The last article I read from my PR Girl Google Alerts literally floored me! How? Oh, you know, stating that on average woman get paid 7% less than their male counterparts. That can add up to be 1000s of dollars! To be honest, I thought the $$$ gap would be much more, but it’s still just not fair for the ladies who work just as hard, just as well, just as great as any guy out there (cue inner Sheryl Sandberg).
Yes, I realize my emotions come from a personal place being a working female but also because I know it rings to be true. Once upon a time, when I was an intern, The guy intern who got hired to a full time position at the same time I did got paid exponentially higher than I did. Indeed, he naturally got higher raises and bonuses. And, indeed, was expecting to ask for more when I wasn’t even getting approved for a DOLLAR/HOUR raise. (Clarification: he legit got hired like ONE MONTH before me. Boo bitter bug)
That number conversation got even more tricky when I got promoted. And even harder when I started interviewing when I switched positions. Employers expect you to know your worth in a dollar figure and trust, it’s not easy to pinpoint your worth and value. Maybe its in our girl genes or a cultural thing but this needs to stop! Ladies, we have the internet at our disposal, plus the power of social media, there is no reason to walk into a negotiation without knowing what other people in your position are making.
I get we work in PR, words are our thing, but we cannot be so scared of numbers! Let it motivate you to close that gap. That’s all. I’ll get off my feminist-do-good pedestal now.
Talk numbers to me,
