The Search Goes On...

I haven't been blogging much recently and I wish I had a good excuse. I wish I could say that I am just to tired when I get home or that I have so many other responsibilities that I can't find the time. But, those are only wishes. The truth is that I have more time than I have ever had right now. Nicole and I made the crazy (as some people think) decision to move to Colorado without any employment lined up, we have been here about a month and are still searching. I was beginning to get worried, a month without a job seemed like such a long time. I started to feel like I have been exhausting all my resources to search for jobs, I have been checking all the usual search databases up to twice a day and applying to everything I came across, even positions I would never take if offered and some that I would love to take but I would never be offered. We decided we should do everything possible to help with the cause, we went to a pointless job fair and then these past two days we went to a free two day long (from 8:30-4:30 Thursday and Friday) Career Workshop for Professionals. I was really reluctant to go at first, I had taken classes similar to this in college and used Vermont Law Schools Career center to its fullest extent (wasn't much) and I never learned anything I didn't already know. I decided to go anyway, besides it couldn't hurt and since I was "so busy" what else was I going to do. The workshop was hosted by the LDS Employment Center here in Denver, this center has a unique workshop. Its actually the only LDS Employment Center with a workshop like this in the Nation. They gave us great tips on how to find a job, the video below is a great example of the tactics they taught us on how to land a job.



Ok, so that's a funny video and it would be great if that would really work and if I could find a way to pull something like that off. But that is not what they taught us. Of all the advice, classes, and fairs that I have ever received on searching for employment, this workshop topped them all. I wish that I could go back take all the resumes and applications that I had previously submitted prior to this back and resubmit them with the improvements I have gained. I have been doing it all wrong! This does not mean that now that I have an improved hunting method a job will magically fall into my lap. The process takes time, we were told the average time is about 12 weeks. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. One important tip that we were given is that networking is the very important, let everyone you know what your experience is and what you are searching for. Ask them if they know anyone who knows anyone that may know someone who has a connection related to your line of work.

My first step in this process is to announce on my blog what I am looking for, so if any of my (very few I am sure) readers know someone I could talk to, please let me know.

Here is my, Brian's, professional summary:

I have recently obtained a Master's degree of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School with my areas of interest being Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency, and Natural Resource Protection. I had the opportunity to work on several class projects that portrayed these areas of interest, one of which was a campaign focused on improving Wal-Mart's Sustainability and Environmental Impact. Prior to obtaining a Master's degree, I earned a Bachelors in Journalism and Media Studies with my area of focus in Advertising and Public Relations. During this time I also had the opportunity to work on several successful advertising and public relations campaigns. As a recent graduate preparing to start my career I am looking to incorporate both my Environmental and Advertising/PR degrees into the field of Environmental Consulting and Management.

If you can, or know anyone who can give me advice or connections in aiding my search for a career, please let me know.

Thanks!
-Brian