The Best 10 Salary Negotiations Tips for Women

When it comes to salary, even the most skilled of women can find themselves receiving less than their male colleagues. The tendency for women to earn less merges many generations of gender perceptions with modern business habits. Knowing what these perceptions and habits are can help women take control.

The campaign for equal pay will continue to march on. In the meantime, here are 10 of the best tips from London negotiation training workshop for women to take their own steps towards securing the salary or raise they deserve.

Stop Falling for Outdated Conventions

Women are simply less likely to negotiate their salary or raise than men. Historically, men have been taught to view women as gentle, unassertive creatures. Equally, women have been taught to view women—including themselves—that way, too.

Women’s reluctance to assert themselves in the workplace is grounded in social perceptions. The view that women are nurturers who rely on men for their ambition and assertiveness is an outdated concept.

Knowing the sociology behind female subservience means women can be empowered to turn these conventions on their head. Women can then begin the process of training out centuries-old misconceptions in themselves and others.

… Or Use Those Conventions to Your Advantage

As much as the perception of women has improved since the Industrial era, the idea of women as gentle nurturers rather than competitive entrepreneurs is still prevalent. However, smart women can use this perception to their advantage at the negotiating table.

Rather than going in with a negotiating style that’s more typically viewed as a masculine approach, it can sometimes be advisable for women to approach salary talks with a more community-oriented mindset. This means grounding your reasons for wanting a raise or higher salary to be not just based on your skills, but how your skills can positively affect the company.

Know Your Skills

One thing that can make salary negotiations more effective is a strong résumé to use as a foundation. You could be negotiating a starting salary or seeking a raise. Either way, preparing a list of what you bring to the company is important when entering salary talks.

Remember that talking about your pay from other employers is a topic best avoided. A suitable response if asked about previous salaries is, “it’s confidential.”

Know Your Worth

Another bargaining chip with a lot of leverage is knowing what the going rate for your work is. It pays to research how much people with your skills and experience locally are being paid for your job role. Be sure to consider any employee perks you receive that represent a cost saving elsewhere. These could include health insurance and gym memberships. Research the likelihood that others in your role receive these perks, too.

Entering talks with a strong understanding of how much your skills are worth is an important way to justify your position.

Aim High

Once you know what your skills are worth, the next step is establishing your request. Work out the minimum salary you would accept. Base this figure on what others in your profession generally earn. Be careful not to undervalue yourself.

Consider making your opening position based on the highest figure you come up with. It’s important to be the first suggest a figure to anchor negotiations in your favor. Opening with this higher amount means counteroffers by the employer should revolve around the figure you have in mind.

Don’t be afraid to push beyond your expectations (while being careful not to be unreasonable). You might be surprised.

Train to Negotiate

Brushing up on your negotiation skills is an excellent way to find out what your best moves are for negotiating your salary. Knowing you’re trained in the most up-to-date theory and techniques is a great confidence booster. Taking a workshop in negotiations, or taking the time to do some self-training online, is a solid approach that complements your research and enables you to plan well.

Plan and Practice

Once you’ve planned your approach to your salary negotiation, it’s advisable to think about how you want to present this information. It’s also important to practice with friends or family until you are confident in your message.

Know every aspect of your plan so you can present your points naturally and confidently.

Don’t Take a Low Offer as a Final Offer

Don’t be deterred if the employer first offers you too low a figure. Too often, women accept the first offer as the final offer. Many women will turn down the job without negotiating salary further.

Sometimes the employer will insist that they are offering the starting salary. Don’t take a low offer as a reflection of your skills, and don’t allow an opportunity for negotiation to pass. Use low offers as jumping-off points for your negotiations.

Don’t Assume a Higher Offer Is Final, Either

Often, women feel obligated to just take what is being offered. The female trait of a tendency toward humbleness can cause confusion between what is self-compassion and what is self-indulgence. This confusion can lead to women undervaluing themselves, especially in the workplace.

Accepting a higher offer because it’s higher than what you were expecting can be a mistake. Negotiation trainers often teach that knowing the signs for when a final offer really is final is crucial when assessing your salary negotiation position. Make sure to read the room. If you sense the “final offer” is more of a bargaining point, don’t be afraid to continue negotiating for an even better offer.

Know When to Be Quiet

Sometimes silence really is golden, even when it’s awkward. Don’t feel obligated to fill a silence imposed by employers. Give the employer their turn to talk, allowing them plenty of time.

Knowing when to be quiet can make or break a negotiation. Often, the employer is considering their next move in the negotiation. Talking could be seen as an interruption.

Conclusion

Women in the workplace still have many hurdles to jump when it comes to gender equality. As we continue to make headway socially and professionally, these once seemingly insurmountable obstacles are gradually becoming less so. We may eventually find ourselves on a much leveler playing field.

For now, employing the above skills from negotiation training can help women negotiate better salaries. Understanding how women are viewed by themselves and by men can help turn salary negotiations in your favor. You can also help pave the way for a future where women won’t need to think twice about negotiating their pay.

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