Three months ago Mark Usherwood was living with his wife in their car as a result of losing his job in 2009. After a nearly four-year search for employment, Mark walked into the North County Coastal Career Center (NCCCC) this past December in search of help.
The NCCCC offered Mark numerous services to help him get back into the workforce. He attended numerous career workshops and events including seminars like “How to Work a Job Fair” and “Interviewing Skills”. It was the knowledge that Mark gained at these events that changed his outlook on the job search process.
Soon after, Mark was utilizing his newly acquired skills at career fairs and networking events. But all these opportunities paled in comparison to the call he received from ITC Management Inc., a Canadian construction company that was interested in Mark’s relevant work experience. Because Mark was still living in his car, the North County Coastal Career Center set up a quiet space for him to conduct a phone interview with the company. Using the interview skills acquired at the NCCCC, Mark impressed the company and was quickly offered an in-person interview to be conducted in Vancouver, Canada with all expenses paid. Before leaving for the interview, the NCCCC reviewed proper dress attire and even provided him a pair of dress shoes.
Upon arriving in Vancouver, Mark met with the CEO and two Vice-Presidents of the company for a 30 minute interview. His interview preparation with the career center paid off and within a couple hours of the meeting he received an email offering him a job as a Project Supervisor!
On May 21 Mark started his new job in Calgary, Canada with a starting salary of $175,000! Congratulations Mark and the North County Coastal Career Center on this great achievement!