NATION

NATION

Executive notes benefits of mentorship program

NEW YORK — Your company is cutting corners, and that could compromise training and corporate initiatives.

Pamela Craig, chief financial officer for consulting firm Accenture Ltd., suggests instituting mentor partnerships to keep information fresh and circulating through the ranks, and to promote opportunities within a company, organization or field of work.

“You can always find time to mentor and to learn from others, and it’s not a matter of cost at all,” Craig said.

Author offers advice for negotiating a salary

NEW YORK — If the thought of negotiating a salary made you cringe in the past, the thinning job market and faltering economy could add to that anxiety.

But Dick Gaither, co-author of the recently published book “Next-Day Job Interview,” says that passive acceptance will cost you even as the economy recovers. He gives these suggestions for enhancing a job offer: don’t assume pay and benefits aren’t negotiable; know in advance what the high, low and average salary levels are; and be able to present concrete and measurable examples of your skills and your value to the company.

If financial woes limit an employer and you can’t negotiate for more money, compromise with things that can translate into money like extra vacation time, education reimbursements or travel allowances.

Associated Press