Know Your Worth: Negotiating Salary and Advocating for Yourself

In today's competitive job market, understanding your professional value and effectively advocating for yourself isn't just important—it's essential. Whether you're negotiating a starting salary, asking for a raise, or pursuing new responsibilities, knowing how to champion your own worth can significantly impact your career trajectory and financial well-being.

The Challenge of Self-Advocacy

For many professionals, particularly women and those from underrepresented groups, advocating for oneself can feel uncomfortable or even intimidating. As Kelly, a Salesforce Lead, candidly shares: "If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, it would be to advocate for yourself and don't be afraid to ask for what you want. The way that I communicate—especially asking for a promotion or a raise—the way that I'll approach it and the way my brother and boyfriend will do it are so different. My brother will ask for a raise and just kind of mute the call and sit there. And that terrifies me, but is something that I think all of us should be doing. You have to ask for what you want." Kelly's observation highlights an important reality: the ability to confidently request what you deserve is a skill—one that can be developed with practice and intention.

Understanding the Salary Gap

Part of knowing your worth is recognizing the reality of pay disparities that still exist in many workplaces. Sib, a Producer at a Fortune 100 tech company, points to research that exposes these differences in approach: "Historically, based on data, women ask for a promotion based on the work they're already doing. Whereas oftentimes men say, 'I can do that job, I want that job, and then pay me for it and I'll do it.'"

This insight reveals a crucial mindset shift that can benefit anyone seeking fair compensation: position yourself for what you can do rather than solely what you've already done.

Practical Strategies for Salary Negotiation

1. Do Your Research

Before entering any negotiation, arm yourself with data. Marisa, a Web Marketing Lead, emphasizes the power of backing up your requests with concrete information: "I really do a lot of research and back up my points with hard facts and data. So if, for example, I'm presenting on the results of a project, I've definitely done my due diligence and looked at [my accomplishments]: here's the dollar number of payoffs that we got from this event, or here's the percentage of people who registered... It gives me the confidence to know what I'm talking about and be able to prove my points... That only helps give momentum and have people trust you for the work that you're doing and the value that you're providing to their company."

Research industry standards, salary ranges for your position and location, and document your specific contributions to the organization. This creates a foundation of facts rather than feelings.

2. Have Confidence in Your Value

Melissa, a Senior Project Manager, shares how she turned a challenging situation into an opportunity for fair compensation: "I found out that one of my male colleagues... got promoted into a job that he had no experience for... And I kept being told, 'Oh no, we can't give you this [salary] amount'... When I found out [about this promotion for] my colleague, who had no experience in the role that he was now being promoted to, I went to our CEO and I [said], 'Okay, let's talk about this realistically.'"

Melissa's direct approach resulted in success: "I ended up being successful with it. Thankfully, I don't think I gave him much of a choice, but I ended up making actually more than my male counterpart."

3. Build a Community of Transparency

One powerful way to overcome compensation disparities is through open communication with peers. Sib recommends "having conversations with people in the industry who are comfortable sharing salary information, career path information... When I was younger, I was pretty heads down [when it came to asking], 'What else is out there? What am I valued at? Am I underpaid for what I'm doing?' You won't really know those things unless you ask those questions."

Creating or joining networks where compensation is discussed openly can provide valuable benchmarks and boost your confidence in negotiations.

Advocating Beyond Salary

Self-advocacy extends beyond compensation discussions. It includes pursuing growth opportunities, requesting resources, and ensuring your contributions are recognized. Lauren, Head of Employer Brand + Belonging, shares how she learned to advocate for her place at the table: "I went to a big meeting on behalf of our CEO and it was all men sitting at the table—a 12-person table—and then all the women were sitting in the chairs surrounding the room, on the wall. And I walked in and I was one of the later people to arrive and there were two seats left at the table. My first inclination was this visual cue of 'Oh, I should go sit at the wall.' [But then I thought], 'What?... What am I doing?... Absolutely not. I'm here as a participant in the meeting.' And I went the long way around this big table to go get that empty chair because that's where I belonged."

This powerful anecdote illustrates how advocacy often means claiming your rightful space—physically and metaphorically—in professional settings.

Overcoming Gender and Cultural Barriers

For many professionals, cultural backgrounds or gender expectations can create additional challenges in self-advocacy. Sarah, a Strategy GVP, reflects: "I had to learn very quickly how to make my presence known. Especially if you are physically more on the petite side as a woman, sometimes it's really hard to take up the space in the room that you need to."

Her approach involves being prepared and assertive: "Just always knowing that I have the experience, I have the patience, I have the insight, I have the expertise, just always remembering that, and not letting that imposter syndrome get the best of me, has really helped me"

The Power of Asking

At its core, effective self-advocacy often comes down to one simple yet profound action: asking. As Kelly succinctly puts it: "Ask for what you want, you won't get it otherwise. You might be told no, it's probably going to happen more than once, but that doesn't mean you should stop trying. You're your own best advocate."

Conclusion: Championing Your Worth Is an Ongoing Practice

Knowing and advocating for your worth isn't a one-time event but a continuous practice throughout your career. It requires preparation, confidence, and sometimes courage. But as our Advizers have demonstrated, the results—fair compensation, greater opportunities, and professional respect—are well worth the effort.

Remember CEO Shanna's powerful perspective: "I think all of us just need to be confident in what we bring and be proud of who we are." By championing your own value with clarity and conviction, you not only advance your own career but potentially create more equitable pathways for others. Your worth is real—and your voice in advocating for it matters.

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Want to learn more about how your specific background could translate into a career path? Visit us at Advize for more insights from successful, relatable professionals sharing real information to help.

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Wishing you success,

Emily McSherry

Founder & CEO