Seeking a promotion or raise is an important career step — though it’s often an intimidating one. Ideally, your manager will reward you with a promotion or raise when the time comes, but if that time has passed and you’re left tapping your foot, maybe you should offer them a little nudge. After all, it never hurts to ask. Before knowing whether or not your boss will give you a raise or promotion, you need to figure out how to ask first. Now, you’ve followed all the necessary steps and you’ve asked for the promotion or the raise you believe you deserve. Your manager calls you in to talk and you’re met with a shake of the head: “Sorry, no.” Whatever you do, don’t panic. Yes, this response will feel like a punch to your soul and a hit to your delicate ego. You might feel disappointment, frustration, and even anger. Yet, it’s important to keep yourself together and to recognize that this is a crucial time in your career. Rather than storming out of your ma...