You have been working in your company for several years and feel you have contributed much to its growth. You have put in the work required from you and more-and now it’s payback time.

But while you’re just itching to ask your boss for a much-deserved raise, you’re hesitant to get into an actual conversation with your superior. The boss might say the company is experiencing hard times, you might feel that you do not have negotiation skills, or you’re just scared to be rejected.

What you need to do is take these concerns off your mind. While your boss is not likely to give you a raise voluntarily, don’t assume he won’t do anything about your request either. Get your courage up to ask for what you think is due you.

Here are six things to remember when haggling for a pay hike:

1. Go in with confidence. If you enter into negotiations thinking you’ll probably be rejected anyway, then you better stop now. You will not be in a good position to argue your case if you’re not confident enough to lay your cards on the table-and you might end up with a compromise that is not really to your liking.
2. Prepare a list of accomplishments. Confidence will only get you as far; achievements will back up your arguments. List down all your notable accomplishments-closing a big deal, generating better sales, or helping cut company costs. Your achievements do not necessarily have to relate to the bottom line either. They can be about taking a leadership role in your team, or raising co-workers morale. Make your list as specific as possible.
3. Know the industry standard. Most big companies follow a salary scale based on several factors: educational background, years of experience and performance. You can determine what salary is usually given to employees with the same job by quizzing friends who work in the same industry, checking classified ads that indicate salaries or checking out online salary surveys.
4. Know what you want. Be sure you know exactly what you want to receive from the company. If you want your salary increased by a certain percentage then begin negotiations with that figure. You may also want to look into alternatives in case your proposal is not accepted-discuss better perks and benefits like longer vacation time, stock options, a one-time bonus, or even a better title.
5. Know your boss. Familiarity with your superior’s management style and personality will give you an idea of how he or she will view your request. It will also help you time the meeting for when your supervisor is in a good, receptive mood. Even better, you can anticipate any objections that may be raised against your request.
6. Remember the don’ts. Don’t get all emotional during the dialogue; tearing up in the event of a ‘no’ answer will make your boss see you as immature. Don’t say why you need the money, or go comparing your salary to a colleague. And more importantly, don’t threaten to resign if you get turned down. You might find yourself packing your bags faster than you can say, “I need a raise!”