3 steps you cant afford to miss when determining salary

3 steps you cant afford to miss when determining salary3 steps you cant afford to miss when determining salaryIf you never negotiate your startingsalaryor your freelance rate, you are potentially leavinga million dollarson the table throughout the course of your career.Thats a lot of money to be missing out on just because you dont want to ask a question that makes you feel uncomfortable. But statistics show that women have trouble with this ask time and time again. One study found that50% of men will negotiate their salary, compared to just 12% of women. Not to mention, women on average are alreadyonly getting paid$0.79 on the dollar compared to men, and that doesnt account for race and ethnicity orparental status.When it comes to gender parity, this needs to be tackled from all angles, including making legislative changes, company changes, more transparency and address motherhood through things like access to affordable childcare, better family leave policies, and improved healthca re for women and more. So, as individuals, we are often left wondering what, if anything, we can do. The answer is quite simple advocate for yourself Start closing the gap by negotiating your own salary or freelance rates to ensure youre standing up for what you are worth.Here are three strategies to help1. Be preparedDo your research Whether you are negotiating in the interview process, asking for a raise internally, or schauplatz your freelance rate, you must first know the market. Consult sites like Fairygodboss - which has asalary database- to find out what people in similar roles are earning.The next step is to talk to people in your role or the role you want. While talking about money is one of those taboo topics in the U.S., its actually surprising how many people are willing to have this conversation So ask around, and make sure to ask both men and women so you have a good picture of salary ranges. Once you have the information, solidify your rate/salary range in your head . What do you want? What are you willing to take? At what rate do you just say no? Having these numbers clear in your mind will make the conversations easier.2. Conquer the fearMost of my clients arent comfortable negotiating their salary. When I ask why theyre hesitant, the responses that I hear are almost always influenced by fear, particularly from my female clients, who worry that the offer will be rescinded if they ask for more money - or that theyll seem ungrateful by requesting more.Heres the thing As long as youre coming back with an educated ask thats backed in market research of what the industry, role and years experience should pay, theres no reason that a company should rescind a job offer. Most companies expect you to negotiate, so theyll throw out a lower number in order to have the room to meet your ask. In fact, a female recruiter once told me that she always feels a twinge of guilt when her female candidates dont try to negotiate, because theres nothing that she c an do to increase their base salary if they dont askIn the rare event that a company does rescind the offer, take a minute to step back and ask yourself, honestlyDo you really want to work for this company?Thats a huge red flagand paints a clear picture of the lack of value they have for their employees.Negotiating your salary doesnt make you seem ungrateful - its not showing your enthusiasm that will make you seem unappreciative. When youre offered the role, reiterate your strong interest in the position and the company first - and then follow your genuine excitement with an ask about your salary.3. Dont get caught off guardPersonally, I think its smart to do your research regarding the market on a regular basis. While most people are prepared to talk about money when bidding a project or interviewing for a new role, you may not expect it to be brought up during an initial phone screen, in a meeting with your boss or even during a seemingly innocuousnetworkingconversation. If you are keeping up with your research, you likely have a good understanding of the market and acceptable ranges for your role or any target positions. But, even the best-researched person can be thrown by the salary/rate history questionsWhile some states and cities (California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York City, and others) are banning questions about your previous salary history, clearly the majority of the country still allows this type of question, or you may be faced with it even with the new laws in effect. So when you get asked about your salary/rate history, youll be ready Politely decline to answer and instead say something similar to, Id prefer to focus on the range for this opportunity and whether or not this is a mutual fit. Are you able to provide thebudgetyou have for this position/project? Let them share this number first and then respond as to whether or not that aligns with your goalsFor freelancers, not only can the initial negotiation be difficult, but you need to set clear boundaries to avoid scope creep. As expectations change, it is important for you to define anything outside your original contact and charge appropriately. If the fear creeps up and you are worried that youll lose the account, or miss out on an opportunity, I encourage you to take a step back, clearly define your bottom line (the number at which youll walk away) and write down all the reasons you deserve that rate or salary. Know your worthMary Beth Ferrante is a career coach to millennial moms and is the owner and founder of Live.Work.Lead., an organization that helps companies retain top female talent by transformingworkplace cultureto support new parents. In addition to corporate programming, Live.Work.Lead. works directly with individuals through one-on-one coaching and its Professional Working Moms Groups, which connect moms within specific regions and industries.A version of this deutsche bundespost previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community th at helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.