New research from one of the UK’s leading recruitment and careers websites suggests that more than two-thirds of women (67%) are scared to negotiate on salary, revealing that having a career break has affected their confidence when applying for a new job.
The findings from Reed.co.uk, discovered that nearly 69 per cent of women admit time off work has resulted in a lack of confidence when applying for a new role. On top of that, the cost of living crisis has forced more than three-quarters (77%) of women looking for roles with a higher salary, compared to only 59 per cent of men.
However, they are being let down by potential employers not displaying salaries, as over eight in 10 (83%) reveal they are unlikely to apply for a job if the salary isn’t listed on the recruitment advert. Worryingly, this has seen a five per cent increase since February 2022.
Added to this, Reed.co.uk says the UK Government’s Pay Transparency pilot scheme, which launched in March to encourage businesses to display salaries and ‘break down barriers for women’, has had no impact on employer behaviour.
The percentage of jobs not advertising salary on Reed.co.uk has increased from 13 per cent to 14 per cent over the past six months.
The classic British stiff upper lip is still firmly in play, as almost one in five (18%) women only apply for roles with the salary clearly stated, as they don’t like to discuss money.
The study also found that of the 93 per cent of mothers who took a career break due to maternity leave, adoption leave, or looking after children, seven in 10 (70%) said they have been questioned about the reasons behind taking time off work during the interview process.
This has caused a knock-on effect when negotiating salary, as over two-thirds (68%) reveal this has affected their confidence, with over eight in 10 (81%) admitting the absence of salary on a job advert further deters them from applying.
The top three reasons women cite as contributing to their lack of confidence are:
- Being nervous in interviews - 63%
- CV writing - 38%
- Not knowing which personal skills and strengths to highlight to an employer - 36%
As many employers turn to offer better employee benefits to entice younger talent, only a quarter of women aged between 18 and 24 find this a pull factor, with salary (67%) and work-life balance (55%) remaining their top priorities.
When entering the working world, more than half (54%) would like to know the salary range for a job role to help build their confidence in negotiating. However, this proves difficult as more than one in 10 (11%) have no idea what the industry standards are for their chosen career.
Seven ways to get paid what you deserve
To help jobseekers navigate salary negotiation conversations, Beckie Sizer, Reed.co.uk HR Director,shares seven top tips.
Ask upfront
It’s always beneficial to talk about your pay expectations (and benefits) at the very start of any interview process. Asking about the salary available for the job at the start will ensure you don’t waste your time and the time of the hiring manager.
Be direct
If possible, it’s better to determine what your prospective employer is willing to pay before you give your expectations.
Make your conversation about your job search, not your current salary
For example, when a recruiter or hiring manager asks what you are earning now, instead of disclosing your current salary you can flip the conversation to say ‘I’m focusing on jobs that pay at least £30,000 per annum’.
Do your research
Having a better understanding of the current market rate will help you feel more confident about having sometimes difficult conversations. The new Average Salary Checker on the Reed.co.uk mobile app displays the average salary and the ‘lowest’ and highest’ salaries on any searched job - find out more here.
Check what the company has already published
Explore the company’s careers page to see if they have published information on salaries. This will give you a better understanding of their pay bandings (if published) and their policy around reward.
Understand the company’s culture
Taking the time to research and understand the culture and values of the role you are applying for can make things easier when navigating a conversation around pay
Work with a recruiter
It’s worth teaming up with a recruiter who can represent you and put you forward for roles. Their services are free, and they will be able to negotiate your salary for you - find out more about this on Reed.com here.
Commenting on the research, Simon Wingate, Managing Director at Reed.co.uk, said: “It’s clear from our research that negotiating salary is still a taboo subject, particularly for women and mothers. With over eight in 10 (83%) unlikely to apply for a job unless the salary is listed, this is an issue we need to address together as an industry.
“It shows a need for businesses to include salaries within job descriptions, not only to help build jobseekers’ confidence and to ensure they don’t miss out on any opportunities but also to benefit employers to ensure they aren’t missing out on talent.”
If you’re looking to broaden your horizons or simply keen to know what other employers are paying, the new Average Salary Checker feature on the Reed.co.uk mobile app could give you the confidence to negotiate a better salary package.
The app offers an insight into the current market rate for the job you’re applying for along with the ‘lowest’ and ‘highest’ salaries for the searched job role.
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