Equal Pay Day@NJIT: Leaders Offer 4 Tips on How Women Can Establish Themselves at Work
New Jersey Institute of Technology welcomed two strong leaders who shared key advice on how women can establish themselves at work.
The leaders, Catherine Wilson, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Newark, and Judith Sheft, executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, led an online discussion during Equal Pay Day that was equal parts instructive, inspiring and frank.
The event, presented by NJIT’s Murray Center for Women in Technology and sponsored by Career Development Services and the Committee on Women’s Leadership, was the first in an “Ask for It” series from the Murray Center, which is directed by Associate Professor Nancy Steffen-Fluhr, and one of several university activities celebrating Women’s History Month. Here are four key tips from the talk.
1. Embrace negotiation
When negotiating compensation for a new job or seeking a raise, make a case for what you believe you’re worth. Support your request with data on what peers in similar roles make and what you’ve accomplished in your career. In short, assert yourself and if the employer balks, be willing to walk away. Also, understand that women often are held to a higher standard. “You sort of have to prove that you can do it before you actually get the pay you deserve,” Wilson explained. “We can’t just meet the minimum qualifications and get the pay. We have to exceed them in order to get the pay.”
2. Always be networking
By connecting with others, you gain sponsors on the job and career mentors. Sponsors, often in supervisory roles, appreciate your skills and can influence decision-makers. Mentors, meanwhile, help you realize career goals by suggesting new opportunities and strategies. What’s more, they understand the challenges that women face in the marketplace. Sheft, for one, embraces that role. “It’s our responsibility to look out for other women who are part of our networks, whether they’re in our company or just other people that we know,” said Sheft, a former associate vice president at NJIT. “So, when someone says, ‘Hey, there’s this job opportunity,’ I’ll think back and I’ll go, ‘Oh, here’s somebody who’s in my network who might be a good candidate.’”
3. Raise your visibility
Volunteer for community outreach activities and seize opportunities to add new skills — be it by taking a course, achieving additional certification, joining Toastmasters International or attending a conference. You’ll become more valuable and meet people in the process. “Showing those extracurricular activities — just like when we were all in high school — is still good for your resumé,” said Wilson, who holds a master’s in social work from Rutgers University and a certificate in executive leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School. Added Sheft: “Jump in, get involved and see where it takes you.”
4. Show your worth
Track what you’ve accomplished and how it has helped your organization achieve its goals. To understand that mission, Sheft suggested reading the organization’s annual report. In the process, you’ll gain a “key way to be able to leverage additional base pay salary or other benefits,” noted Wilson. What better advice could the leaders offer on Equal Pay Day?
