The new year is a time for many of us to take stock of our lives, including our personal goals and our career objectives. Money usually enters that equation somewhere, as in, are you satisfied with your salary and will it support all your aspirations? It’s a great feeling to look at your paycheck and feel valued. But the truth is, not everyone believes their take-home pay reflects their value-add. It’s a less-than-great feeling to know you’re underpaid—or to deeply suspect it. If this sounds familiar, 2020 is the year to reach for your worth, whether it’s by asking for a raise or by negotiating a new-job salary.

Know your market rate

Before going out for a new job or asking for a raise, know what you’re worth! Go get yourself a benchmark. Sites like Monster and Glassdoor have tools to calculate what you should be making based on your position, industry, location, and years of experience. (These are not hard-and-fast numbers, but they should give you a guideline to get started.) You’ll also walk away with a helpful salary range for the position, which will come in handy for negotiations.

Offer a salary range during the hiring process

“What are your salary expectations?” It’s a trap! When you answer this with a blanket number—say, $75,000—best scenario is you’ll be offered the job at asking and not a penny more, and worst scenario is you’ll immediately be disqualified for a too-high request, especially earlier in the hiring process. Better to offer a range of what others in a similar field and position are making, which will look more palatable to hiring managers and will give you more flexibility around an offer.

Hold out for the second (or third) offer

Studies repeatedly show that most new hires accept the first salary they are offered. And we get it—it doesn’t always feel worth it to push for numbers in a stressful and intimidating environment, especially if you’re concerned about rejection or being seen as self-serving. Few people like to talk money; just remember this is usually true on the other side of the offer table, too. And as in most sales arenas, the first offer is rarely the best offer, and may even be a lowball. So when you’re presented a salary offer, try this: quietly restate the offer and then count to 10 in your head. Silence tends to make people uncomfortable, which means they could start talking to fill the gap. And this could lead to a better offer straight away, or justifications that could lead to further negotiations. Either way, it gives everyone a moment to consider.

Ask for a raise at the right time

Most companies have a cycle to their fiscal year, and that cycle includes a window for performance reviews and raises. When you ask for a raise, you’re far more likely to be considered if you ask just before that window opens. And remember all the factors that have to be considered—your performance review matters, but the company and department budgets also matter. Could be the current budget has no room to spare!

In conclusion

Armed with market research, negotiation skills, and some calculated timing, make 2020 the year you look at your paycheck with the satisfaction you deserve.