Ms. Nina Friedman

Nina Friedman Career Services

Nina FriedmanNina Friedman is founder and President of Nina Friedman Career Services, a counseling, coaching and training organization for individuals, executives and businesses.Since 1982, Nina has helped more than a thousand people to maximize their potential and successfully become gainfully employed in fulfilling work.This may include improving their own performance level, changing careers or starting their own business.Her career counseling techniques have enabled clients to identify satisfying work that engages their natural personality strengths, skills, values, and desired mission.Nina has assisted people in creating effective resumés, using innovative job search strategies, and winning at interviews, salary, and other job-related negotiations.

As an expert in topices regarding careers, Nina has been a columnist for the Boulder Daily Camera.She has also been interviewed on Boulder's radio station, KGNU, on Denver cable television, and by multiple news publications.

"I caution people about compromising too early," said Nina Friedman of Nina Friedman Career Services."When people tell me it's a competitive market, I say, ‘Then let's be competitive.' "Friedman coaches clients through the whole process of getting a job – from exploring career interests to mock interviews.She stresses the need for applicants to do prep work well before reaching the first interview.

"It pays to be aware of what's going on in your particular job market," she said."When networking, don't be shy about asking people how competitive things really are in their field or company."Ways of finding out what kinds of salaries are being offered in different fields and geographical areas include a visit to the salary.com Internet site.Friedman recommends that people get this information for their own benefit but never ask what the salary is in a first interview.

"Wait until you're sure they want you before asking," she said.When the time is right, use the information collected about typical salaries for the position as the basis for negotiations.
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Before applicants get down to the language of dollars and cents, Friedman reminds them that salary is only one kind of compensation.She encourages people to consider alternatives and to realize that sometimes salary is an impossible negotiating factor for some companies.

"Advocate for frequency and type of reviews and evaluations," she said."A lot of people give their power away when they get reviewed, but that's not the way it's supposed to work."Suggestions include accepting the offered salary if, after three months, a review will appraise performance, and in six months, if your work is excellent, you will receive a bonus, a raise or a promotion.

"In the 18 years I've been in this business, I've seen time, freedom and independence become more important to people," Friedman said.Independence allows a person to perform job tasks with little supervision, making the outcome more important than the way it is reached.She adds that employees who have freedom to schedule their work rate the option high on the list of benefits.

Another compensation that is generally up for negotiation is continuing education that the company will finance.Friedman reminds clients, however, that it's necessary to keep growing their knowledge base, even if it means paying for classes themselves.

The opportunity for telecommuting, job sharing and increased vacation time also fits in the category of negotiable options."Employers may not know about things that are important to you, so clarifying those things for yourself will increase the power of your negotiations," she said.

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Nina Friedman, MS, is a senior consultant for Catalyst Consulting Group. She has more than 20 years of experience in career counseling and outplacement services. Ms. Friedman has successfully assisted hundreds of business people at all levels to make satisfying career modifications. She helped them create fulfilling career goals and write effective resumes, and she assisted them with their interviewing and job search skills. Her areas of expertise include career and organizational development, personality strength analysis, team building and transitions. In companies, her work increases employee effectiveness in achieving organizational goals and empowers employees to work more productively, both individually and in teams.