Salary negotiation tips for women
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Salary negotiations are a complex professional and emotional experience. When it comes to standing up for their worth in pay, the vast majority of women feel uninformed, inadequately prepared to assert themselves, and held back by personal doubts.
Women deserve to earn more money, but often don't believe in themselves enough to ask for it. Use these simple strategies to empower yourself to ask for more in your first or next salary negotiation.
Luck is the result of good planning
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You've worked hard to apply for the job and prepared even harder to show up for the interview and impress. In the golden hour of a job offer, the "lucky charm" that will help you get more money is your own good planning.
Before you start negotiating, make sure you know the market value of the job. Salary reports can give you an idea of salary trends in your region and across the country.
Once you are aware of the salary ranges, make a list of all the requirements you have for the position. Prioritizing them before the interview can help you stick to your must-have criteria and attach value to the position outside of monetary compensation.
You know the range, you have outlined what is important to you, now you should state your skills and expertise and link these to the key features of the job. This way you can show that you are thinking about how your concerns will benefit you and your new employer. This will also be beneficial if you are asked to provide additional information as to why your request for a higher starting salary is justified.
Finally, practice! Put your research into action by practicing in front of a mirror, with a mentor or with someone who supports your future flourishing. Remember: everything seems foreign if you've never done it before. Practice makes perfect.
Take a close look in the mirror
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After careful planning, it's important to visualize yourself and truly see yourself as the badass techie that you are. Use your comprehensive overview of your skills that fulfill multiple facets of the role to highlight how great and qualified you are. Quantify your selling points by reflecting on your accomplishments and the ways you've improved over time to show how much they need you.
Keep a record of your achievements and milestones at work while you hold the job so that when it's time to move up, you have reliable data to back you up. When you believe in yourself, you exude a confident, self-assured energy that inspires others to believe in you as well. When you speak to your strengths in a collaborative, quality way, it is neither pushy nor aggressive, but allows you to be your own champion.
If the thought of talking about money makes you uncomfortable, go back to basics - practice! If the thought of negotiating gives you anxiety about an offer being declined, go back to your detailed list of valued qualities. Never say never, but most recruiters report that offers are very rarely withdrawn when employees ask for reconsideration with relevant information.
If you see yourself as the great negotiator you can be, it's easier to treat the negotiation process as an open conversation that your employer supports. Everyone wants the deal to happen. Developing a positive attitude towards yourself and having the opportunity to express what you want will make all the difference.
Silence your inner critic by acknowledging it
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Self-doubt is triggered by none other than your own self - that's the good news. The inner critic that questions your performance is commonly referred to as Imposter Syndrome. More good news: Imposter syndrome often occurs in people who are self-confident and high achievers.
If you've never heard of Imposter Syndrome, it sounds something like this: "Pssst... you're not good enough. You don't belong. You don't deserve that job, that promotion, that seat at the table...". Many women struggle with negative self-talk, and while it's not possible to overcome it, it is possible to control and suppress it.
We have five tips to help regulate those nagging feelings of personal doubt:
- Recognize when you're doing it - When you recognize when these thoughts come up, you can acknowledge the inner critic's script and tell it to shut up and focus on your technical and interpersonal skills.
- Change your mindset - It's easy to develop a positive mindset when you focus on the unique contributions you've developed in each of your jobs, even outside of tech. What would you say to your friend? What advice would you give them? Give yourself that support.
- Create your own narrative - Prepare a narrative about your professional career and drive your story forward. Prepare with details and be open about your experiences. Every experience expands your knowledge.
- Start the overtalk early - Salary negotiations start at the beginning of your job search. Be prepared to continually support your goals by stating your value, asking about your worth and mentioning your accomplishments.
- Strive and maintain a growth mindset - Work hard to achieve your dreams and do your best to see setbacks as opportunities for growth. Your inner critic will speak up when things don't work out, but acknowledge it and reassure yourself that you've made it!
