Ignore them.

The global career management firm found that one in three executives who took a new job had to accept a pay cut because of mistakes made during salary negotiations. And the biggest mistake of those one out of three job seekers was listening to advice from friends and family.

"They have limited knowledge of your background experience and value. They don't know enough about you to give you advice," said Trent Perry, Atlanta-based regional president of Bernard Haldane Associates.

Instead, job seekers should talk to a professional.

Locals who are looking for a new job or are interested in changing careers have a couple of opportunities in the upcoming weeks to get that professional perspective.

The Parachute Career Workshop at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Hamilton starts Monday and continues with two-a-week sessions through April 7. Backers plan to bring job seekers perspective on careers and change.

It costs $110 for the seminar, which will be presented by Maureen Moorhead, a career coach who refined her Parachute Group Workshop at a Job Search Focus Group that meets every Monday morning at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church (871-0320 or www.jsfg.com) .

Despite reports that employment may be rising, Moorhead says that isn't the case here.

"I've talked to recruiters, and I know they're saying the economy is heating up on the East Coast, but I don't see that locally," Moorhead said.

"What I'm seeing is extended unemployment. One of the groups hardest hit is the 40-plus age group."

Sessions at the church are based on lessons from the best-selling career book What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles.

The fee includes a workbook, lunches and snacks. Register at 861-6347 or 868-1488.

Reminder

Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less, brings his writing how-to road show to Sharonville's Comfort Inn & Suites from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Bowerman suggests writers looking for a lucrative way to put food on the table give up on traditional outlets such as books, magazines and newspapers.

The best money these days comes from creating and providing content for Web sites, because every company with a product or service to sell must fill Web pages with content.

Contact Bowerman at (770) 438-7200 or visit his Web site at www.wellfedwriter.com for more information.

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• The Daily Grind is moving to the Sunday business section.

E-mail jeckberg@enquirer.com