Pay Negotiation Tips for Women

Negotiating your salary is not easy and can be especially difficult for women. In general, women are less likely to ask for more money when offered a job and more likely to stay in a position with lower wages. The reasons vary, but part involves being uncomfortable discussing salary and hesitating to ask for more.

Know how much you want to earn

Before you even think about negotiating your salary, it's essential to know how much you hope to make in your next job. If the offer isn't close, you won't need to accept it. If you were expecting $80,000, for example, and the offer is $60,000, it's probably too much of a reach. Rethink your expectations and recognize that this is probably not your job.

Know that it is okay to ask

It might not feel comfortable asking for more money, but that doesn't mean it's not okay to ask. It is better to ask the question than to imagine if you could have negotiated a better offer. For example, a candidate is offered an excellent compensation package at her dream employer. Even though she accepted the first offer, she asked if there was any flexibility in salary. The company then offered more base pay and a bonus. If she hadn't asked, she wouldn't have known there was room to make a better deal.

Be aware of gender differences

Taking time to research salaries will help you know if this is a role where women can traditionally receive less. If so, there may be a chance to get more. Be creative in negotiating, if the base salary is non-negotiable, perhaps bonuses, benefits, or a commitment to a future increase may be.

Be informed and prepared to make a pitch

When discussing a job offer with an employer, be ready to explain why a higher salary is worth it. You can share the data you collected, remind the hiring manager of your credentials, and reiterate your ability to help the organization succeed.

Stay positive

If the job offer is much lower than expected, keep any negative thoughts you may have with yourself. Do not demand more money. Even if you succeed, it can cause resentment. If it is so low that you know you won't accept it, it is good to mention that the offer was not what you expected. Thank them for the offer and move on.

Remember you don't have to accept the job

If you and the company are unable to come to terms with a reasonable compensation package that works for both of you, and a counteroffer does not help to fill the gap, politely decline the offer and continue your job search.

The key to successful wage negotiation

Although salary negotiation is not easy, the more informed you are, the more research and the more data collected, the better equipped you are to negotiate a job offer successfully. If you are willing to ask, you can get a higher salary.

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