Asking for a salary increase is not easy, especially for women.
More than half of women around the world have never asked for a raise before, according to a 2024 study by job listings site Indeed. Of the 43% who asked, three out of four received a salary increase.
Additionally, 61% of women globally believe they “need to work harder for recognition than their male counterparts,” according to the poll of more than 14,500 women in 11 countries.
According to research by Indeed, here's the percentage of women who asked for a raise in each country surveyed:
There is one Asian country that stands out from this group: India. Women in India were the most confident, with 65% of respondents saying they had sought a pay rise in the past.
“Respondents in India were consistently more optimistic than their global counterparts,” Nishita Lalvani, India and Southeast Asia marketing director at Indeed, told CNBC Make It. Indian women also reported feeling more satisfied when it comes to steps employers are taking to close the gender pay gap.
However, the survey showed that women in Japan and Singapore were the least confident when it came to asking for a salary increase. Only 13% of women in Japan and 32% in Singapore said they had ever asked for a raise.
Globally, 24% of women surveyed said they lacked opportunities to ask questions, while 28% said they feared negative consequences. Additionally, 28% of women said they didn't have the confidence to bring up the conversation.
“Women generally find it more difficult to advocate for themselves for promotion and/or a pay rise,” said Eileen Tan, chief human resources officer at AIA Singapore.
Having drive and ambition is crucial if you want to build a successful and fulfilling career. This must be coupled with the ability to present and implement plans.
Allen tan
Chief Human Resources Officer, AIA Singapore
“I learned early in my career that nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she told CNBC Make It. “It is equally important to be willing to raise your hands and step out of your comfort zone because all opportunities will come with their own set of risks.”
Here are six tips on the best way to negotiate salary, according to HR experts.
Do your research
Pooja Chhabria, career expert and Asia Pacific editor-in-chief at LinkedIn, said that before the conversation, it's important to find data about the salary parameters for your online role and discuss it with your colleagues so that you're better informed before walking into the meeting.
It's essential to have “clarity of thought” about what you think your compensation should be before discussing, she told CNBC Make It.
be confident
Although having a salary conversation can be daunting, being well prepared will ultimately help you gain confidence during the conversation. Practicing with a friend or mentor beforehand can also help you identify ways to improve your delivery.
“I always think it takes a lot of effort to look effortless. So that confidence will always come from clarity of thought after doing that research,” she adds.
It's also important to understand what your manager and company care about, and to keep that in mind throughout your conversation. Ultimately, the goal of negotiations is to reach a “mutually beneficial outcome.”
Prepare your playground
Preparing your presentation should start before you start the conversation. It's important to include specific accomplishments, and be prepared to address any objections from your manager.
“Be very clear about what you are going to tell your manager, starting with your value proposition [and] Chhabria suggests giving examples of industry standards. It is also important to “address concerns that there may be constraints around budgets.”
Additionally, “having a mentor to advocate for you is key,” says Elaine Tan. “[My mentor] He helped me build confidence and gave me a good voice.”
Schedule a meeting
It is important to schedule a meeting in advance and make clear that you want to discuss compensation and career development. Don't launch the conversation into your manager unexpectedly or frame it casually.
Additionally, be strategic about the timing of the meeting. “For example, if everyone is really busy launching a new product and everyone is really busy, it's probably not the right time,” she says.
Show your value
As they like to say for college essays: “Show, don't tell.” It's the same thing with salary negotiations.
It is important to provide examples of how you have helped you solve problems and create a positive impact in the past. Defining your examples with numbers can also help during negotiation.
“Communicate the impact you've made through your role, through your work, through the results you've achieved, and connect it to the goals of the company and your team,” Chhabria suggests.
