A woman’s guide on how to successfully negotiate a pay rise following the WGEA pay gap data release

Before going into any meeting, remember that this is a transaction – it’s not personal. If you can keep emotion out of it, you’re going to put your best foot forward.

Then comes the rule of three: experience, role and output.

Your experience within an industry counts for something, but so does historical knowledge of a company, and transferable skills. So if you’re wondering why someone who does the same job as you is paid more, it may be because they have more experience within the company, or skills from previous roles that you don’t. (If you’re unsure, you’re well within your rights to ask your manager for clarification around this.)

In focusing on your role, you can focus on facts and facts only. Articulate how the scope of your role has widened or changed in the past 12 months. Have you brought on new clients or taken on additional tasks? Have you improved operations or business outcomes?

Then, drive home your output. Provide numbers, data, projects, returns you’ve delivered. Clearly outline your value and how your performance is an asset. This reminds your manager of what you’re capable of and the value you add to the business.

Beyond this, arm yourself with market data – a secret weapon that makes what you’re asking for hard to argue. By knowing what similar roles are paid within your city, you can benchmark your salary against that and provide further context to your request.

You can also use the WGEA data to see how your company is performing, as well as comparing it with similar-sized companies and companies within your industry. This might feel uncomfortable, but a good motto is “don’t ask, don’t get”.

Though all of this will set you up with the best chance of being successful in getting a pay rise, be prepared for it not to happen immediately. If the answer to your request is no, ask for a clear explanation: what you can do to improve your chances next time around, how can you improve specifically, when will your next salary review be?

Ultimately, asking for a pay rise is about you – your role, your experience and your output, not competing against your colleagues. In learning to take control of your own career, you gain power in the situation and a much clearer picture about who you’re working for, and their priorities.

But whatever you do, remember that the price for not asking is high. In fact, it’s the $26,393 question.

Michelle Battersby is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Sunroom.

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