Partner Spotlight: NW Teaches Job Negotiation Skills at New Futures’ First Ever “CareerCon”

Melissa Reinberg teaches New Futures Scholars as part of the CareerCon program.

Melissa Reinberg, Executive Director, and Lee Gjertsen Malone, Partnerships & Communications Manager, taught an exciting workshop in March on “Negotiating at Work” to DC area community college students as part of New Futures’ CareerCon, a day-long conference providing networking, professional development, and career exploration.

New Futures propels underserved young people through certifications and community college degrees and into rewarding careers across the Washington, DC region by investing in scholarships, academic advising, and career coaching, to help their Scholars launch in-demand careers that will lead to financial security.

Both NW and New Futures are part of Spur Local, formerly known as the Catalogue of Philanthropy, which supports local nonprofits in the DC area by connecting them with partners, fundraising opportunities, and donors, and we are proud to say we were able to build this partnership through that connection.

The CareerCon class session focused on key negotiating concepts that affect job and salary negotiations such as confirmation bias, loss aversion, and the anchoring effect. New Futures Scholars learned how avoiding negotiation can inhibit salary growth over time and how fear of taking risks keeps people from getting promotions, new positions, and more attractive pay.

Molly Friesenborg, director of scholar programs at New Futures, shared her impression of the class. “Negotiation Works’ session was so popular it was standing room only—a powerful reminder of just how essential these skills are. For our Scholars—and really all young people—learning to advocate for themselves, whether with a financial aid office or a future employer, is a critical skill for navigating life’s challenges.”