Career Coaching at Bayside

*image from Bayside Church - Career Coaching

As my search continues for the perfect job I decided to try out Bayside's Career Coaching program. A four-night series of 2 hour classes on everything from God's role in our lives and during difficult times, to developing a personal marketing plan, networking, interviewing and perhaps most importantly how to stay positive and motivated. What did I learn? Well I learned that I was actually doing a lot of things right, I had a consistent brand ("MrAndrewBradley" is everywhere after all) I had reached out to lots of friends from various companies letting them know I was looking for work, I was applying to jobs, I was going out on interviews and wasn't giving up. All of that helped me to stay positive and realize that I am not alone in my job search. I was also reminded that I needed to keep expanding my network by meeting with even more people and arranging "informational interviews" with CEO's and other managers to learn more about their firms/businesses and in turn have more people out in the community helping me to look for a job (since people in their networks might be hiring that I do not know). Since the class I have already met with one PR firm and will be meeting with another soon to discuss core business models, clients and their approach to social media. As far as being motivated to keep looking daily, they gave out a sample point system and a goal of reaching X amount of points a day. For example applying to a job off of Craigslist.org is 5 points, going out on an informational interview and making new contacts/networking is worth 15 points and having a "real" interview is worth 20. So once you get to your point goal, you can be done for the day, or you could go for extra credit.

All of this came with a great binder full additional resources and information and access to a weekly meeting to go deeper into some of the topics discussed in the whirlwind of a class ... best part only $20. I know some people have asked "how can a church charge for something?" ... my answer, they are not making a profit, all of the people teaching and organizing the class are volunteers, the small fee goes towards providing amazing resources and a very full binder. I would dare anyone to go to any career coach and find a better deal than $20, let me just say you would have to add at least one zero, probably two for anything remotely close.

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Articles about the program:
"Religion and unemployment: God help the jobless - Churches are helping victims of recession," The Economist, 2/18/2010.
"The Conversation: Everyday people reveal recession's true impact," The Sacramento Bee, 12/27/2009.
"Job Front: Local Churches reach out to jobless," The Sacramento Bee, 6/1/2009.

A Central Coast Visit

What do you do when you have two free nights at a hotel that need used? Well you go on a vacation of course. I had two free nights that needed to be used by the end of the month at Best Western, so Jen and I took a quick trip to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach to use up my free nights and it gave me an opportunity to visit an area that I really have not been back to since graduating from college, other than a few days for work. We stayed at the Best Western Shore Cliff Lodge in Pismo Beach. It was amazing and every room has an ocean view, always a plus. After arriving on Thursday afternoon we got gas at the brand new Costco, shopped at Old Navy (both were not around when I was in college) and I had a phone interview with another company. Then I went to met with my financial adviser, William Henry Crew III, who took both Jen and I out to a great restaurant in San Luis Obispo called NOVO. After dinner, Jen and I enjoyed enjoyed San Luis Obispo's "Farmer's Market" and finally headed to our hotel in Pismo Beach.

Friday was a busy day of sight-seeing along the coast. We started off by walking through Pismo Beach and out on the pier, then headed up the coast to Avila Beach and Morro Bay, taking in the sights, walking along the beaches, watching people surf, looking at some great shops and of course ate some fabulous food while looking out at the Morro Bay harbor and watching the seals and boats go by. After visiting the coastal cities, we headed back to downtown San Luis Obispo via Montana de Oro State Park for some shopping and right when it started to rain we ran into the movie theater to watch Valentine's Day, while waiting for our stomachs to be hungry again. After the movie we walked down a few streets to Firestone's Grill for some amazing Tri-tip sandwiches and fries. Eventually we ended up back at our hotel and relaxed in the hot tub before heading to 7-Eleven for some Slurpee's (a college tradition of mine).

Saturday we drove around Cal Poly, which has done some pretty impressive renovations since I graduated, including an entirely new student housing complex, new buildings, a new football stadium and they are now working on revamping the student union and recreation center. It was a lot of driving, but well worth the trip ... I think this weekend some relaxing is in store, I have done something almost every weekend since mid-December.

HAPPO - Help a PR Pro Out

Today is the first ever HAPPO or "Help a PR Pro Out Day," a spin off of Peter Shankman's highly successful HARO (Help a Reporter Out) service. It is great to see the PR community coming out to support each other and I want to do the same. So if you're new to Twitter, just click here to check out all of the tweets about people looking for work and all of the jobs being posted.

As many of you know I too am looking to land the perfect PR job in the Sacramento, CA region. I have about four years of experience at a local agency and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, dealing with both large and small clients, including PhRMA, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, Colon Cancer Alliance, Hearing Med, the California State Parks Foundation, two California ballot initiatives and many more. I have gotten stories placed in major newspapers, including the Sacramento Bee, set up numerous radio interviews and was highly successful in getting my clients onto local television news stations throughout the state. Since being laid off (due to financial reasons at my former company) with five other employees at the end of September I have stayed busy and am now actively involved on the Citizen Voice/Safely Out Media and Marketing Sub-Committee, currently planning a major fundraiser with a local gym chain (California Family Fitness) called "Swim for Life." The event will bring together local swimmers to raise money for Safely Out kits to be distributed to some of California's most vulnerable residents in natural disasters, including the visually impaired and elderly.

Now I am looking for my dream job. I want to work with people who become friends in an environment that fosters creativity and teamwork, while valuing a strong work ethic and drive to succeed individually too. I know how to put in long hours, after working with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and the American Red Cross during and after the San Diego Wildfires in 2007 and on contentious ballot initiatives in November 2008 and May 2009. I enjoy traveling for work and pleasure, so any business travel is a plus, but not a requirement.

Thank you and I look forward to speaking with you soon about opportunities at your company and how I can help you and your business thrive in the coming years!

Click to view my LinkedIn profile.

A San Francisco Getaway

After heading to the slopes to try our hand at snowboarding again last weekend, Jen and I chose a much more relaxing (and less painful) activity for this weekend ... a trip to San Francisco and to see my brother in Redwood City. Friday we watched the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, I especially liked the segments beforehand about Canada and the slam poetry near the end of the ceremony.

On Saturday we made the trek to San Francisco. We started out at the Disney Family Museum, which chronicles the life of Walt Disney, showing his early failures and of course his great successes, all in an interactive and fun way that only Disney can pull off. The museum also had some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and offered up a tasty (not too expensive) panini for lunch at their cafe. After a few hours walking around the museum, we drove around San Francisco and ended up at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. We then walked through some of the park seeing the California Academy of Sciences and the Tutankhamun exhibit building that houses King Tut. When we were tired of walking we headed to my brother's house in Redwood City to see the family and eat an amazing Valentine's Day themed meal, complete with heart shaped ravioli and chocolate dipped strawberries.

Sunday we all headed to church and said our goodbyes while eating our massive Chipotle burritos. Jen and I then headed over to Pacifica to watch the massive waves crash over onto the sidewalks, even getting us a little bit wet once. It was a great opportunity to take some pictures and be glad that we were not among those who got drenched at Mavericks. For dinner we celebrated not just Valentine's Day, but Chinese New Year with some great yellow chicken and egg rolls while watching the Amazing Race, Undercover Boss, the Olympics and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Next week, maybe San Luis Obispo to use up some free hotel vouchers.