A recent survey by Handshake found that 65% Gen Z women vs. 57% of Gen Z men fear losing a job offer if they negotiate. But declining to push for higher pay can cost you around $1 million over a lifetime. If you’re a woman entering the workforce, here’s what you can do to help prepare yourself for these tough conversations.

• Do your homework. Spend some time investigating pay ranges for entry-level jobs in your industry and area. Knowing approximate salary ranges for a role before you interview will take some of the guesswork out of your negotiation.
• Know your worth. To persuade the hiring manager that your skills and background are worth the salary you’ll ask for, connect the dots between the skills you’ve gained through courses and internships and the qualifications in the job description.
• Consider the full package. While salary is a major piece of any job offer, hiring packages also include other benefits like health care and 401(k) matching. These benefits could be subject to negotiation as well.
• Don’t apologize for negotiating. The more you apologize, the more it will seem like you don’t believe you deserve what you’re asking for.