Get that money, honey! 💰
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#WednesdayWisdom
"Gratitude is like fuel for the spirit. And I make sure I never run on empty." — Ava DuVernay
Morning Musings
'Tis the season for performance reviews for some of us. Y'all know I'm all about helping my girls get their coins, so last week I brought two friends with me to The Wing's event on salary negotiation, aptly titled "Securing the Bag."
Presented in partnership with SoFi, an online personal financing company, the event included tangible takeaways on how to ask for more (and get it!). And because sharing is caring, I'm listing the tips from Alex Dickinson, membership strategy lead for SoFi, here for your viewing pleasure as well:
Have three numbers in mind:
1) Your Wish: where you'd love to be (ex. $90k salary)
2) Your Want: where you want to be (ex. $85k salary)
3) Your Walk: the number where it's no longer worth your time & energy (ex. $75k)
Three ways to do salary research:
1) Evidence about your performance: value you've added to your organization and value saved; your strengths/superpowers
2) Evidence from the marketplace: aka salaries listed on Glassdoor and Payscale, etc. (p.s. SoFi has a great resource for this called Get That Raise. Another resource I love: Career Contessa's Salary Project).
3) Evidence from your peers: Three men and three women. It's important to ask men in your field because as we all know, that gender pay gap is REAL!!
Yes, people, you have to TALK to people and find out what they're making. I know we were taught it's taboo to talk about money, but that ideology is only benefitting Human Resources.
Listen, if I hadn't talked to girlfriends in similar roles at other nonprofits when I was presented with a "promotion" at a former employer, I wouldn't have known what the company was offering me was actually $30,000 UNDER market rate.
Not sure how to ask? Try the following script:
1) I'm doing research because I'm planning to negotiate...
2) I think you have some information that could help me.
3) Would you be willing to sharing your ballpark salary with me?
Don't forget you can negotiate ANYTHING!!
Company not willing to compromise on salary? Here are some other benefits you can negotiate: PTO; flexibility/ability to work remotely; professional development (as in conferences, membership to professional orgs, leadership coach, etc.). The opportunities are endless!
Want more? Check out the following resources:
My blog post about how I increased my salary by $30K
My podcast interview with Jessica Lauren of No Real Jewelry
The recording of my "Ladies, Get Paid!" salary negotiation webinar
Bonus: "Ladies, Get Paid!" Spotify playlist to pump you up before you make the ask
I want y'all to WIN! If you have questions, or use any of these tips to your advantage, I want to know. In the proverbial words of Tyra Banks, I'm rooting for you; we're all rooting for you!
Love,
L'Oreal
Links I Love
My Latest Obsession
While at the inaugural reading retreat for my virtual book club, we took a splendid mini-bookshop tour of Brooklyn. The first stop? Cafe con Libros, an independent feminist bookstore with a small coffeeshop inside (so basically everything I love).
While browsing, I found Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World from the Tweets to the Streets by Feminista Jones. It'd be on my TBR list since it debuted in January, so I was happy to purchase a book by a Black feminist author at a feminist bookstore. I like to stay on brand at all times, what can I say?
Back in Chicago, I practically devoured the book during my commute. And, as someone relatively new-ish to Black Feminism (in name, I've been about this life in theory for a little while now), I enjoyed learning more about the history of Black Feminists as well as the women, such as Feminista Jones, taking up the mantle in the modern era.Â
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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!