If You Don't Negotiate for Yourself, Who Will?

AAUW’s 2012 research, Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of Women and Men One Year after College Graduation, showed that even one year out of college, women are already paid significantly less than their male counterparts.

The report explained several possible reasons for the pay gap. Amongst them may be the "gender difference in willingness and ability to negotiate salary. Negotiating a salary can make a difference in earnings, and men are more likely than women to negotiate their salaries."

College women need to learn how to salary negotiate beginning with their first job. I am happy that many of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) seminars include professional development topics such as salary negotiation.

"Women who negotiate increase their potential to earn higher salaries and better benefits packages. By negotiating fair and equitable salaries, you’ll be better able to pay off loans, buy the things you want and need, and even save for retirement." (from Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of Women and Men One Year after College Graduation)

If you do not negotiate your salary, you leave money on the table. Don't let that happen. Employers are expecting you to negotiate. If you don't ask, the answer is no.

#womeninvestinginwomen #equalpayday