to give yourself time to organize your workload, read and reply to important emails, and meditate. Stick around after close to tie up any loose ends, file documents, or perform tedious office duties that tend to be pushed to the backburner.

Week 2. Start keeping a daily log. Jot down all your completed tasks , contributions and accomplishments for that day. Tracking your productivity will show you what areas are needing improvements.

Week 3. Review the company’s annual report. It is important to know how your company performed during that year. The annual report also gives the public it’s plan for the upcoming year. To get more detailed information about the company’s business, finances, management, and a list of contact names, check Freeedgar.com (EDGAR: Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system) for 10-K (annual) or 10-Q (quarterly) reports. Publicly traded companies file those with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Week 4. Join a professional organization. Surrounding yourself with others who share your passion or your job title may help you network with those who know of opportunities. Also, staying abreast of trends and new developments in your field will make you a more viable employee. Use the Encyclopedia of Associations through LexisNexis as a reference to find associations relevant to your field. Head to your public library to access the site.

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