A recent study finds that gender inequalities still persist when it comes to career progression.
All university students are enthusiastic about their job prospects but when it comes to salary negotiations, female students generally undervalue themselves. They have lower salary expectations compared to their male peers. Also the work placements undertaken while pursuing the course generate a higher salary expectation among the students.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Huddersfield's led by Dr John Anchor, who has been researching on salary expectations among students in business schools in England and the Chez Republic for the past seven years.
The researchers based their findings on a survey of more than 1,0,00 British students at two English Business schools, between 2011 and 2012. The female students in the survey revealed that they expected their starting salary to be nine percent lesser than their male counterparts and expected to earn 16 percent less in the next ten years compared to their male co-mates.
Also the students who undertake work placements during their course get employed faster with a higher salary compared to their rest batch mates. The work placements during the course often lead them to permanent positions in the company and are offered more due to their work experiences. Also the students managing the course and work placements simultaneously have better chances of obtaining higher classification degrees, states the study.
A recent analysis made by a job vacancy website matches the derivations conducted by Dr Anchor and Ms Benešova. The panel members based their analysis on the salary expectations of 50, 00,00 graduates between 2003 and 2013.
The difference between the male and female salary expectations was $2392.26 compared to $1661.94 in 2003. On an average, in 2013, male jobseekers asked for a salary of around $33636.33 per annum whereas the female candidates quoted a salary expectation of around $31244.07.
"It's really sad that in 2014 we are still looking at surveys that show women are undervaluing themselves in the employment market and that organizations are allowing this to happen," said Angela O'Connor, CEO of HR Lounge, a human resource management company in a statement. "There is also a great deal yet to be done to raise the confidence level of young women so that they see themselves as equally valuable in the employment market.
