Credit: Haitem
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You've been working hard-coming in early, staying late, and picking up extra responsibilities. Now you're looking for a raise to reward your efforts-but you're not sure how to go about it. "Women typically earn 20 to 30 percent less than men with the same job titles because they struggle with salary negotiating," says Robin Ryan, career counselor and author of Soaring on Your Strengths (Penguin). Here she highlights classic negotiating mistakes and shares rules for getting the raise to which you're entitled.
BE CONFIDENT
Many women often don't realize that they can ask for more money, or they're afraid that doing so will jeopardize the job offer-a reaction Ryan attributes to the issue of self-worth. As Black women, we may be sensitive about the stereotype that we all have attitudes. "It's cultural. Most of us are brought up to be 'nice,' and we don't like to come across as too aggressive," she says. But being proactive about your career is never wrong.
ASSESS YOURSELF
Incremental raises are standard but may not account for all the work you do. "At least once a year, you need to do your own career checkup," says Ryan. "Ask yourself: Am I happy? Have I taken on additional responsibilities? Am I working above my job title?" Create a chart that outlines the job you were hired for in comparison to your current responsibilities. "You might be able to make a good case for a promotion, which would come with a raise," she says.
FIND OUT WHAT YOU'RE WORTH
Resources such as salary.com can give you the average pay for your position in your industry based on your location. Use the average, along with your self-assessment and where you live, to determine your overall worth. (For example, the cost of living in Los Angeles may not stretch a salary of $35,000 as far as it would in Kansas City.) You can also bargain by asking for additional vacation time and perks to your benefits package. Are you a new hire? Ask about a signing bonus, as well as specific offerings (for instance, flextime, vacation, paid leaves, tuition reimbursement), and work them into your compensation discussion.
USE THE RIGHT WORDS
If you've saved the company time or money with one of your ideas, toot your own horn. "You want to talk about adjusting your salary to compensate you for what the company is receiving," Ryan says. Using these key words can help illustrate your valuable contributions and make a better case for your raise based on merit. And remember, while major life changes-having a baby, buying a house or a car-can certainly be a drain on your income, they do not warrant an increase to your salary, warns Ryan.
MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES
You can climb the corporate ladder by broadening your network at your company, letting people know about your goals, or transitioning into other departments where there is opportunity. However, big salary hikes tend to happen when you change jobs from one firm to another. Ryan's rules when negotiating: Never reveal your prior salary, and always use a range instead of the exact figure when asked about your salary expectations. "You maintain more negotiating power to ask for more money," she says.
KNOW WHEN TO LET GO
If you've made your best case and your boss still won't budge, you've got to consider your options. Some telltale signs that it's probably time to go: the repeated phrase about lack of funds or the wrong timing, says Ryan. "If they don't value you enough to pay you what you deserve, another company will," she adds.
Have these tips or others helped you get a raise? Share your story below.
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