As students we strive to obtain a quality education throughout our lives. This will help us get good jobs and a rewarding career. But we aren’t prepared for what happens after graduation — responsibilities such as finding a place to live, getting that first job and paying rent and other bills.

Do not accept any job that is offered to you and think it will be all right. It’s important to find the right job that will pay enough so you can afford your rent and bills – plus have enough left over to spend and save. And what a lot of college graduates don’t realize is that you can – and should – negotiate your first salary.

Anna Berrios of Buckeye Careers at Ohio State University, said “I believe many students are more worried about getting a work.”

Personal finance website nerdwallet reports that only 38% percent of newly graduated workers negotiate with their employers after they are offered a job. But meanwhile, most employers actually expect to negotiate salary — even for a first job — so they build that in. This means that if you fail to try, your money could be at risk.

Mattathia Komla is a Fordham Gabelli School of Business MBA student. She said that after getting her undergraduate degree she just wanted to find a job.

Komla stated, “I had no idea what the average starting salary was.” “I was naïve to the fact that I could negotiate my salary.”

It was obvious that she did not have the experience to negotiate or refuse an offer. Therefore, she accepted an offer well below her asking price.

The wage gap

Everybody should negotiate their salaries, but women need to be advocates for their rights when considering the wage gap.

According to PayScale, women earn an average of 82 cents per dollar that men earn. State of the Gender Pay Gap 2021 report. That number falls to 75 cents for women of colour.

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Berrios stated that some women are uncomfortable talking about salary, and they hesitate to request more.

It’s not helpful that many of us did not have conversations about finances in school and at home.

And, Berrios adds – cultural conditioning and stereotypes may play a role. Some women may worry about coming off as pushy or rude if they ask for more – something most men don’t have to think about.

“Instead, all women — especially marginalized women — need to value themselves and be assertive when communicating their value,” Berrios said.

Recently, there has been much attention paid to the wage gap. Now we are beginning to see progress.

Gloria L. Blackwell is vice president of fellowships, programs, and grants for the American Association of University Women. She stated, “Women negotiate more than in the past. However, men continue to negotiate at higher rates for their pay.” She said that women are increasingly able to negotiate, especially younger women between the ages of 18 and 34, according to research by Robert Half.

Your worth

It is not possible to just ask for more money just because they have offered it. It is important to do research so that you know what your worth.

The first step is to find out the starting wage in your area.

Berrios recommends that students always look for available positions. She stresses the importance to build personal networks by talking to job-seekers and reviewing trade publications. Speaking to other people, and scanning job listings regularly will give you a wealth of information about the salaries. There are tools available on sites such as Glassdoor and PayScale that will help you determine the salary ranges of jobs within your industry.

Tiona Ryan was a University of Kentucky student who graduated this December. She knew the gap in wages and that it would put her at an even greater disadvantage.

Ryan stated that Ryan was influenced by his mom’s advice to her and me growing up with only one parent. You should have those expectations and not be shocked by the things you are able to offer.

This is why she has been driven to always be competitive when applying for jobs. It helped her land a job prior to graduating.

The starting salary of a human resources professional would be $40,000 annually, according to her research.

Ryan stated, “I am very familiar with Glassdoor Premium and LinkedIn Premium.” They are great tools for finding salary ranges in any field.

Also, you should bring a list of bullet points to explain what your contribution is to a salary negotiation. You are worth more than someone else. Why should they hire you over someone else?

Use language that is consistent with the job description to highlight what makes you stand out. Use these words and examples to help them understand you.

“Your best advocate is yourself! Abisola Akinkuowo is a Program Manager at AAUW’s START smart program. This program aims to educate college students on salaries.

Other benefits are available

Don’t play hardball. Be sure to do your homework and get the information you require. But, be open-minded enough to accept a lower salary.

You can try to negotiate a lower salary if you are denied.

“[S]Berrios said that students need to remember that benefits are not always negotiable. For example, reimbursement for tuition or expenses related to moving.

While you can tell them that they are offering a lower offer than what you expected, ask if the company would be open to discussing other benefits. You could include cost-of living adjustments, education/training programs and expense accounts.

How do you negotiate your first salary?

Discover your strategy

It’s important to have a plan and know how this negotiation will go – don’t just wing it.

Akinkuowo suggests that salary negotiations should be avoided until you have been offered a job.

If they first ask for your salary, do not just give one. You can give them an estimate based on what you have researched.

And if you’re going to ask for the high end of the range – be prepared to back it up with why you deserve it. Your experience and qualifications will make you an ideal fit for this job.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

This is one of the most important conversations you will have in your life – what you earn matters to every other thing you do. Take the time to review the points you have to offer and the way you will approach the salary question. You can get rid of any stumbles or stutters so that you feel relaxed and your responses are fluid when it comes to answering the question.

It’s like taking a test. If you prepare for the exam, it will make you feel a lot more confident. And confidence is what is going to get you the job – and the salary.

Akinkuowo wants to help empower women all over the globe by sharing this information.

It’s about generations. It’s all about the generational wealth. Akinkuowo stated.

So, when you negotiate, you are raising the bar for yourself — and for those who follow in your footsteps.

The AAUW offers a free course that will help you prepare for negotiations. Work Smart OnlineA resource that teaches women how to make their own online salary negotiations. 

CNBC’s “College Voices″ is a series written by CNBC interns from universities across the country about getting their college education, managing their own money and launching their careers during these extraordinary times. Jennifer IrohA student at Ohio State University, she is studying a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a minor Social Psychology. She currently works as an intern at CNBC’s human resource department. This series was edited by Cindy Perman.