Why Women Don’t Ask for Raises (and How They Should!)

It's not simple to ask for a wage increase, especially for women. According to a 2024 survey by job listings service Indeed, more than half of women worldwide had never requested a raise. Three out of every four of the 43% who inquired got a wage raise.

Additionally, the report, which surveyed over 14,500 women in 11 countries, found that 61% of women worldwide feel "they need to work harder for recognition than their male counterparts."

India is one Asian nation that sticks out from the others. The most self-assured responders were Indian women, who reported having previously requested a salary increase in 65% of cases.

However, the poll revealed that when it came to requesting a pay raise, women in Singapore and Japan were the least confident. In Japan, just 13% of women and in Singapore, 32%, reported having sought for a raise previously.

Across the globe, 24% of the women polled claimed they had little opportunity to ask questions, and 28% claimed they were terrified of the answers. Furthermore, 28% of women claimed they lacked the self-assurance to initiate the discussion.

Conduct Research

It's crucial to research compensation standards for your position online and talk to colleagues before the meeting so you're as prepared as possible, advises Pooja Chhabria, LinkedIn's Asia-Pacific head of editorial and career expert.

Before the conversation, she stressed the need of having "clarity of thought" about what you believe your remuneration should be.

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Gain confidence

While discussing salary may seem intimidating, thorough preparation can empower you during the conversation. Practicing with a friend or mentor beforehand can provide valuable feedback to refine your approach.

"I firmly believe that appearing confident often requires significant effort behind the scenes. Therefore, confidence stems from having a clear understanding and having conducted thorough research," she emphasizes.

Furthermore, it's crucial to grasp your manager and company's priorities and keep them in mind during the discussion. Ultimately, negotiation aims for a "mutually beneficial outcome."

Get Your Pitch Ready

You should start preparing your pitch far in advance of the scheduled conversation. It's crucial to mention particular accomplishments, and be ready to respond to any criticism from your boss.

"Express yourself clearly to your manager, beginning with how you will demonstrate your worth and provide examples of industry standards," advises Chhabria. She said that it's critical to "address concerns where there could be constraints around budgets."

Furthermore, according to Aileen Tan, "having a mentor to advocate for you is key." "[My mentor] gave me a good sounding board and helped me gain confidence."

Schedule a Meeting

It is crucial to indicate that you would like to talk about pay and career advancement when you set up a meeting in advance. Avoid approaching your manager abruptly or in an informal manner.

Additionally, schedule the meeting in a smart manner. For instance, she explains, "it might not be the best time if everyone is extremely busy launching a new product and all hands are on deck."

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