Women who consistently negotiate their salary increases earn at least $1 million more during their careers than those who don’t. Enticing?
Here are six easy steps to negotiating your next pay rise:
Step 1. Don’t wait to be offered
Step 2. Talk yourself up
Step 3. Learn about salary negotiation
Step 4. Practice makes perfect
Step 5. Value yourself
Step 6. Putting it all together
Read the full article on the Cosmopolitan Website ‘Show Me the Money”
Through discussions with women I know of all ages, it seems that some of us are too embarrassed to negotiate at all, while many of us find it extra embarrassing to negotiate in front of friends or colleagues for fear of what they may think of us. It seems that there is still a stigma attached to negotiation be it when we are looking to make retail or wholesale purchases, buy at markets or even negotiate our salaries in the workplace.
Do women care more what others think of them than men when it comes to negotiation? Why are we embarrassed to negotiate when spending our hard earned cash or negotiating our worth in the workplace?
Note: If you are interested in improving your negotiation skills, come along to the Women in Finance Event on the 20th October 2009 - ‘Negotiation for Women How Confident are you in your Salary Negotiation Skills?’
The Herald Sun ran a great article last week “Masculine” look a nice little earner
The opening really caught my eye “WOMEN adopting a “masculine approach” in the office earn up to $83,000 more in their working lives than “nicer” female colleagues.”
It is not to say that we all need to act and present like men, however the research undertaken shows a clear correlation between those ‘Alpha females’ and their increased earning potential.
Intelligence and conscientiousness are good traits to get you ahead, however being agreeable does not seem to work so well with the study showing “that being nice does not pay for women, whereas working hard does”
The link then is formed between women who are too agreeable and nice, with them being less inclined to engage in salary negotiation, and hence receiving a lower income than they could otherwise have if they had negotiated. This is a great article and well worth a read.
If you are unsure about salary negotiation, why not download your free Salary Negotiation Guide for Women from Six Figures today
Share your views and experiences on the topic – does being nice prevent women getting ahead and restrict their earning potential?
I have never been one for mediocrity and suspect that not many people aspire to it, yet for too many of us in our working lives, we accept mediocrity. I was re-inspired this week by a short book that packs a punch of inspiration called ‘It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be’ by P. Arden. As this books summary states “it’s a concise guide to making the most of yourself – a pocket bible for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible” which perhaps is required now more than ever! I am not sure I would categorize it as a ’self help book’ though I could be wrong. There is nothing fluffy or esoteric about it, rather it states the facts and reminds us we have choices.
This book offers obvious yet profound facts and advice that many of us need right now, be it as employers or employees. In turbulent times, where risk is avoided, uncertainty and sitting tight seem to be the order of the day, maybe it is just time to break out. Nothing great has ever happened by not taking some risks. If you think and act small, that’s what will come back to you – not a lot and its hard to feel a sense of achievement on that.
“So how good do you want to be?” a question that the book asks, have you ever thought about it? Or things like “Don’t look for the next opportunity. The one you have in your hand is the opportunity” “Getting fired can be a positive career move” and “Don’t be afraid to work with the best.”
If you aspire to succeed and want more out of your work life or business, this may be just the book you need.
If you have read this book share your thoughts here.
This week I was delighed to be invited to speak with Suzi Dafnis of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network about recruitment, employer branding and attracting top staff.
Some of the things we cover in the interview include:
* How to build trust with your audience through your website
* Why your online brand impacts your credibility
* How you can make your business attractive to prospective employees (even if you can’t pay the types of dollars larger companies can)
* The mistakes businesses make when hiring staff
Click the link to listen to the interview on “Niche Online Business Matches Top Talent with Top Jobs”
Find out more about the Australian Businesswomen’s network, including their resources, membership, interviews, mentoring programs and much more.
This Free 10 page Guide on ‘How to Select a Career Coach’ has been developed for Six Figures by Paul Stevens. Paul is the founder for Worklife Counselling in Sydney in 1979 following a 21 year career in Human Resources Management and The Worklife Network – a national and international affiliation of adult career specialists – in 1986. Paul has authored countless books such as Win That Job!, closely followed by Stop Postponing the Rest of Your Life. Paul has published over 35 further titles, booklets and career assessment instruments and is one of Australia’s leading Career Professionals, whose knowledge about successful career transition is unquestionable
* If you are a $100K+ salary earner, we encourage you to register and become a Member of Six Figures to receive great career support and job seeking resources (such as this free guide) plus access to great $100K+ Job and Contract opportunities.
* If you earn under a $100K and would like to receive a copy of this Free Guide ‘How to Select a Career Coach’, please email us at info@sixfigures.com.au including in the subject line ‘Free Guide on ‘How to Select a Career Coach‘ or via our Contact Us Page
Six Figures offers a lot of great free Job Seeking, Interviewing, Resuming Writing and Career Change Resources that are publicly available on the site in Job Seeker Resources to assist you in securing your next job.
Michael Port, author of “The Think Big Manifesto” has a terrific post, THINK BIG STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Get Comfortable with Discomfort (If the Shoe Pinches, It Fits) that will no doubt inspire and motivate those of you who are contemplating a change in your work life. Michael says that ‘control is an illusion’ and as we all know when it comes to work this is clearly the case. Whilst many people are resistant to change and spend far too much time doing what they know and playing it safe, Michael advocates acceptance of the fact that ‘control is an illusion’ and that we really need to be thinking big – pushing and challenging ourselves and embracing discomfort. For most of you who are no doubt very successful in your careers to date, it is about taking that next step and being willing to move outside your comfort zone to achieve the next big thing in your work life – regardless of the economic climate. We have to be willing to think big, fail and get back up and do it all over again if that is what it takes.
Michael suggests 3 key things we can all do to help with this;
1. Improve and act on your intuition
2. Improve our promises
3. Take more risks, lots more
Consider:
Depending on what you want from your work life, it may be time to take that next step and starting thinking big!
Share some of your stories about taking risks at work or in your business.
I am delighted that my recent article “An entrepreneurial approach to job seeking in a recession” was picked up by a favourite site of mine Anthill.
The current market downturn has created uncertainty for many workers. However, while many remain concerned about job security, and others have lost it entirely, there is also a proportion of the workforce that look at the current market and remain calm and focused on securing that next great job opportunity.
Job security is really about perception. Realistically, there is little if any job security for most workers. Markets are always changing, businesses are restructuring, new CEOs and Executives are being appointed and business direction is continually being altered to reflect demand and supply. This has been always been the case. However, in the current climate it is exacerbated, and causing a heightened state of fear. ……………..
Read the full article on Anthill
This morning, the Six Figures team set up shop in front of the ANZ building at the top of Collins Street to offer career assistance to those ANZ staff being shown the door. With their Six Figure dog to offer some light relief, they offered free career support services, and handed out brochures and pens with some good morning cheer to Collins Street workers.
Whilst Six Figures is a cutting edge job site, where Advertisers can upload images and videos, and Job Seekers can create their online e-profile page, this tech start up knows that relationships and connecting with people both online and offline are what counts. That is why the Six Figures team spent this morning connecting with the workers and job seekers of Melbourne, offering their support. “Sometimes the most effective assistance comes from the simplest of things” said Magowan.
Six Figures was created to deliver value to both Advertisers and Job Seekers. On Six Figures job seekers are Members and as such receive career and job seeking resources and support. Six Figures is focused on empowering people in their careers and helping them secure satisfying employment. They have a number of expert Career Coaches, who support the site and qualified members of the Careers Development Association of Australia (CDAA).
Thanks also to Thomas from Recruitment Directory for your inspiration and help today.
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