I confess. I was over 50 years old before I learned to negotiate for my salary. Even now, as a consultant I frequently settle for an hourly rate that’s less than I deserve. Why do I do it? Oh, for far too many wrong reasons starting with the old but all too true explanation, “I just wasn’t brought up that way.”
Well, things are going to change. Maybe I’ve been inspired by the story of Lilly Ledbetter or watched Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich one too many times, but I’ve decided that what people pay me isn’t just about money – it’s about respect. Their respect for me and my respect for myself.
Women, in case you haven’t heard, are paid $.77 to every dollar earned by a man doing the same job. Of course, this has been going on for centuries so I guess we should all be used to it by now. But you know what? I’m NOT!!! Consider this – a study shows that over the course of their careers, women who consistently negotiate for salaries earned over a $1,000,000 more than women who didn’t negotiate.
ONE MILLION DOLLARS! That’s not just about money. That’s about personal power, independence, and security. And all we have to do is ASK for it!
Yet we don’t. We’re so grateful to be interviewed – let alone hired – it doesn’t even occur to many of us to say, “Can I think about this?” And then, after taking at least 24 hours to consider our options, say “I’m very grateful for your offer but given my experience I think it should be several thousand dollars higher. What can you do for me?” This is what men do as a matter of course. In fact, it’s what the hiring manager expects you to do. So if you take this step you’ll just be meeting his or her expectations of how a professional behaves. But when you don’t negotiate they may start wondering if they made the best choice after all. It isn’t just about money. It’s about being a professional in every aspect of your career.
Please remember, your starting salary from your very first job influences what you’ll be paid for the rest of your life. Think about it. Your past salary is used by employers to determine how much they should offer you to take a new position. If you tell a hiring manager that your last job paid far less than the one you’re interviewing for, they’ll probably offer you less than they would another applicant. What’s more, the fact that your previous employer paid you so little, might knock you out of consideration all together. It isn’t just about money. It’s about how much your work is valued.
Your bonuses, raises, future salary with other companies, social security, pension payments – even unemployment – are all dependent on how much your pay check is right now. It isn’t just about money. It’s about your income for the rest of your life.
That’s why I’m joining the Rally for Equal Pay on April 12, 2011 at Daley Plaza (Clark and Washington Streets) from Noon to 1 PM. I want to add my voice and support to working women around the world who know that equal pay for equal work isn’t just about money. It’s about equal rights for everyone – including us! See you there!
Wendy Lalli coaches professionals in transition or who want to advance their careers in their current jobs and writes articles, features, and columns for professional journals and newspapers including the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times network. A member of the PWCC Communications Committee, she’s a frequent contributor to this blog and gives seminars for associations, colleges, and libraries throughout Chicago. Learn more about Wendy at www.wendylallicoach.com.