The deed is done.
But that initial I did it!
high can fade if your salary feels flimsy.
You are where you areand heres what to do now.
Get Knowledgeable
The biggest hurdle is lack of knowledge.
If you already know youre lowballed, thats great (really!).
One conversational icebreaker I use is: Hey, so, I really like talking about money…!
If my friend says, Me too!
thats a green light to swap experiences.
If they have a go at flee, shut it down.
Research shows that salaries you accept at the beginning of your career can determine your future lifetime earnings.
If youre already groaning thinking about retirement, dont feel locked in by where you are now.
Its time to thinkstrategy.
Stay Optimistic
Youre already in the job, so try not to resent your low salary.
No passive aggression or whining to your colleagues or partners.
You have to advocate for yourself, she says.
No one is going to come to you and say, We need to pay you more!
Operate from an early position of strength because, as she notes, They dont call itpost-nuptials.
It always comes back to delivering results.
This will come in handy during your review.
Good negotiators find common ground, theyre not adversarial, says Merrill.
Dont flinch on this front.
Jump Up in Your Industry
Maybe cheap-o offers are the norm in your line of work.
There are still ways to climb the career ladder.
Plus, geography can play a huge role in salary differences.
The most important thing to remember?
As challenging and frustrating as job-hunting can be, you dont have to settle for whats offered.
Educate yourself, communicate often, ask for what you deserve, repeat.
And let us know if you get what you want.
