LUNA Champions #EqualPay: Top 3 Tips for Negotiating Compensation

What’s more frustrating than knowing you’ve poured your heart and soul into a project, only to find out you’re being paid significantly less than your male counterpart? Not one single thing.

On average, women make 20% less than men performing the exact same job. Let that sink in. While some employers are just known for disrespectful wage disparities, I was raised on the belief that “we have not because we ask not.” That said, as women, no matter how long we’ve been in the game, we must enter conversations surrounding compensation with the confidence of a well seasoned pro. Ready to earn every red cent you know you deserve? Following are my top three tips for negotiating compensation:

1. Know your worth. Then, add tax: Your skills and talents are worth something and you want to get paid the fair-market value when a potential client or employer makes an offer. But what is your market value? Don’t trust anyone on the other side of the table to tell you. Do your research and find out for yourself.

2. Slow down, baby: Kicking off the discussion about salary prematurely sends the message that you don’t place much value on being a good fit – you just care about getting paid. In the same way, if the client or employer brings up money early on, it’s better to seamlessly change the subject so you can thoroughly share why you’re the perfect match before talking salary. The last thing you want the interviewer to assume is that you’re operating from a deficit.

3. Never, and I mean never, accept the first offer. This act alone can result in the loss of thousands and thousands of dollars throughout your career. Instead of responding with an immediate yes, take some time to really think about it. Check your gut — are you excited? Neutral? Disappointed? Worried? Give yourself some time. In those moments of silence, there’s a chance of the other person’s offer improving to your advantage.

To raise awareness of the gender pay gap, LUNA® is offering a 20% discount on all LUNA Bars (while supplies last) sold on Lunabar.com from April 3-11 in support of LeanIn.Org’s #20PercentCounts campaign. LUNA will match the discount amount with a donation of up to $100,000 to fund salary negotiation workshops hosted by AAUW.

To see how LUNA champions and inspires women everyday visit LUNABar.com and follow the movement on social media:

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Facebook: @LUNA