Get Your Courage On
Negotiating Raises, Rates & Salaries
with the Women Together Team

Negotiating is not easy. And navigating financial conversations in a work setting takes courage — and studies indicate that women are often less likely to do so. We asked our team members to share their experiences and advice.

Laura

About 20 years ago, I was desperate for work. Really desperate — like, if I-don’t-get-this-job-I’m-going-to-have-to-apply-for-food-stamps-move-apartments-and-sell-my-rickety-car kind of desperate.

I got a second interview for a job I’d applied for. A friend suggested that if they offered me the position to tell them, “I will think about it and get back to you.” I rehearsed it out loud on the way to the meeting. But when they told me toward the end of the hour that the job was mine, I was so relieved that they wanted me — I could go buy groceries and pay my electric bill! — that I forgot all about my friend’s guidance. “Yes! Yes!” I said, “Thank you! Thank you!”

And I regretted it every . . . single . . . day. It was a god-awful job that I stayed in for way too long making way too little. But I learned from it.

For my next job, I asked for time to consider their offer. I did my research, then made a counter offer. They made a second offer in response to mine. It was uncomfortable because it meant everything wasn’t tied up right away, and scary in that I feared (irrationally, of course) that they’d laugh at my offer, or change their minds, or not like me by the time my first day came around. Instead, I ended up with a starting salary that I felt good about because I hadn’t settled. I’d advocated for my own work experience and did what I imagined a confident person would do (and, surprise, I felt much more confident!).

From that point on, I started asking for what I deserved, and supporting myself became much more viable.

Elena

I’ve been self-employed for so long that I don’t entirely recall the experiences I’ve had in this area: other than once writing a letter to myself requesting better pay. The reply was one confirming my hard work, loyalty, and dedication to the job along with a request that I stick it out as the coffers were currently empty.

The courage I had to muster was not to ask for the raise, but to believe in the choices I was making to live the life of a freelancer, to believe that the work I was doing was meaningful to me and my clients — that it would help to make a difference in the world — and to be confident that my work would be valued enough to provide me with a living wage.

I would like to think that in a better world these same qualities — doing a good job, feeling committed to the work —  would apply to all employee-employer relationships, and that the need to be recognized financially as well as in other ways would be a natural aspect of human interaction — not requiring one to have courage.

Sara

Center and ground yourself. Send your energy through your feet to the center of the earth. Bring that energy back to your heart. Feel the power and love of Mother Earth supporting you.

Imagine your vision. What you are serving in your life? Know that you are doing this work for the highest good. Remember that what you are asking for is not about you, but about the good of the whole.

Remember that the resources you are asking for are the wind beneath your wings. They will allow you to support yourself, your family, all you cherish, while you are doing the work that serves.

Imagine all your ancestors at your back supporting you. Imagine your descendants (blood or otherwise) giving you a standing ovation.

Now speak truth. Ask for what you deserve. Clearly, directly, with strength and conviction. No apologies, no caveats, no wavering.

And when they say, “Yes, of course,” simply smile and say, “Thank you.”

Grace

Once when I was being offered a new job, there was a significant difference in the starting salary proposed by the organization and the one I knew was appropriate to my experience. I’d taken time to prepare for our negotiation and felt confident in the value I knew I’d be bringing to the job — I looked at what they were already good at and the unique ways I would improve on that even more. More importantly, however, I was clear on what I had to offer that would be new to them and would expand on what they were doing.

Taking the time to be honest with myself and make a clear assessment gave me a lot of confidence — at one point, I actually said, “You know that I am worth what I am asking for.”

At a seeming impasse, I made the following proposition: I would start at their salary and after six months, assuming I was adding the value I said I would, they would bump my salary up to the number I wanted. And that’s exactly what happened. Six months later I walked into their office and lightheartedly, but sincerely, said, “We all know that this is working out.”

I wouldn’t necessary recommend this specific approach to everyone but I would recommend thinking outside the box sometimes (three years later, when it came time for annual reviews and discussion about raises, I asked for an extra week off rather than a raise).

Trish

I have a social worker friend, Helen, who’s great at advocating for others, but rarely asks for anything for herself. Then last winter, during our women’s group meeting, she shared that she hadn’t had a pay raise in seven years. She said the thought of having that conversation with her boss left her feeling paralyzed with fear.

Kelly, another woman in our group, came up with the perfect solution — a PowerPoint presentation detailing the campaigns Helen had run and the many clients she had helped over the years. Kelly even added emails from community leaders and clients with positive feedback about Helen’s work.

Helen said that having a PowerPoint made her feel like she was taking a friend to the meeting with her boss. And, yes, she did get the raise.

Antoinette

I suggest seeking out resources — a lot of organizations offer workshops (usually free!) on just this topic — teaching women how to advocate for themselves, their financial lives, and their careers.

What's your experience and advice for others?

We welcome you to join the conversation. Your email address is required but it will not be published.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

  • Kathy McCabe says:

    In my experience in working in the corporate world for over 20 years and now working with women in negotiating for more, women do not ask enough!
    Here are a few tips:
    1) Knowing your value and knowing what the marketplace is paying for similar work is important. Once you know your value, practice with a friend or colleague asking for more. You have to believe you deserve it and actually practicing can really help.
    2) If you work for an organization, don’t assume your bosses know everything that you have accomplished. Throughout the year, keep a private detailed memo of any work that you have done that has added value to your organization. Before salary raises and bonuses are decided, schedule a meeting with your boss and present a summary of your accomplishments so you can make your case for more money.
    3) Develop the Mindset that it is “Ok to Fail:” More often men seem to embrace this mindset than women. Ask yourself it is worth not asking just because your boss or client may say no? Taking the risk of asking, even if you don’t get it, will boost your confidence and help you move on if needed. So what if they say no? If you believe you have done a good job, it is not a reflection on you.

  • Tracy says:

    I interviewed for a job but the salary was lower than I wanted (I was told there was no room for negotiation and that it was they were offering everyone in the position). When they made the official offer I asked if there was any flexibility in the salary and then added specifically what set me apart from other candidates (my experience, previous proven success, etc). I’d read not to ask for a specific amount but to ask if there was “flexibility in the salary” – I found it hard not to say – “can you offer me $X?” but I followed the advice I’d read. I followed up with an email outlining my unique qualifications. The next day I got a call with an offer that was even higher than I would have asked for if I’d given a specific number. I was overjoyed and accepted. I was told later that by giving them the things that made me different, they were able to make a business case for why they should pay me more. I worked very hard to prove them right and to be sure they got the most out of me. So it never hurts to ask and don’t specific about the amount you’ll accept – you just never know what can happen. Good luck!

  • Bianca says:

    My current experience is challenging, hired as an Artist for a Church-religious organization presents it’s own interesting dilemmas, mainly that musicians are not considered professionals and are not typically paid what they are worth for the gifts and talents they provide to the organization. Education is needed in terms of being paid a just salary for the background, training, education and skill level. Recently i met with leaders of the church and personnel to discuss issues regarding my employee agreement and what I would like to see. At the very least I was heard, i was clear with my intention, my desires and expectations. It is a constant gauging of ‘what do i want to experience’ and ‘how is this experience for me’. Asking yourself ‘am i fulfilled?’ ‘am i in the right place for my fullest expression?’ and ‘does my compensation accurately reflect what I am offering’? — the answers will lead you to the next step in the conversation, and in the professional journey.

    • Grace Welker says:

      This is great way to think about this: “It is a constant gauging of ‘what do i want to experience’ and ‘how is this experience for me’. Asking yourself ‘am i fulfilled?’ ‘am i in the right place for my fullest expression?’ and ‘does my compensation accurately reflect what I am offering’?” Thank you!

  • Kathleen Peterson says:

    Research is key. Knowing the circumstances, not to mention rules, both written and unwritten, will aid your efforts to communicate from a perspective of well-deserved confidence. Naturally a mentor can be helpful with this, but you can also honor yourself by doing your own research—tapping into your professional network and reading-up on relevant topics. I was in civil service for decades, so when I was able to assist those newly migrating into the system I did. Many didn’t realize that, if their experience uniquely justified a salary higher than the lowest in the eligible pay band, they’d need to explain how and ask for the higher wage in order to even be considered for anything but the lowest salary in the pay band. Interviewing for skill set was separated from salary establishme t/management by department, so w/o a savvy candidate’s governing input, there existed a chasm of disconnect that many a qualified, yet haplessly unknowing candidates disappeared into, never to be able to bridge the gap w/o pulling-up roots and looking for what they believed was more wage opportunity associated with alternate positions, only because they relied on advertising. It’s never the whole picture. When going after a job you want, empower the employer to meet your needs. If salary isn’t immediately negotiable, perhaps paid family leave or childcare subsidies might be. Inform yourself to be your best representative. You deserve the time and effort it requires.

    • Grace Welker says:

      This is such an important reflection on what happens. I love the expression “Empower the employer to meet your needs.” Thanks for sharing this!