New York Times: A Woman’s Guide to Salary Negotiation

By Kristin Wong

The first time I negotiated a raise, I had no idea what I was doing. A co-worker whispered that she’d gotten a slight pay increase, so I took a deep breath and approached my boss, making the case for a raise of my own. 

The results were not great. My boss suspected that I had compared notes with a colleague about our pay and reprimanded me for doing so. My stomach dropped and I wanted to cry, but by the end of the conversation I got the raise I’d requested. 

Women face unique challenges when it comes to negotiating, beginning with the fact that we are often viewed as “unlikable” when we do it. Women also have a tendency to underestimate their professional value, and we have been socialized to avoid assertiveness, an essential quality for a successful negotiation. These obstacles make negotiating more difficult, but no less important — which is why you’ve got to be extra prepared. Here’s how.

Read Wong’s full guide here.