Ten years since I wrote my last review and 11 years since I first saw Amanda as a client. In those 11+ years I have gone back to school to get my degree, changed careers, gotten laid off twice (once during 2020), found work again in less than two months, and always found something higher-paying and with a better commute every time, as if the layoffs were a hidden gift. I have also nearly tripled my salary since I first saw Amanda and am much more satisfied with my line of work. I am also grateful to have found a new job in my field with a company that is hiring since I'm in a field in which the layoffs are higher right now. If I had never been a client of hers, I expect that I would be still be in a job that I didn't care about, making about half of what I make now, and working it only for the paycheck. Seeing Amanda was hands-down the best career decision that I ever made. My sanity, self-confidence, and bank account thank her. You will too, after a few sessions. read more

I recently moved to a new city without any connections, and took a job outside of my field. Amanda worked with me to develop a strong resume and cover letter, and to make connections in my field. Thanks to Amanda, I am starting an exciting new job this December. I highly recommend Pathways Career Consulting! read more

I've been stuck in a rut with my career for a while, and working with Amanda was just what I needed to figure out my next steps. She helped me explore possible options for my next move and worked with me to hone in on my strengths and values. She also helped immensely with interview preparation which is something I always dread. I've now landed a great role in a tough job market and I am immensely grateful to her for her support, insight and sense of humor along the way. I would be happy to work with her again should the opportunity arise! read more

I had been stuck in a job for over five years and knew it was time for a change. I was hoping to find someone to help me not only find the next job, but to figure out what an ideal job would be for me. Before finding Amanda I interviewed a couple other counselors who both had very slick sales pitches. Amanda was different. She listened more than spoke and didn't treat me like just another lead to convert into a sale. Our sessions started out with her asking a lot of questions and taking notes. As she started to understand my career history and needs she would pull out the appropriate exercises and homework. One of the most valuable tools she helped me develop was identifying ways to evaluate job opportunities by seeing if they align with my core values. This helped me waste less time on ill-fitting opportunities and eventually lead me to land a new job. I recommend Amanda. Some tips: Street parking wasn't always easy to find so I used the parking garage at 12th and MLK. Also, Amanda's office is in an historic section of Oakland called Preservation Park. Take a little stroll and enjoy the old buildings, nice landscaping, etc. read more

Working with Amanda was so empowering and affirming! She's gifted in the ability to pick up on the nuances of your goals, your strengths and your aspirations. I've worked with several different coaches and many just take a blanket approach. But Amanda knows that it's not a one-size fits all template when it comes to careers. She sees the whole picture and then helps you bridge gaps, identify strengths, fortify the things you're already excelling at and then pushes you forward in the direction of success. read more

I'd been out of the job market for years. When I started sending out resumes I was getting ZERO response. Amanda helped me with my resume and LinkedIn page and gave valuable guidance for my search. After two weeks of working with Amanda, my phone was ringing off the hook! I recently signed an offer letter and will start work soon at a new job that I'm very excited about. Wether you need career guidance or just help with job hunting tactics, Amanda will help you. read more

Amanda Gerrie helped me to find a career. I met Amanda in 2018 during a Facilitating Career Development training led by Pathways Consulting. After, Amanda's career coaching helped me gain personal perspective on my own skills, interests, and values so that I could lead my own career search. She offered strategy, information, language, and kind, patient support through some difficult moments of self-doubt. She helped me to envision new approaches and goals. It's in large part thanks to Amanda that I successfully found employment that felt like progress in my career (during a cross-country move). I continue to share what Amanda has taught me in my personal and professional life in hopes of inspiring in others what she has motivated in me. read more

Amanda was incredibly helpful in taking my eclectic interests and experience, and finding the common threads. I learned so much about myself in our sessions. Now, instead of applying to jobs haphazardly, I'm focused because I understand what I need. I recommend Amanda to anyone, whether they're mid-career and want a new perspective, or they're entry-level and want to get their ducks in a row. read more

Unfortunately Pathways is not taking new clients. I learned that only after I contacted the company twice. Pathways, please update your website so others don't waste their time and get their hopes up. Career changers such as myself have enough stress as it is. read more

Amanda is incredible at helping people identify their talents, skills, and passions. She helped me understand how to pull together my experience and interests and tell my story - in my resumes, on my linkedin profile, in interviews, etc. Amanda is also so connected to so many different communities and is a treasure trove of resources. And, in general, she's very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Career shifts can be scary but Amanda helps make it easier. read more

I found Amanda through Yelp and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my career so far. Talking with her about getting out of my past environment/ role and into something that suited me helped me focus on what I wanted and what would be good for me. There were many paths of what I could do to get out of where I was at, including going back to school, but in the end I ended up at a new company that is everything I was looking for ( and I finally knew what I was looking for because of our conversations! ) I highly recommend Amanda for any of your "omg, I'm not happy with my career but I don't know what to do now" moments. Or better yet, not allowing yourself to get to that moment by talking to her while you are still in High School or early College and letting her guide you to your true dreams and passions for your career. read more

Looking for a job is stressful, changing careers mid-life seems even more stressful. After trying to get career advice through my friends (not a good idea), I found Amanda through Yelp. I hesitated at paying someone for career advice, thinking it was too expensive, even with the sliding scale. But after my first meeting with her, I felt a HUGE weight lifted from my shoulders. SO SO worth it!! Her exercises/homework helped me focus my anxiety so I could get to the crux of my issues. Amanda is super chill, and knowledgeable. And a wonderful listener. She helped me process my own thoughts about the kind of work I REALLY wanted to do. Finding the right career/job isn't easy and doesn't happen overnight. Amanda can guide you, but YOU have to do the necessary work. Within a few months, I found my dream job at my dream company. I could not be happier! Thanks Amanda! read more

Over the last few years, I have wanted to leave my job. But I have only had one career as an adult, and I can't really imagine myself doing anything else. I was pleasantly surprised when after two sessions with Amanda, I felt like I had many different options. I haven't made a move yet, but I know with Amanda's help, I will be ready when I do. She understands the job market so well. She has allowed me to think about leaving a secure job without fear by painting a picture of a brighter future. read more

I sincerely cannot recommend Amanda's services enough. I graduated from college in the midst of a pandemic with a degree but little idea of what I wanted to do with it. Amanda provided an extensive and personal approach to navigating the current job market and finding a meaningful career. She provided me with the tools and insight necessary for finding a career; whether it be through resume building, improving my LinkedIn, or identifying skill sets and relevant career avenues. I can happily say I have found a job and started my career due in no small part from my time working with Amanda. She is caring, insightful, and works with you to make sure you find the career you want. Highly recommend her to any recent graduates and those struggling to effectively navigate the current job market! read more

Amanda is terrific! So easy to work with and talk to. She helps you figure out what you really want to do and find companies that are hiring for that position. I had been using LinkedIn but Amanda knew so much more about the searching capabilities and filters that are available on LinkedIn. Amanda also helped me make a plan to launch my own consulting business. I was struggling to find a full time job doing what I loved to do in the nonprofit sector. With a plan it didn't seem so scary to venture off on my own. She was a tremendous help in preparing for an interview with the CEO of the company that has offered me a consulting job. She provided interviewing tips, as well as how to use a story telling format to answer questions. And then based on the job posting she asked questions, and I practiced answering using the story telling format. Here feedback was extremely helpful. Highly recommended! read more

I contacted Amanda at a point when I knew I need to move on from my office job, but hadn't yet figured out where I wanted to go next. Within a few sessions with Amanda's help I was focused on a positive direction. We spent the next couple of months putting the pieces of my transition together. Once she got me rolling we cut our sessions to once every 3 weeks. Now 6 months after our 1st meeting I have been hired as a 5th grade teacher - a career I had only just begun to entertain the thought of when I first met Amanda. Much appreciation for the guidance and support I received. read more

Amanda did more than I expected. She took a multifaceted approach, addressing my past decisions and future goals, while simultaneously focusing on how to powerfully reformat and frame my resume. It really gave me great insight in how the hiring process works, and empowered me to take actionable steps towards my career goals. Some of the exercises we did, included: walking through my passions and interests, looking into my past and figuring out reasons behind my choices, and visualizing my goals and aspirations. I actually felt like I learned a lot about myself through the process, and what I want to get out of my career. I've landed a new job, and honestly, I don't think I would've operating at the same level of professionalism if I didn't meet with her. A bit of advice that I would give, is that it's up to you to make the most of your time with her. Come prepared with questions, have ideas of what you want to get out of this process and be open to brainstorming. She is great at leading the conversation, but I had specifics that I wanted to address, and she was super receptive. I've maintained contact with her since we've ended our sessions, and plan on going back down the road to stay sharp. Thanks, Amanda! read more

I had high hopes. Amanda came across as warm and professional during my initial email communications with her. The website looked great. I really liked the friendly, down-to-earth tone, the practical approach. It seemed so inviting. I sent her my resume and a brief description of what I was looking for. I had gone down a career path that was not ideal for me after facing some difficult circumstances outside of work when I was younger. I wanted to switch to a career where I could make fuller use of my skills and feel better about the work that I was doing. At the time, I was in my late thirties. I had a masters degree, a broad range of experience, and measurable success - though not in a field in which I wanted to remain. Amanda seemed friendly when I came to her office. But then the tone changed. She wanted to focus on my childhood. She asked me what my parents did for a living. Then she told me, in an accusatory tone, that because my father worked at a university, he must have been the reason that I got to go to college at all. She told me that she could tell, just by looking at me, that I was not intelligent enough to have gotten into college - any college - or graduate school on my own, or to have secured a professional kind of job. That someone must have pulled a lot of strings. I was floored. Her assertion could not have been farther from the truth. There was no concrete reason for her to doubt my intelligence. I felt as if I had just paid to be insulted. The person who she claimed must have opened doors in fact held me back in a lot of ways, and it was traumatic to have this brought up when I expected to focus on my strengths and future career path. She continued to speak to me very condescendingly. It was bizarre. I was too shocked by her insults to respond appropriately at the time. I wanted to follow up later, hold her accountable, and ask for a refund. But I thought that in doing so, I might just be reinforcing the ideas she seemed to have formed about me. Years later, I still get flashbacks of being told that I could not possibly be intelligent enough to go to college or graduate school - because of what I look like. I was wearing a button down shirt and a clean, new pair of jeans. There was nothing unusual about the way that I was dressed. If she had concerns - if my appearance or resume made a bad impression - I wish she could have addressed those things directly. I wish she could have told me what caused her to make the kinds of assumptions and statements that she made. That would have helped me as a job seeker and would have made the investment valuable. Instead, I can't say that I learned anything or got anything worthwhile out of the session. It was like that Monty Python sketch about paying for an argument, except that I just sat there politely and was insulted. *Of Note: I wrote a similar review for a different career counseling service in the Bay Area. These are honest reviews. I actually had similar experiences with both services, and I am still left wondering why I was treated the way I was by both professionals. read more

Amanda supported me during a very difficult transition. I found consulting with her to be helpful. She pushed me outside my comfort zone in terms of networking, and had lots of helpful advice regarding both career exploration and the nuts and bolts of job searching. Highly recommend! read more

I was disappointed by the consultation I received here. Amanda seemed like a nice person, but I thought she was unprofessional and did not make good use of our time together. In my opinion, it was not worth the $100+/hour consultation fee. And I was put off by the run-down building (e.g., litter in the hallway, unpleasant smells, dingy offices). I have to be honest here: It truly felt like an appointment with a volunteer at a cash-strapped charitable organization. I have moved on to a different career coach who is a much better fit. read more

I was stuck. I was floundering in a role that didn't suit me in an environment that had turned unfriendly. We've all been there in the past, some of us multiple times, including myself. Seeing as how the market was picking up, I knew the time had come to find a new job. But this go-around I wasn't excited about the prospect of applying, interviewing, and accepting a role I could tolerate. My marginally decent resume was out there, but only getting hits to positions I didn't want. That's when I came to Yelp and found Amanda. From the first session, I knew that I had made an extremely good decision asking for career counseling, and in particular, reaching out to Amanda. I thought I was going in for help with just my resume. Instead, she presented a comprehensive approach to how I should view my next job search from the type of company I wanted to work for and the kind of roles I should be going after. Only then did we start transforming my resume. Amanda deeply cares about her work and the people she helps everyday. She is extremely knowledgable about a multitude of industries. Yet her approach and her style make it extremely easy to work with her. Even her off-beat idea she presented gave me pause to think why I hadn't thought of it before! After working with Amanda, I was contacted by a headhunter for a role in a company that was well suited for my career path. Without her guidance, I don't believe I would have been able to land it. I highly recommend Amanda and Pathways Consulting for anyone that needs advice with their career. read more

I learned about Amanda from working with her business partner Kim around youth development strategies. I was feeling unsure about where I was headed in my career and Kim suggested I do some exploration with Amanda. Amanda was warm, thoughtful and got right to business. She has a lot of knowledge & tools on how to match folks' strengths with potential careers and was very open in sharing her networks with me for future exploration. I also live and work in SF and she was always open to meeting via Skype which was very helpful in fitting coaching into my regular schedule. It was a joy to work with her & I highly recommend her for your career counseling and exploration! read more

Amanda has been integral in helping me focus my goals and achieve my ambitions. She's easy to work with, has creative ideas, and gives great feedback. She listens with empathy but she's not afraid to snap me back into focus when she senses that I'm losing sight of my goals. With her guidance, I was able to leave a job that made me very unhappy and transition into a career that I find incredibly fulfilling.. read more

I've used yelp for years, but have never written a review until now. I came to see Amanda for guidance when my 22 year tenure in a leadership position was being downsized. Calm and confident, she worked with me in a professional and personal manner. I felt comfortable and increasingly confident in my abilities and future. She is very real and down to earth. I feel fortunate to have found her! read more

Amanda was great. In a short period of time (three sessions) I identified the skills I have to offer, revised my resume accordingly, created a list of companies to reach out to, and made a concrete timeline to aim for. It's great to have some accountability when doing this type of thing and I landed a new job within 90 days and got a good pay increase! read more

I was laid off last spring, and I did three sessions with Amanda. I started with square one with Amanda, having little idea of what I wanted to do with my life, let alone career. She helped me focus and also gave me lots of practical info. so that I could do some of my own research. She was fine with me pointing in different directions every 1/2 an hour, and helped me look at my options more realistically. She was able to sketch me through the three or four options I was toying with and although I didn't end up following through on any of them, I have a good idea about how to pursue one or more of them once I'm ready. I highly recommend Amanda for anyone who needs a kick in the butt or more to get from point A to Z. read more

I was at an impasse with my career and over a series of multiple sessions Amanda went through workshops, career exercises, and creative conversations to figure out what exactly my calling was and how to be happy in my future work life. She was thoughtful, smart, and positive about my future prospects. I very much enjoyed working with her and highly recommend seeing her if you are uncertain about your career or life calling. read more

Amanda did such a great job for me. She is very efficient throughout the entire process and her pricing is very good. My resume has jumped up a few levels and I learned a few things about myself that I didn't know. I look forward to working with Amanda a few more times. I will be recommending her to many friends going forward. read more

Amanda did a great and focused job helping me find the position I wanted within three months. I really enjoyed her creative approach to cutting through the noise and focusing on what I am passionate about. Thanks again Amanda! read more

Amanda has been instrumental in helping me to find the courage to make some much needed changes professionally. I couldn't ask for a better coaching experience. She is personable, focused, and has amazing intuition. My journey is just beginning at this point (Amanda quickly helped me to realize there was no "quick fix" in my situation), but I am now confident that I am moving in the right direction. read more

Amanda helped me clarify my goals both around career and life. She guided me through making a detailed plan for where I want to end up in my career and, most importantly helped me articulate why. And of course she gave me great advice on tightening up my resume and linked-in profile. I was actually able to reposition my role in my current job rather than find a new one, which is a perfect solution. read more

Amanda provided me with exactly the practical and emotional support I needed to follow my dreams. She has so many tools in her toolbox to pull from, which she used to guide me to discover what my strengths and weaknesses are, what my talents and skills are, and what my ideal job and life would look like. I am very grateful for the guidance and support she provided me, as I was able to let go of expectations I had for myself and embrace what my heart was telling me. I was conditioned by parents and formal education to pursue traditional career paths but my heart had always told me to go a more unconventional route. Amanda helped me realize that this was actually possible but with a pragmatic approach. She 'kept it real' by reminding me that what I chose to do would need to pay the bills, so we looked at options that were financially secure but also along the lines of my ideals and values. Amanda also knows many people in different fields, so she was able to make suggestions about career ideas that I would have never thought of, and she had a good idea about what those careers might look like. She was able to put me in contact with folks in different careers I was interested in to do informational interviews. It's hard to put into words how helpful Amanda was in supporting me through a rough transition and to give me the support I needed. I recommend her highly! read more

Amanda is a great career counselor - helped me pull my resume together, retool my skills and trajectory based on past experience and new direction. Highly recommended - she will keep you on track! read more

I was so happy to find Amanda through Yelp in 2014. After losing my job during the recession, followed by helping with the care of a family member, I was at a loss on how to address the HUGE gap in my resume and return to the workforce. Realizing the process was too overwhelming to do on my own, I called Amanda. Amanda was extremely helpful and personable from the beginning. We worked on employment goals I set for myself over several months. After some initial brain-storming about my work history, new possibilities were revealed. Amanda has a great deal of knowledge about the job market and supported my decision to take my career in a new direction. Recently, I found employment related to my new career path and am feeling very grateful for Amanda's help in turning my situation around - she is truly a GEM! read more

I was at a crossroad of my career and needed objective professional opinion/advice on what to do next. I reached out to Amanda based on Yelp reviews and was happy with my choice. She listened to my issues carefully, provided advice on how to improve my situation, and guided me through my decision making process. It also helps that she is very nice and easy to talk to. I would definitely recommend her to other professionals who need guidance in their careers. read more

Amanda excels at being a job coach and advisor. The first time I saw her I walked into her office with some trepidation that quickly fell away due to her down-to-earthness and approachability. She rapidly allowed me to open up and to reveal my confusion about next career steps. She took a full and complete history of my career, and her grasp of understanding the kind of person I am and the kind of job I wanted happened fast. I then took charge of my career search, which involved looking for a job that I was educated to do, then going after a kind of lateral move, which better utilized my interests and values. Amanda gave me homework every time I came to see her, which turned out to be illuminating and helpful. Not only did she help me to see my inner "work self," but she liberally and constantly provided resources, networking events, and specific employers to apply to or at least consider. Amanda goes above and beyond what I pay her to do by checking in with me periodically to see how my job search is progressing, at which time she provides additional ideas for me to consider. While I haven't yet secured the job that I want, what Amanda did was help me to home in on what exactly that job might look like. Beforehand I was pretty clueless. Every interaction I have with Amanda leaves me more motivated and clearer about the jobs that I do want, as well as how to get them. I can't recommend Amanda more highly as she is keenly aware of the job market, and skilled at "peeling the onion" to reveal what it is that I had been subconsciously wanting for my professional life. read more

I first met Amanda when I was just trying to re-enter the job market. She was very astute in reading my professional needs. She is very easy going and does a great job with career counseling. When trying to get back on my feet, she gave helpful advice and directed me toward the technology/social media I'd avoided. She coached me through 'interviews' so that I was ready for actual phone interviews and then in-person meetings. I would recommend Amanda to anyone who needs to regain the skills to give them the edge to get (back) in the market. As a job coach, I don't think you can find a better or more qualified individual. read more

I met with Amanda over the course of a few months last year, and she was instrumental in helping me narrow down what I wanted in a job and determining a path to take. She encouraged me to reach our to people I found through what we called "LinkedIn Stalking", which resulted in a fantastic job offer. In out first session, we went over my interests and skills at different points in my life to determine what kind of interests would be worth pursuing. It was very reassuring to have someone experienced in the career world helping me find my path. For anyone unsure of what they want to do career-wise, I would definitely recommend a few sessions with Amanda. read more

I've been wanting to make a career change for a longtime!!! I happen to have a lot of interests and Amanda has REALLY guided and helped me focus and narrow my interests. Amanda is realistic and takes into consideration one's parameters when working with you. I am a full-time working single mom and making time for a career change is a challenge in itself. Amanda has been totally patient and non-judgmental with me, through this process---and very caring. She is honest and real with you. Amanda knows her stuff, I have been impressed with her in each of our sessions--she is sharp, intuitive, and perceptive. I am still in the process of trying to make the change and not done working with Amanda to make my career change. I highly recommend Amanda to anyone wanting to reexamine or change careers. read more

I found Amanda searching the internet. She came across as authentic and highly competent. I spoke with her on the phone and immediately trusted her. She is down to earth, easy to talk to and very professional. I worked with her during a time when I was deciding between two completely divergent career paths. She was an enormous help in my self-exploration, intuitive while simultaneously bringing her enormous fund of real world knowledge and experience to the process. I loved her homework assignments and her frank and insightful comments. She was supportive, but also challenged me. If I had to describe what she does in one word it would be "guide". You do the work, she helps you find your path. I have referred others to her and will continue to do so. read more