13 Boss Pieces of Career Advice from Nicole Lapin
When it comes to negotiating and owning your career, Nicole Lapin has been around the block. She was one of the youngest anchors to ever join CNN, and went on to be business and finance correspondent for Morning Joe on MSNBC and The Today Show on NBC and Bloomberg Television. More recently, she’s published two New York Times bestsellers all about how she got to where she is today—Rich Bitch and Boss Bitch.
As part of Raise Week, which was launched to empower career professionals to promote themselves and negotiate for what they’re worth (more on that here), Lapin stepped in to offer her career advice to Twitter users during a Twitter chat hosted earlier this week. Here’s Nicole Lapin’s advice on how to step up and claim your raise as you navigate your career.
1. Here’s when you should ask for a raise in a new job
Quick question for @NicoleLapin and @SoFi. How soon in to a new job should you start thinking about your first raise? #RaiseWeek
— Ben Lopez (@benlopeztx) May 15, 2017
Start thinking about it right away, ASAP. Document all the awesome things you do from the get go. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Go in for the kill after you receive a good review. Timing is everything when it comes to getting a raise. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
2. On the best time to ask for a raise
When is a good time to ask for a raise? I work for a big company and just turned 1 year in. Is it too soon? #RaiseWeek @SoFi @NicoleLapin
— Cynthia_Stephanie (@cynthiafc1612) May 15, 2017
It's not too soon per se, but be mindful of what's happening with the company at large. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
If they're going through a "meh" time, not a great time to ask. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
When they get a stellar earnings report and/or you get a great review, amazing time to ask for a raise. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
3. When your employer says “no” to your initial negotiation…
How do you respond when an employer says we cannot offer you anymore than the initial offer? #raiseweek #sofi
— Jenna Truck (@jennaperry20) May 15, 2017
The question is how did you ask for it? Sometimes it's you not them. Keep it real. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Make sure you're positioning it in a way that shows how you are of value to the company. Your words matter. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
One of the biggest pitfalls is people coming across like they "deserve" something. You don't "deserve" anything. #SorryNotSorry -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
4. On pursuing your passions (and being realistic about it)
@SoFi I'd Love to get a Job in Music or NASCAR because they're my Passions, BUT I have a Full Time Job now w/Benefits #Raiseweek
— RMJR (@14rmjr) May 15, 2017
Obvi…those are very different industries. Research both and even start working tangentially in both of them… -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Figure out if there's somewhere you actually want to work or if you're just daydreaming – and daydreaming doesn't pay the bills. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
5. On whether advanced degrees help you level up more quickly
@NicoleLapin should MBA's get raises faster? @PoetsAndQuants #raiseweek
— Joanne Bradford (@sfjoanne) May 15, 2017
As an employer myself, I couldn't give two you-know-whats about where my employees went to school or what degrees they have. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer then yeah, get an advanced degree. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
But if you want to go into business, get a degree from the school of hard knocks like I did. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
6. How to work for yourself—but keep financial security in mind
@SoFi @NicoleLapin I want to work for myself when's u graduate law school(2018) but I want financial security. Any thoughts? #RaiseWeek
— Wealthy Chelsea (@wealthy_chelsea) May 15, 2017
Starting a business looks sexy but it's not going to give you financial security. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Don't mentally fly those G5s before you even get off the ground. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
7. On asking for overall compensation packages
@NicoleLapin @SoFi What's the first alternative you should ask for if your employer says "no" to your request for more money? #RaiseWeek
— Kelly Anne Bonner (@hearkellyroar) May 15, 2017
Always think about an overall compensation package in addition to a base salary (you don't need to be a CEO to have one). -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Some things I would suggest asking for if it makes sense for you is more PTO, getting your cell bill paid for, transport costs, and WFH. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
8. Navigating raises as a woman in the workforce
@NicoleLapin How can women reconcile being paid less b/c we don't negotiate w/ the knowledge that we are punished more for negotiating?
— Angela Geoghegan (@Daydream2forget) May 15, 2017
@Daydream2forget @NicoleLapin Why do you feel like you're being "punished"? Change your mindset and your finances will follow. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
@Daydream2forget @NicoleLapin Sometimes your biggest enemy is between your ears. Find your inner boss. You don't need to run a company or have employees to be one. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
@Daydream2forget @NicoleLapin Find your inner confidence. How will others treat you like a boss if you don't think of yourself like one? -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
9. How to get your employer to help you level up in your career
@SoFi @NicoleLapin how to convince employer to promote/train u to a more lucrative position when starting out as a receptionist? #raiseweek
— Lauren Aniess (@LaurenAniess) May 15, 2017
Take the initiative yourself! Nobody else is going to magically get you to the next level. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Find something in the office that you're not good but GREAT at that you can own and be the go-to person for. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
10. How much you should actually ask for when requesting a raise
#Raiseweek what is considered a good raise if 3% just covers inflation. 4% 5%?? @SoFi @NicoleLapin
— Katie Argo (@katie_argo) May 15, 2017
It depends on the company, how long you've been there, what you're doing for them, etc. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Most importantly, how have YOU contributed to their bottom line? Create documents that show that when you go in for your ask. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
11. On asking for stock options versus more salary for a raise
#RaiseWeek Thanks @NicoleLapin for your advice. For tech companies, how should we think about asking for more stock options vs just salary?
— daniel phung (@danielphung) May 15, 2017
It depends on what kind of tech company we're talking about. Is it ginormous? Is it a start-up? -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Don't put all your compensation eggs in one basket because if the company goes down, so do you. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
But PS, I would take a couple basis points from Google if that's what we're talking about. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
12. How to hustle within limitations
@NicoleLapin Advice for "hustling" when dealing with a chronic condition that requires a lot of rest?
— Poppy (@PoppyDream) May 15, 2017
First of all, lean back and don't be so hard on yourself. Hustling doesn't mean physically pounding the pavement per se. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
You can hustle from your phone or computer. You can own your company's social media and that doesn't require a lot of physical mobility. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
13. And finally…how to avoid looking like an entitled millennial
@SoFi How do you recommend approaching the topic of a raise without seeming like an entitled millennial? #RaiseWeek
— Allison Lynn (@allisonnnlynnnn) May 15, 2017
Don't come from a place of "me, me, me" because that will get you "no, no, no" fast. Create charts, graphs…seriously. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
You probably do presentations like that for so many other parts of your business, why not do it for you? -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
Don't go full-on Tracy Flick, but present your case like a boss. -NL
— SoFi (@SoFi) May 15, 2017
For more boss career advice, check out our helpful resources.
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