Career advice for women, relentless self-promoters go a long way

IN good news the notorious “pay gap” is slowly coming down. But on the downside, it’s still there, so let’s not just sit back and take it.

Men tend to earn $27,000 a year more than fulltime working women. Picture: Supplied

IN good news, the difference between what women and men are paid in Australia, the notorious “pay gap”, is slowly coming down. But on the downside, it’s still there, so let’s not just sit back and take it. Each year, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, which monitors the status of genders in the workforce, provides a scorecard — and 2016’s came out this week.

Unfortunately, it found often “women are still undervalued”, men tend to earn $27,000 a year more than fulltime working women, and the pipeline to management and seniority is still a tight squeeze if you use the loo with the figure of the triangle dress.

Even in industries dominated by women, such as caring, health and teaching (disparagingly labelled “pink collar” jobs), women are lower paid and worse represented at high levels than men with similar experience.

There is now evidence a pay gap exists in like-for-like settings, no matter what the pay-gap deniers claim. But let’s not dwell on that, let’s focus on how women can work to fix this so our girls don’t face it.

There is already promising research suggesting young women workers are just as likely as young men to ask for a pay rise or promotion, and just as open to getting down to negotiation. Good.

But the same research found women are less likely to receive those pay rises than male peers.

Why? Are they less forceful? Do they not ask in the same, effective way, or is there lingering, even unconscious bias towards upgrading men’s pay because — as other Australian research found this year — society still thinks of them as primary breadwinners and women as mainly carers?

I reckon there is benefit in seeking ways to help individual women, young and older, ask for more in the most potentially fruitful way. Asking for more is something many of us are not naturally great at.

Having been invited to speak on a panel for new group Women in Media about how to progress your career and get a pay rise across the communications sector (which has plenty in common with others in terms of still working towards equality at higher levels), I consulted successful women I know on how they did it. I asked these women, some in very senior positions, some who have shifted to other industries, for their most successful strategies when trying to advance their income and work status.

“Relentless self-promoters go a long way.” Picture: Supplied

Their answers were so useful they are worth sharing with young women on the way up or even mid-career women who started out a bit too humble and never changed their style.

More Australian women are living out the end of their lives in poverty and the fastest-growing demographic of homeless people is older women — definitely not something women of any age can be complacent about.

Here are some nuggets from women who have managed to get ahead, thereby helping ensure they are insulated if they never have a partner, they divorce or their partner is retrenched or becomes ill.

One high-achieving woman — who worked like a tank — said she made that show up in her pay packet “by taking the ‘manly’ approach that I was entitled to better pay and the (boss) better have a good reason not to give it to me, rather than asking for it as a favour/indulgence or waiting quietly for recognition.”

Another suggested formally putting a pay rise proposal forward every year, after asking for a list of what is required in your job to merit one. Several women advised getting these conditions in writing and working to go above and beyond, then listing those achievements in detail without being apologetic about expecting the agreement met. “Ask what you need to do get more money and then do it.”

One senior female manager advised women, “Don’t tell me how hard you’ve worked, tell me what you have done.” She also said talking challenges never works, bringing solutions does.

Stepping up for less attractive roles in your organisation was seen as a good way to impress those holding the purse strings, and networking like a boss and finding a mentor or champions in your organisation were also highly recommended. Be shameless about advancing your career, not vaguely uncomfortable about asking for something.

Another suggested treating pay rise applications like job applications, perhaps even including a CV to show what you have done: “Once it is in writing it is easier for you to understand and sell your own achievements and remains on your HR record ... much harder to overlook.”

Perhaps the most succinct advice came from a woman with a long, strong career: “Relentless self-promoters go a long way.”

Be your own No. 1 fan, get your goals on paper and don’t be shy about broadcasting it when you put it through the posts.

“If you get knocked back ... so what? Wait a while and ask again,” said one successful woman. “Prove yourself, then ask away.” Go for it girls.

Keep in touch with Wendy via @wtuohy or at facebook.com/WendyATuohy