In my last blog, I spoke about the truisms in the UK’s professional job market, and the skills you need to develop to navigate effectively. Today, I want to give you some practical insights that will enable you achieve that new job, receive a pay rise, or be offered promotion.

Most employees do not know their worth and are too afraid to ask for it, especially women. In her book “Women Don’t Ask”, Professor Linda Babcock noted that when women MBAs got an offer, only 7% of them would attempt to negotiate as opposed to 57% of men. Research also shows that when women do negotiate, they tend to negotiate 30% less than men.

In my experience, (previously as a head-hunter for over two decades) most professional employees – both men and women - do not realise the true value they add to an organisation. I displayed this behaviour during my own career, until I applied my negotiation ability (that I practiced every day for clients) to myself.

When it comes to your next career move, always remember you have done a huge amount of work to even achieve an interview or offer, you have earned the right to be ‘appropriately rewarded’ for that role.

Here is a simple guide to bring confidence - before you enter a negotiation:

Start from a well-defined plan, market yourself as a premium employee, create options, and re-evaluate all that you have learned.

Let’s go into a little more detail:

Your well-defined plan:

• Evaluate the role - will it move your career forward? How?

• Understand the interests and what the employer is looking for, by asking them to identify what their goals are before your interview/appraisal.

• Know what the employer/organisation can be flexible on and what they cannot.

Be a premium employee:

• Understand the key performance indicators of the role – this identifies the value you will add.

• Identify your asks, split this into three zones:

a) Stellar offer

b) Acceptable

c) Unacceptable

• Negotiate ‘as if’ you are representing your best friend. It is far simpler to champion someone else rather than yourself!

Create options:

• An early review/appraisal.

• Flexible working hours.

• Asking for training and coaching course to be paid for by the employer.

Re-evaluate all you have learned:

• During all interactions, create an environment of rapport and respect.

• Remain clear on your objectives and be persistently patient.

‘Underselling’ yourself is detrimental to you and your career. It is as damaging as ‘overselling’.

Purposefully - both sides can then reach an agreement. Good luck!

Naturally, this advice is a sample of the value Lisa and I can add. Bringing this methodology to your specific needs is our purpose. Why not join us on our two half-day virtual course on “Impactful Negotiations for Women” on 8th and 9th February 2021?

Drop a line in the comments section or a personal message ([email protected]) if you are interested. I will send the details of our programme.