After months of applying and interviewing to jobs, you receive the email stating the words that you’ve been waiting: You’re hired! Excitement runs throughout your body as you read the letter, however as you reread the letter, you suddenly pause. The salary is not what you expected. All sorts of questions run through your mind ranging from “Is this the industry standard? How am I going to afford my rent on this wage?“This scenario is one that our team at Inclusv comes across frequently: how on earth do I negotiate my salary? And what should I negotiate? In an ideal situation, no one would have to negotiate their salary, because employers, policy makers, and legislators would have already undertaken the responsibility towards building long-term solutions to improve labor practices to benefit generations of workers of color to come. And while there is a rise in today’s labor movement around fair living wages and benefits, we know that labor policies still have ways to go, which is why we wrote some tips to help you navigate your job offer:
Know What You Can Negotiate – If you’re just starting off your career, or are the first in the family to enter this field, know that you can negotiate more than just your salary. While it is generally harder for individuals who are beginning their careers to negotiate, looking at your job offer comprehensively can help you determine what aspects you want to negotiate such as: salary, cost of living, the right to unionize, title, opportunity to work on leading projects, transportation, child care, retirement plans, vacation days, internet and cell phone coverage, remote options, housing relocation assistance, stock options, professional development opportunities, sign-on and win bonuses, and more. Non-negotiable items generally include healthcare benefits as they are purchased in bulk by the organization.
Know What Labor Laws Protect You – Be aware of your rights such as the mandated state or city minimum wage, paid sick leave, and laws protecting you from disclosing your salary history or other personal background information. If you ever find yourself in a situation where your rights are compromised, take note and consider it as a huge red flag to not continue with the employer as they are in violation of labor laws.
Research – Look up salary ranges online and/or ask your fellow peers (or Inclusv) for insights on what aspects of the job offer you should and can negotiate. Studies have found that when individuals make specific asks in the negotiation process, the higher the chance of receiving each ask. A few items to consider: your previous higher salary and benefits, cost of living, inflation, relocation costs, responsibilities, transportation costs, higher education degree, fluency in another language, and more.
Be Confident & Ask – Most negotiators fear an employer rescinding an offer to being viewed as greedy to asking for too much when the reality is that the ask is a fair and equitable wage and benefits. A recent study from Glassdoor found that the average individual who does not negotiate could be earning 13.3% more per year than their current annual base salary.(1) Instead, take a deep breath, strategize a plan, and negotiate. Lastly, remember, employers have spent a lot of time and resources to hire you, and now they are asking you to choose them. Understand that they are competing with other employers to have you on their team, and leverage this opportunity to ask for a fair and competitive wage and benefits package.
Advocate – Although important, knowing how to negotiate is not the answer to addressing the growing wage gap as it is a systemic and institutionalized issue. However, if we use our collective voices to shift the narrative from wage equality being an “individual” problem to that of organizational leaders, policy makers, and elected officials who actually reinforce these behaviors, we can dismantle the regressive policies and practices (i.e. salary history question), which have hurt communities of color by blocking them from opportunities to build long-term generational wealth. Given the looming challenges of our modern workforce, we need to support and advocate for one another so all of us can fully participate and be compensated equitably within these spaces.
Use Inclusv as a Resource – We’ve worked with countless individuals to negotiate their job offers and know how taxing it can be. Reach out to us at Info@Inclusv.com so we can coach you one-on-one and develop a strategy that best fits your needs. You are not alone!
1. https://www.glassdoor.com/press/know-your-worth-october-2017/