A career coach has revealed her top ways to get a payrise in 2026 - and says ChatGPT is the key to getting ahead.

Melissa Stone, 44, is a HR professional with over 20 years of experience.

Now, she has divulged the secrets of the trade and share her simple five steps to get a pay rise this year.

She said that you should document all your wins and most impactful projects you have worked on to show how you have contributed to the company's success.

Melissa also believes they should prepare for pushback from upper management and come up with a ready-made response if they are told 'no' or asked why they deserve it.

Melissa, an executive career coach & HR director, from County Wexford, Ireland, said: "Since the beginning of time, the thought of asking for a pay rise has made people's skin crawl. "

"As an HR Director who has reviewed and approved thousands of salary increases, I've sat in the rooms where promotion and pay decisions are made. "

"And the biggest myth of all is that pay rises go to the hardest workers. They don't. "

"They go to the people who can justify and prove their value. And in 2026, there's no easier way to do this than with AI."

Before approaching your bosses for a payrise, Melissa said it is important to understand your market value.

She said the easiest way to do this is to use Gemini or ChatGPT, attach your resume and job desribtion and ask "what roles in 2026 would pay for this level of skill and experience, and what can I expect to earn?"."

"Within seconds, it will generate a realistic picture of what you could and should be earning," Melissa said."

"The key here is to understand not just what you could earn by moving to another company in the same role with the same job title, but what you could earn if you opened up your options to any role that would value your skills, experience, and capability."

"That's your true market value."

Melissa's second step is to know that your skills, knowledge and experience can be rapidly transferred to another role and remind your bosses of that.

She said: "HR know that your skills, knowledge, exposure and experience can be readily transferred. "

"It's not just your current job title that you could hold - there are countless other roles out there you could lend your professional and personal experience to. "

"Your transferable skills have a wider impact on your market worth, but they don't want to risk losing you, so HR don't typically share this with you."

Melissa also warns people to prepare for pushback and says not all companies will be willing to give staff a salary bump.

To prepare for this, Melissa says you can use your AI app and ask if to give you the objections your manager might raise about increasing your salary. and how you should respond to each.

Melissa said: "Ask it to give you the objections your manager might raise about increasing your salary, how you should respond to each one, and what non-cash benefits you could request if a pay rise is not approved, such as progression, flexibility, development opportunities, or greater exposure."

"Don't skip this step because this one is key for you to feel fully prepared, calm and confident walking into your meeting. "

"You've already seen their excuses coming, and you have some other options up your sleeve to ask for if you need to negotiate."

Melissa's final step is to go into the meeting with a success mindset.

She said asking for a payrise is not about being "pushy or entitled" it is about recognising your value."

Melissa said: "Finally, go into the conversation with the right mindset. "

"For many people, asking for a pay rise triggers self-doubt and nerves, and that often stops them from asking at all. "

"But the reality is simple. If you never ask, the answer will always be no!"

"A pay rise conversation is not about being pushy or entitled. It is about recognising your value and being willing to speak up for yourself in a calm, professional way. "

"Even if the answer is not yes straight away, the conversation can still lead to a plan, a timeline, or other opportunities that move you forward."

Melissa's top tips to secure a pay rise:
- Understand your market value
- Write Your Business Case
- Be Prepared for Push Back
- Negotiate smartly
- Have a Success Mindset