Career Resources for Women

When looking for potential companies for which you may like to work, you may want to examine how women are treated in a specific workplace and as part of the company’s culture. 

Here are a few things you may want to consider. Most of the answers to these questions can be found online, through on-site employer information sessions or through informational interviews.

• What is the ratio of women to men at the company?
• What percentage of those women hold executive/managerial positions?
• Does the company have any diversity initiatives or a commitment to gender equality on their website or in the media?
• What are the company’s anti-discriminatory policies and procedures? 
• How does the company handle discrimination, harassment, and/or bullying reporting and addressing?

What type of questions is the interviewer not legally allowed to ask me? 

There are a number of questions that your interviewer cannot legally ask (some vary among states and countries so you can always look that up in advance). It is important to recognize such questions and know that you are not required to answer them. 

It is usually very simple things like:

• How old are you?
• Are you married? 
• Are you pregnant?
• Do you have any disabilities?
• What is your sexual orientation?
• Do you struggle with mental illness?

These questions are illegal to ask to any potential employee because the answers may be used for discrimination - for example, not hiring pregnant women to avoid issues with maternity leave. 

If you are ever asked a question like this, the best way to respond would be by saying: “That is not a legally appropriate question to ask, and I do not need to disclose that information.” A response like this is not rude or unprofessional at all so don’t be afraid to respond with the statement above and move on from the question. Do note that this could also be a red flag for you in wanting to work there, as they are not only asking illegal questions, but they don’t even know they’re doing it. 

If you would like assistance working through touch questions like this, talk to a CCI Career Coach.

Negotiating a salary can be intimidating. It’s often hard to negotiate a salary when you are unsure about whether the number for which you’re asking is too low or too high. This is specifically important as you enter the workforce as a woman, where according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, in 2020, women’s annual earnings were 82.3% of men’s, and the gap is even wider for many women of color. Learning to navigate the many biases in the workplace will help you advocate for the promotion, salary, and authority you deserve. Here are a few tips on how to prepare to negotiate your salary.

1. Let the employer make the first offer. Try not to disclose a specific number beforehand because this may result in you asking for a salary that is lower than an employer may have originally offered. Or, alternatively, you automatically eliminate yourself from the running by pitching too high too quickly. Here’s an example.
   1. If they ask you what pay range you're looking for, you can counter-ask how valuable the position is to the organization. Put another way, you can ask what pay range they have set for the position.
2. Research the value of your position combined with your experience. This will help you feel informed and confident in asking for a higher salary, bonuses or vacation time. For example, websites like Glassdoor can help you get started in understanding some of the industry compensation averages.
3. Research and understand the value of the benefits package. Sometimes the salary offered could be smaller than you anticipated, but comes with a great benefits package, or vice versa, the big salary comes with no good benefits. Know what benefits mean the most to you so when it comes to negotiating, it is not just about salary, but the rewards you get with joining the company as well. 
4. Be confident in your ability to counteroffer; you do not have to take an employer's first offer. This does not necessarily have to only include base salary pay. You can negotiate bonuses, vacation days, your work schedule or stock options. If an employer is offering you the job, you are qualified and have skills that are important to their company and the company should offer you compensation that honors those skills.
5. Have reasons for every question or statement you make during the negotiation process. For example, because I have X amount of years' experience, on top of my additional certifications or master's degree, I believe Y as a salary would be a good fit for me.

For more information on how to negotiate a salary, please visit Women for Hire.

• My Beloved World - Sonia Sotomayor
• How Remarkable Women Lead – Joanna Barsh & Susie Cranston
• The Confidence Code – Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
• #GirlBoss – Sophia Amoruso
• Knowing Your Value – Mika Brzezinski
• Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration – Sheila Rowe
• Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges – Amy Cuddy