5 Black Millennial Women Share What They Wish They Knew About Equal Pay & Salary Negotiation

It was September 2015.

I had just inhaled a few Torchy’s Tacos in my car because I was using my lunch hour to secretly search for jobs on my cell phone - all while in my company’s parking lot. #savage

I had just completed my MBA 4 months prior and was job searching. After years of working at my current job, upward mobility and an increase in pay were scarce (because of the “budget” they claimed). With my new degree in my hand and years of experience under my belt, I was sick and tired of making less than I deserved.

After what felt like minutes instead of an hour, my lunch ended and back to work I went. As soon as I entered my office, my boss came in and asked to speak with me.

My boss was getting a promotion and wanted me to take their position (look at God!). After learning about my new salary compensation package that would come with the promotion, I damn near shouted “yes”. The way that I looked at it, God was finally answering my prayers; I was getting a new job and securing the bag – or so I thought.

Immediately saying “yes” to that job offer turned out to be one of the BIGGEST money mistakes that I’ve made thus far. Soon after working in my new role, I learned that I was making more than $30K LESS than what the previous person in my role was making.

$30K less ya’ll!

Sadly, my reality isn’t unheard of – especially when it comes down to many Black women. Many of us don’t negotiate our salary and instead take the very first offer that’s given to us. If I could go back in time, I definitely would’ve done things much differently. #whenyouknowbetteryoudobetter

Do you remember how your first job offer went as an adult? Were you guilty of making the same mistake that I made?

Out of the many factors that are already contributing to a lack of equal pay for Black women, failing to negotiate and ask for our worth is one of the driving forces.

Recently, I was able to speak with 5 Black, millennial women that work in a variety of industries on the things that they wish they knew about salary negotiation and equal pay.

Click here to continue reading to learn their stories and their words of wisdom.