It is said the disparities between men and women’s salaries start at about 76 cents to the dollar in favor of men and continue to increase...
Factors such as taking time out to have and raise children and other factors could widen that gap to the point where it is hard to make up for the lost time reflected on your paycheck.
This elevates the conversation on honing negotiation skills and even though it is a much talked about skill, it takes practice to get really good at.
Mind over matter
Whether you are going into your first job, whether it is a change in organizations or an internal promotion, there is a risk that we run and it is one that takes internal work to tackle.
Sometimes we take the mistake of viewing these positions and the perks that accompany them as favors as opposed to being fully deserving of them.
Sometimes we also carry around an impostor syndrome that stops us from truly negotiating for our worth.
I recently read that the hiring system is rigged in favor of people who are good negotiators even if the role they are stepping into does not require negotiation skills.
Another consideration to make is that once you start on a low pay scale, all future increases are going to be based on this in essence increasing the extent to which you fall behind the market rates.
Bring bargaining chips
There are some circumstances under which you will hear a ‘no’ on the offer you put on the table. Adopt a flexible mentality as it does not have to be all or nothing. Ask to review in three or six months or ask for non-financial compensation.
This could include such things as having specific courses paid for you or professional development opportunities. Also ensure you ask what you would need to do if you wanted to ascend into a role that was paying you the figure you have put on the table.
Either way, ensure that you leave the room with some of your requests fulfilled and make sure they are documented for review.
