How to Negotiate a Raise via CNN

I recently spoke with CNN about tips for women to earn their worth in the work world. If you're thinking about asking for a raise (and given the gross disparity in wages between men and women, you likely should be!), try these tips:



Choose to negotiate. Although there has been new research challenging the notion that women don't ask for raises, it's my experience coaching women and particularly millennial women that they are still hesitant to ask for more money or benefits. The biggest improvement most women can make is choosing to negotiate in the first place.
Gather your arsenal. You need to research the going rate for your contributions. Look at sites like salary.com and glassdoor.com to get comps for what you should be making. Also, practice your pitch. Do a mock conversation with a friend or mentor to build confidence– and brainstorm responses to inevitable counterarguments.
Quantify your Accomplishments. Never focus on why you need a raise, but instead why you've earned it. Be ready to list all your accomplishments in a manner that matters to management. Instead of simply naming what you did, describe the results. What customers or $$$ did you bring to the company? How did you directly contribute to the bottom line?
Think like a tiger mom. Research has shown that women feel much more comfortable asking for things when negotiating on behalf of someone else– as would an agent, or a mom negotiating for her child! Visualize and think, how would you make a case for them? Then, take your own advice!
Take "No" for "not now." We often hear, 'don't take no for an answer'– but that's not very practical advice when it comes to an employment situation and you need the job! If your boss turns down the raise, use the opportunity to get real feedback about what you can do to get a yes next time. Say, "It would really help my future efforts to know what, specifically, I can do to earn this raise." Get your boss to commit to a timeline of when she'll reconsider– and follow up in 3, 6, 9 months, etc.
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Published on February 07, 2012 17:48
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