Photo by Alexander Suhorucov
We all want to get the best job offer – a great title, a hefty salary, stock options, unlimited PTO, free snacks and meals, and more. Despite these wants, women still tend to accept job offers as is. CNBC reported that a whopping 60% of women say they’ve never negotiated with an employer over pay. While a study done by Fidelity Investments showed 58% of Americans accepted the initial offer without negotiating. 
Hui Wu-Curtis, Founder & COO of SupportU has seen many women accept job offers at face value. According to Hui most of the women she’s mentored in the past did not negotiate because they had this mindset of not wanting to seem greedy and they also didn’t know how to negotiate. She has also witnessed women who do opt to negotiate their salary but value themselves at much lower than the market standard. In order to get the best job offer, Hui says, women need to avoid these 5 common mistakes.
1. Being hesitant to job-hop.
It’s okay to job-hop with the intention of finding a company that aligns with your values, your desired salary, and new challenges. For instance, you could switch to a company with stronger social stances if you want a company that aligns more with your values.
Know your self-value. Do your research and ask others about your skills and contributions if you don’t know your strengths. This is your fuel, your leverage when you negotiate for a better title or for more compensation.
3. Divulging your earning history with hiring managers or recruiters.
You are not obligated to disclose your current salary. The employer can terminate your application but don’t be pressured into sharing this information because you will destroy your ability to negotiate the best job offer. One way you can respond is to ask about the salary range they had in mind for this position.
4. Not negotiating for yourself like you would for someone else.
You are your strongest advocate so it is criminal not to negotiate the best for yourself. This goes back to #2. When you know your value you know you can advocate your strengths, expertise, and experiences to the employer. Hui says, “if you can be a champion for others you can be a champion for yourself.”
5. Not willing to say no or walk away.
Be willing to say no and walk away from job offers that don’t align with your goals and vision. Other opportunities will come along.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
Once you say “yes” to a job offer, it’s too late to negotiate. According to the Oxford Dictionary negotiation means, “a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement”. Don’t be afraid to have a discussion with the employer and promote yourself.
The Fidelity Investment study shows that 85% of Americans who negotiated their salary or benefits got some of the things they asked for. Women work hard to build a career. We should all take Hui’s advice and negotiate the best offer for ourselves and know when to walk away from opportunities that do not serve our purpose or goals. By avoiding these common mistakes you are not only advocating for yourself and putting yourself in the best position career-wise but you are also paving the way for other women who are trailing behind you.
Need more negotiation skills? Contact Hui for questions and further insight and join the CCWomen community to gain access to more expert insight from our industry luminaries. Email: ccwomen@cmpteam.com to learn more.
