Raise? Make a Joke, Ask for an Insane Amount

Apparently one of the best ways to ask for a big raise and get it... is to start with a joke, then ask for an insane amount of money, like a million bucks.

It's a technique called "anchoring," where you start with a higher number than you actually expect to get.

Studies have found it even works if you got way over-the-top with it, because throwing out any high number makes your boss less likely to low-ball you.

Plus it's a good ice-breaker. So it also works if you're negotiating your salary in a job interview.

A study in 2011 had a bunch of people interview for the same job that paid just over $30,000. When people joked that they wanted $100,000.00, the average offer they got was $35,385.

When they didn't, the average offer they got was about $3,000 less. So almost a 10% difference!

(Via: New York Magazine)