No mentor in the picture? No problem. When the inevitable salary question comes up in the interview, you’ll have an idea of the salary range for the position because of all the research you did…right? When you give an overview of your work experience and skills, highlight your accomplishments and make sure to bring up how you contributed to your previous job’s bottom line, morale, and any other contribution you made. What was their return on investment in hiring you? Maybe you had a connection that brought in some new business or introduced a more efficient way of doing things. If you won awards (even if internal), received a raise ahead of schedule, or a performance bonus, mention it.

One of the worst things you can do at a job or in an interview is be overly modest. Women are especially conditioned (note: I said conditioned, not hard-wired) to skirt over their accomplishments because it feels like bragging. Modesty may also rear its head as a function of race during these conversations, which is why it's so important to continually recognize, acknowledge, and deconstruct the intersectional nature of oppression.

Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink does a great job of outlining the subconscious prejudice that many possess. Those who have had a privileged upbringing, often white middle or upper class youth, have been conditioned to associate themselves with all things “good” and “smart”. For individuals outside of this socioeconomic prototype, the association usually is much less favourable. The fact that these thoughts and ideas operate outside of our awareness makes them even more powerful (and concerning).

At the end of the day, how is your current or future employer supposed to know the impact you’ve made unless you bring it to their attention?

If the first offer on the table seems low, counter with a higher suggestion and expect them to meet you halfway. Your suggestion should be informed by the research you did and the industry you’re interviewing in.