As a woman, it is extremely important to know your self-worth, especially in your career. Here is a great article in I recently read in Time Magazine about how women are still earning less than men, The 100% Solution.
As a working mom I have to admit I took some offense to Donald Trump’s quote when asked about hiring working moms, he replied, “She’s not giving me 100%. She’s giving me 84%…” The article’s author says working moms are some of the most productive people on the planet. Sure I am biased, but I have to agree. My mother has always said, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person.”
Unfortunately, women don’t always know their worth, much less how to communicate it. The article goes on to say that women don’t ask for the money they deserve, they try too hard to please and we assume our employers will be fair about pay. I tend to agree, but I do think that everyone is capable of understanding what they bring to the table in a job and what it’s worth.
One example that comes to mind is a friend of mine who was offered a job years ago right out of her MBA program. She found out a few months into the job that one of her male cohorts was offered the same position, but for more money. She approached the employer and they increased her pay. I was so proud of her!
A career coaching client I recently spoke with, Lauren, found out through a recruiter that as a lawyer at a local firm here in Atlanta, she was being paid at the bottom end of the pay scale for her job. She works her tail off, putting in long hours under tight deadlines. Whether that’s because she’s female or not we don’t know, but she was shocked to find out how underpaid she was.
So take some time this week to understand your brand value in the marketplace. Don’t hesitate to toot your own horn. No one else is going to do it for you. It’s up to you!
Hallie Crawford
Career Help Coach
