On average, Latina women earn on average only 52 cents (full-time + part-time + part-year) and 57 cents (for full-time) for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. This means that Latinas must work more hours to earn the same amount of money as their male counterparts. Addressing the Latina pay gap requires policy change at the local, state, and federal levels. This includes advocating for policies that promote equal pay, such as the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Fair Pay Act. It also includes advocating for policies that support working families, such as paid parental leave, affordable child care, and flexible work arrangements.
We at SHENIX will always advocate for Latina equal pay systemically and across the board. For Latina Equal Pay Day, we’ve provided a guide for helping Latinas negotiate a fair salary to start receiving higher pay now. Read on for tips to prepare for salary negotiation at your next interview.
1. Research Before the Interview
Unfortunately, salary ranges are not always posted on job boards. Sometimes, the posted salary range is so broad that it makes it difficult to gauge what the company might actually offer you for the position. You can use salary calculators and websites to research the market rate for the job you are applying for. Salary.com, Glassdoor, and Payscale are good places to take a look to gauge the average salary for your position. Log this information away, and print off a salary report with your research. You can take it with you to your interviews to use if necessary.
2. Don’t Share Your Current Salary
When applying, if the application asks for your expected salary, leave this space blank. If it requires a numerical input, you can put 0. It is best to save all talk about salary for the interview and negotiation process. If you put a salary that is too low, you will lose negotiating power when you meet face-to-face. Putting a salary that is too high runs the risk of them passing you over before you get a chance to wow the hiring manager in your interview.
3. Let Them Make the First Offer
When you get to the interview, refrain from sharing your current salary or expected pay. When you are asked about the expected salary, you can say something like,
- “I’d like to be compensated fairly based on my experience and market rate for similar positions. What kind of budget does the company have in mind?”
Do your best to have the hiring manager make the first offer. You can gauge this number against the salary research you did prior and respond accordingly.
If the suggested rate is not within the market rate for your position, you must professionally let them know that this is not within the market range. You can offer to share a copy of the market report and suggest a fair salary for yourself.
4. Be Prepared to Walk Away
If the company is unwilling to pay you a fair market rate for the position, be prepared to walk away. As hard as this may be, you do not want to work for a company that does not value its employees and pay them fairly. This could be one red flag of many. Companies that do not pay employees well will likely mistreat and take advantage of them in other ways as well.
Professionally tell them why you would like to be withdrawn from consideration, and walk away. Continue your job search empowered with the knowledge that you deserve fair pay, and that your long-term happiness and well-being will be better off by dodging a low-ball salary offer.
No matter where you are in your career, having the right tools, resources, and partners is more critical than ever! SHENIX® is happy to be part of your network as you navigate your career and work for equal pay. Reach out to SHENIX® for career and financial advice and assistance. You can download the SHENIX app for iOS or Android devices to have SHENIX resources at your fingertips every day.