Marin Professionals Testimonials

Your support and the 5 day workshop worked for me tremendously, our Team environment made my job search easier and enjoyable.

I started my new job last Friday, October 28th, 2011. I took a position in San Jose, with American Building Maintenance as an Assistant Branch Manager for the South Bay Branch. ABM is one of the biggest Commercial Cleaning Company in the USA . www.abm.com and this position was not what I had originally applied for…and this is my story…

I was sent to interview for an Accounting Position by a staffing Agency called Atrium to a facility in San Jose ran by ABM Janitorial Service, whose employee was on disability and would be not returning soon. Thursday, October 13th in Santa Clara to meet with the Senior Branch Manager and the Regional Operations Manager. My job objective was a Senior Real Estate Accounting Position. The interviewer told me right away that the position was part time, since the work of the vacant position had been divided up among her current staffing. After recovering from the shock, I told her that I could not work part time. My commute alone would consume my earnings. She understood and told me that she might work something out to make up the other half. The interview lasted for 1:50 hours. Atrium told me that they liked my energy and knowledge. I made a good impression.

On Tuesday, October 18th, I was notified by Atrium that I was schedule to interview with the South Bay Branch Manager on Friday the 21st. I was under the impression that I was going to work my other half with Daryl, so I was relaxed and enjoyed the hour interview, not knowing until towards the end of it, that he was interviewing me for an Assistant Branch Manager Position, since the current one is retiring soon, and taking a different role within the company. He told me that he had another interview and a decision was going to be made by Monday the 24th. I thanked him for the opportunity and felt elated. I would love to come back to the service industry, all about people, training and money control. On Tuesday, October 25th I was told that I had been chosen for the position, starting on Friday the 28th. I accepted the opportunity to create a Team, motivated people to get the job done for the benefit of us all.

In addition, I want to share another success story of obtaining and interview due to a well presented cover letter that attracted a Real Estate Accounting Manager to call me from a Craiglist.org ad posted for a Senior Real Estate Accountant. The ad was posted 10-18-2011, with specific instructions including salary history. Since I had just completed my classes, I used the T-letter comparing their requirements and my qualifications. She called me on the 24th, a quick 15-minute telephone interview, resulting in scheduling a personal interview on the 25th. I went to the interview and we conversed at length about Shopping Center Accounting and client retention. When I asked her what made her choose my resume, she told me the cover letter was to the point and met all her requirements. The position paid substantially more than the other and no commute was involved. However, thinking about my choices, the position that I accepted will pay substantially more after my six-month probationary period, provide me a company car and a gas card for commuting. On top of that, my growth potential is: ”the sky is the limit”. She was needed to have someone in the position by the 15th of November. The next day I sent her an e-mail, thanking her for the interview; however, I accepted another opportunity, starting November 1st. She thanked me for telling her and wished me success.

Keep up the good work, and assure everyone that it takes hard work; however it might take a disappointment to get the dream job.

I found myself unemployed in late 2008 as the financial crisis unraveled. I looked, but nothing was available in my field (stock investment research). I did some consulting (it wasn’t much, but at least enough to talk about in a job interview) and eventually found the position I have now through a referral from a member of Marin Professionals.
The psychological challenge of unemployment is huge. I like to think I can power through anything, but this is too big to ignore. The camaraderie of Marin Professionals was valuable for me.
I’ve found it’s important not to be to the sidelines too long. In a job interview, it’s too hard to compete with others who have been unemployed for less time or even are still working. Some sort of consulting, no matter how poorly compensated, helped my self image as well as my image to others.
I now work as a stock research analyst. I met Jeff G. at the Marin Professionals Monday morning meeting a couple times. He later heard of the opening at McCullough and introduced me to the firm’s owner. Networking really does work, but exactly how and when is out of our control.
It happened quickly and unexpectedly. It’s good to be back in the flow again. This is the kind of work I prefer to do, even though it can be grueling at times.
I had literally given up and decided to make a career change – after 20 years of doing this same kind of work. After looking full time for 18 months, I was that discouraged. Two months later I got the offer.

I hate to imagine this employment “transition” phase of life I have found myself in, due to a layoff, without the continuous support that “Marin Professionals” provides. It is a place with numerous resources and other professionals in transition that understand the quite involved job search/ transition process. The Monday General Meetings are helpful for networking and sharing information among peers, and to hear motivational speakers providing information around current job search techniques. It helps give me a boost and make the rest of my week more productive.

In addition, by going through the workshop to become a member, you will refresh your job search skills and become part of a Job Search “Success Team”. Each team is a smaller group of members that you will get to know better and you can help each other through the job search process.

Those very knowledgeable in the area of job transition often emphasize, “do not go about this job search process alone”. I agree with that, and with Marin Professionals support, you will not be alone.