Career Advice Talk

Laid Off Camp - San Francisco on March 3rd

21st February, 2009 - Posted by Robin Ogden -

We’re excited to put the word out about Laid Off Camp and also excited to be a contributing sponsor of this terrific event.  FiredUP Careers will be donating 200 of our FiredUP Interviewing audio cd’s for people who attend the ‘un-conference’.  Press release follows:

LAIDOFFCAMP KICKS OFF IN SAN FRANCISCO

Networking Event Will Lift Spirits, Bring Job Seekers and New Opportunities Together

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — February 20, 2009 — Getting laid off will take on a whole new meaning at the first ever LaidOffCamp in San Francisco. LaidOffCamp is a day-long BarCamp-style unconference that provides an opportunity for unemployed and nontraditionally employed people (including freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups) to connect, network, promote their marketable skills and exchange resources and expertise. Attendees don’t have to be unemployed to attend. LaidOffCamp takes place on Tuesday, March 3 from 9:00 am – 5:45 pm at Temple nightclub in San Francisco. While tickets are available free, people are encouraged to pre-register and make a donation that fits their budget.

Modeled after user-generated conferences pioneered by BarCamp, LaidOffCamp will also feature open, participatory discussion sessions that will be proposed, scheduled and led by attendees. Approximately 21 sessions will be held throughout the day in three different rooms throughout the venue. Proposed topics include: Affordable Health Insurance, Coworking Connections, Networking 101, Learning For Passion or Profit, Living on nn Extreme Budget, Building Your Personal Brand, How To Be A Freelance Consultant and many more. Those interested in leading a session should come prepared with a presentation loaded on a laptop or thumb drive.

In addition to attending and leading discussion sessions, attendees in search of new careers will also have the opportunity to mingle with recruiters and representatives from local companies at a job fair going on throughout the day, while business-savvy individuals will enjoy the chance to share new start-up ideas with other like-minded entrepreneurs in lounge areas located throughout the venue. LaidOffCamp is designed to be a dynamic and supportive environment where attendees can participate in discussions, approach potential employers at their convenience, or just freely network with other professionals.

While several online support groups have popped up recently for people who’ve been laid off, LaidOffcamp is the first BarCamp-styled networking event since the economic recession hit.

As more people lose their jobs from coast to coast, discussion of the appeal and increasing demand for the San Francisco event have set social media and online communities on fire. Self-starters across the country are jumping on board to plan LaidOff Camp events in cities such as New York, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The appeal for BarCamp style events is even going global - BarCampDehli recently expressed interest in organizing a LaidOffCamp event in India. Individuals interested in planning a LaidOffCamp in their own city should send an email to newcity@laidoffcamp.com for more information on how to get started.

LaidOffCamp invites local companies with job openings to participate in the “job fair”. For a $100 fee, interested companies will be given an official “I’m Hiring” t-shirt to wear at the event to attract job seekers. They will also be listed in the LaidOffCamp directory of hiring companies and will have table space for networking during the lunch break. Contact sf-hiring@laidoffcamp.com for more information or purchase a “Hiring Company” ticket now at http://laidoffcamp.eventbrite.com.

The event organizers are also seeking sponsorships as a means to defray costs associated with venue rental, food and drinks. Companies and individuals who want to financially sponsor the event should send an email to sf-sponsors@laidoffcamp.com and express interest and level of sponsorship. Once sponsorship details are confirmed, sponsors can register for the event at http://laidoffcamp.eventbrite.com/. In order to keep the day focused on attendee participation, all sponsors will receive the same level of promotion at the event, regardless of the amount of sponsorship. Sponsors will be listed on the LaidOffCamp event planning wiki and on flyers posted at the event. They will also be publicly thanked during the day and will have the opportunity to set up a table during lunch to showcase products and network with attendees.

Other highlights of the event include:

• Complimentary breakfast and lunch
• A networking “after-party” from 6:00 - 8:00 pm to mingle and celebrate the joys and pains of unemployment. Suggested donation for those just attending in the evening is $10.

LaidOffCamp will be a great opportunity to meet other movers and shakers in career transition, engage in discussion, get inspired and learn new information about how to succeed in the turbulent economy. Register for the event and buy tickets for the happy hour at http://laidoffcamp.eventbrite.com/.

For more information on the event:

• Contact founder Chris Hutchins regarding the job fair and sponsorships at chris@laidoffcamp.com
• Contact Cathy Goerz for media inquiries at csgoerz@hotmail.com
• Visit the LaidOffCamp wiki
• Follow LaidOffCamp on Twitter before and during the event
• Join the LaidOffCamp group on Facebook

WHEN AND WHERE

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Temple Nightclub

9:00 am – 5:45 pm

540 Howard Street, San Francisco

Happy Hour: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm