The signature on the university degree is not yet dry, and the first young male graduates are already throwing themselves into the machinery of business and industry. The goal is clear: higher, further, faster! Which means: high salary, great professional development and that pronto! As a rule, this attitude combined with the most necessary qualifications works quite well, which explains why women seem inferior to their male colleagues in this respect.
The priorities of many women when it comes to choosing their career paths differ significantly from those of their male peers.
A good working atmosphere, team spirit and flexible working hours are the decisive factors here for accepting an offered job. Of course, this doesn’t mean that men don’t care about these things, but should they not be present, a certain number of zeros on the paycheck can certainly make up for it for quite a while.
That such an attitude will develop into a financial disadvantage for women in the longer term has been known not only since the introduction of “Equal Pay Day”. Both the German Federal Statistical Office, statista, and the European Commission publish statistics at regular intervals that point to the significant financial disparity between the sexes. See: Working women in Germany, 08.03.2013, source: statista.
While our male colleagues run to their boss year after year (justifiably or unjustifiably) to get another raise or other bonuses, the biggest problem of women crystallizes at this point: Her self-doubt!
Push self-doubt aside
Should I approach my boss and ask for more money?
No, you should demand it! You are not a supplicant, but demand compensation that is commensurate with your performance.
Am I entitled to a wage increase at all?
Yes, because your performance is constantly growing, with the development of your personal skills. Have you taken a further training course, attended a language course or taken on a larger area of responsibility?
– Off to the boss and at regular intervals (approx. every 12 – 18 months)!
Target-oriented planning
Modesty and self-doubt are absolutely out of place in salary negotiations and in developing a professional career.
Of course, it’s important to plan ahead because if you have a desire to have children, for example, you shouldn’t let it get away from you. But if you’re only in your mid-twenties and there’s still plenty of time to plan for children, why not take that business trip or consider a foreign assignment? What are the arguments against the new position as project manager or department head?
You have to seize opportunities when they come your way.
Just as men should look to us women for some ways of behaving and thinking, we can certainly learn from you as well.
Enough with the reverie! There is certainly no little bird sitting on the boss’s shoulder, chirping to him what an excellent employee he has sitting in the office next door.
If you want more money, you have to demand it! So my dear readers (and readers!), this year waiting will be replaced by action and you will see how many opportunities will open up for you.
With this in mind: Here’s to a successful 2015!
About the author
Kinga Bartczak advises, coaches and writes on female empowerment, new work culture, organizational development, systemic coaching and personal branding. She is also the managing director of UnternehmerRebellen GmbH and publisher of the FemalExperts magazine .
