Fewer Women Than Men Asked For Raises During COVID-19, Especially in Marketing [New Research]

Asking about a raise or promotion can be scary, especially if your company is going through shifts due to world events.

In early 2021, Fishbowl conducted a survey that shed light on the gender pay gap, which continued, if not increased, in 2020.

The survey of nearly 17,000 professionals found that 63% of respondents avoided asking for a raise after “pandemic-related changes”.

Breaking down the impressive number of respondents by gender, 42.4% of them were women while only 31.79% were men.

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Marketing was high on the list when delving into the industries that had the fewest inquiries for promotions or promotions. over 54.5% of marketers haven’t asked for a raise or a promotion in the past year due to the pandemic.

While some may be shocked by this data, many are not. After all, marketing departments are known for getting the lowest budget, fewer people, and less overall investment.

It has now been observed that women negotiate less and apply for lower positions than men with the same experience. In a recent LinkedIn post, Lucy Nuemanova, CEO of Femme Pallette, shed more light on why women generally don’t bargain as often as men.

“Many women avoid these conversations because they don’t want management to perceive them as ungrateful, greedy, or needy, and so women often tend to wait for a reward,” explained Nuemanova.

If you are a woman in the marketing world – or any other industry, this data and insight from other female professionals may make you wonder, “When is it appropriate to ask for a raise or a promotion?”

Below I’ve listed a few times who frequently ask or consider a raise or a promotion.

When to ask for a raise or a promotion

1. As the scope of your role grows or shifts.

In the first few days that you hold a position, your work may correspond to the tasks listed in the job posting to which you applied. However, as you gain credibility and visibility in your company, you can also take on more responsibility that greatly expands your original day-to-day role.

“A lot of people are wearing more hats now and need to learn new skills. All of these are valid reasons for a raise and should form the basis of your reasoning as you make your pitch, “career counselor Gaurav Sharma said in a recent interview.

For example, being asked to report on your marketing projects may be a natural evolution of your role and it may not be worth asking for a raise, taking on direct reports if your original role did not include management, or asked to to lead a new one. A time-consuming marketing initiative for your company could mean a significant shift in your responsibilities and work life that warrants a title or compensation change.

2. When you spend a lot more time at work than you expected.

When you have more responsibilities or expectations, you may work longer hours or be asked to do more time-consuming tasks – such as regular business trips. If this was not part of your original role, or was not explained to you when you accepted a role that included these requirements, it may be worth considering a raise or a promotion request.

3. When you complete an expensive course or degree that will benefit your business.

Usually a course or certification costs time and money. But sometimes employers pay the cost, knowing that your growing skills will benefit them in the long run. If your company does not compensate for the training in any way but you are earning an additional degree that will increase your ability to work, consider a raise.

However, if you are expecting a raise after completing a degree or course, Abby Kohu, a writer and HR expert, says you should do it before you get your degree or certificate

“Ideally, you should ask about the raise before you graduate to set expectations,” Kohut said in an interview with Bryant & Stratton College. “The best time to have the interview is during the normal performance appraisal cycle. Start the conversation by discussing your job performance and your performance at work. Then explain how the degree gave you additional information that will help you produce more. “

4. When you consistently achieve all of your goals.

At some point in your role you may find that you take everything for granted. You seldom encounter challenges or feedback and are not entirely sure how to move up on the work that you are already doing well. Because of this, you might feel bored or overly complacent in your role.

If you regularly miss your goals or get great performance reviews, it is a good sign that you are ready to take on new challenges or more responsibilities with a raise or promotion.

5. If you have not received a wage increase for a long time.

While you may not want to ask for a raise for the first few months or even the first year of your position, it is important to keep track of the time you worked without a raise. Even if you haven’t changed the scope of your role dramatically, you can still justify a raise if you have a solid history of good performance but have not yet received a raise.

Even if you believe that your company will automatically give you a raise or promotion at some point, it is worthwhile to inquire whether you have had a raise recently or never.

In a recent LinkedIn post, career coach and entrepreneur Jasmine Escalara wrote, “If you don’t tell your boss, supervisor, or others what you want, what makes you think they’ll give it to you?”

“If you’re looking for a bonus, promotion or raise, you have to TALK or it will never happen,” advised Escalera.

6. When the cost of living goes up.

While many companies offer annual salary increases or salaries that take into account the estimated cost of living, keep in mind how much it will cost to live near you if your employer doesn’t use this strategy. When you work full-time, you always want to make sure that your company is paying you enough to have decent rental prices, groceries, utilities, and other necessities.

What is the best time to ask about a raise?

If you identify with one or more of the items in the list above, it may be time to consider a promotion or raise. But while you should discuss the raise you deserve with your manager, there are certain times when your chances of a raise might be increased.

Many companies manage their budgets, headcount, and increment-related budgets at certain times of the year. So some career sites like Indeed suggest:

• Just before a new year, when companies are planning their budgets and staffing levels.
• In summer, when some companies plan to do it every six months.
• After your company publishes good quarterly or monthly earnings, traffic, or goal accomplishments.
• Only after a positive performance appraisal or some other great achievement.

Conversely, there are also bad times to ask for a raise, e.g. For example, after a bad earnings report, a dubious performance review, or any other time when your supervisor or boss may not be in the best of spirits. When planning this conversation with management, look for times when they are more empathetic and responsive to your request than they are frustrated or upset.

If you’re unsure of when to ask for a raise or promotion specifically at your company, career counselor Todd Henry recommends keeping an eye on the financial or promotion rhythms of your office and making your request during the times of year that you are away from most of the promotions.

If you excel in your role and need a raise or promotion for the next year to stay with your company, don’t let the pandemic stop you from having a transparent but friendly discussion with your manager about your career or career Salary increase that you want to achieve soon.

Conduct the wage discussion

It’s important to remember that managers expect them to have a salary interview with employees at some point. In fact, many companies only budget the annual funds separately for raises and promotions. Asking your boss to talk to them about your salary or your future shouldn’t come as a big shock to them, especially if you are doing well in your role.

If you have a good manager, they will likely respond respectfully, thoughtfully, and transparently to career development conversations by explaining why you may or may not get a raise and what you need to do to get it there.

“No matter how good your request is at the right time and how much you earn, there are a number of reasons why your manager might deny your request for a raise – some of which may have nothing to do with you or your performance,” writes Henry.

“The best answer to a rejection is,“ What do I need to earn a raise? ”Henry explains,“ Do you know what the expectations are so that the next time you ask you will be backed by data that is within your manager’s threshold match for a raise. “

Ultimately, when you start the salary interview with your manager, he or she will learn that you are looking for advancement, understand your professional growth needs, and know what he or she needs to do to keep you talented. Even if your company can’t give you a promotion or raise when asked, you know why, what you need to do to take it to the next level, and whether your company is the right place for long-term success. Professional goals limited.

Would you like more tips for success in your marketing role? Download the resource below.