Sandi Ashton, Chief Connections Director for Career Connectors, opened today’s event with stories about choices. We decide each day about choices. We decide how we feel about choices and if we follow through with what we choose. You can choose to be a victim or you can take responsibility for your choices. It is up to you. Follow Sandi’s blog where the January theme is choices.
Jessica Pierce, Twitter @jessicapierceaz
What does it take to get you the job you want with the employer you want? What does it take for an employer to find employees that fit their culture? According to Jessica Pierce, co-founder of Career Connectors and our speaker today, Competence + Character + Chemistry = Culture Match whether you’re the job seeker or hiring manager.
Something to consider is whether you are in the right career or if it is time to change to something that better suits you. The DISC Assessment is a personality profile that will help you – and a prospective employer – understand who you are. You and your employer want to be sure you are a good fit for their organization and your position.
Competence includes skills, knowledge and attitude. These may not be on your resume – and you need them to be on your resume! Don’t downplay your accomplishments and experience. Think outside the box and take inventory.
What is your knowledge or training? If you need certifications or additional training, there is funding available through Workforce Connections and Career Connectors partners.
What are your professional accomplishments? Think not only about goals and results on past jobs but also as part of the community. Do you run the daycare at your church on Sundays? Do you organize the Girl Scout cookie drive or coach a team? All of these things are professional accomplishments. You can expand your list by exploring new volunteer, speaker and writing opportunities.
Think about your experience differently. As an administrative assistant, for example, you more than likely acted as an event planner and project coordinator. Go after event planning and project coordinator jobs! You have the experience – and now you’ve added it to your resume.
Create a Brag Book of your professional accomplishments that you take with you to every interview. This is an interview differentiator to capitalize on your competence. If the interview goes in such a way that you have the opportunity to share projects, accomplishments, ask this:
“May I present a professional portfolio with examples of my work quality and work ethic?”
What if you have nothing for your book today? Start now. Ask for letters of recommendation. You can write them and have the reference approve your letter. Keep everything and document successes.
Character is who you are as a person and as an employee. One would hope you carry the same values from personal to professional life! Values like integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and other attributes and qualifications that describe YOU.
As a job seeker it is important to know your character traits. Do you like to work on a team or alone? That’s important to help guide the positions and companies with whom you will work. Ask friends, colleagues and family what they see are your character traits.
Use the DISC assessment to identify character traits. The section of the report is called Value to Organization (page 4 or 5 of assessment). Examples: Builds confidence in others, negotiate conflict. This assessment gives you unique things about YOU. Include these on your resume.
Chemistry happens at The Interview. It’s kind of like dating where the prospective employer is seeing how much they like you as a person. People work with people they like. Even if skills sets and character matches, it boils down to a likability factor. They want to know if you fit their culture.
They want you to make a stellar impression starting from the moment you enter the building. Dress for success making sure your shoes are shined, hair is styled and your interview suit is from this decade. Greet the receptionist in a professional manner. Other factors include a proper handshake, introduction, eye contact, natural smile and if you mirror initial response.
[We stopped for a minute to practice The Proper Handshake which goes like this: web to web, shake twice and you’re out. Try it.]
Companies are starting to do video interviews over Skype and other services. Prepare for phone and video interviews as if you were going to a face-to-face interview. If you’re on Skype be sure to check what is behind you – the interviewer will see that!
Track your jobs so you know which jobs you applied for at that company. You have to impress the recruiter or hiring manager from the first impression.
Connect on LinkedIn with the people you talk to about jobs and with whom you interview. Include a brief description of how you know them. Search via Google for other social media for these contacts.
Jessica closed by reminding us there is a lot of hiring is happening now and there are great opportunities. Many companies are telling Jessica they are not finding the right people for their open positions. Now is your time to create a list of target companies and go after them!
Sandi came back to the stage and asked us to take action this week to make something happen. Write down what you will do this week to move your career search forward. If you don’t write your goals (job-related or otherwise) you will never realize them
Goodwill of Central AZ, Holly Schor, Manager of Talent Acquisition
Follow on Twitter @GoodwillAZ
Goodwill is more than retail locations and having a heart for non-profit work. They’re hiring professionals for their organization.
Did you know? $.90 of every dollar returns to local communities including Goodwill Career Centers. There are 14 Career Centers in the Valley.
Guess what? Holly got into non-profit work through volunteering!
Career opportunities within the Goodwill of Central AZ organization include management, retail operations, mission services and corporate services. Make the community a better place by using your unique skills.
Ajilon Professional Staffing,Candace Yeager, Executive Recruiter & Sean Campbell, Executive Recruiter
Specialty lines of business within Adecco Staffing.
Services include resume review, mock interviews, competitive salary information, salary and offer negotiation, detailed job market information, customized candidate marketing strategy ad overall support through the hiring process.
Preparing for the job interview – Know the company, Know the role and Know your Story. Visit their LinkedIn business profile. Google search for news on the organization. Recruiters will ask what you know about the company. Print the job description and map your experience; you will be able to speak to your experience in an interview.
Current open positions include accounting and finance as well as human resources and operations. www.parkerlnch.com for Finance/Accounting and www.ajilon.com for Human Resources/Operations positions. Temporary staffing positions at www.accountingprincipals.com.
Charles Schwab, Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Advisor
Business to Consumer and Advisor Services
More than 3,500 employees in the valley. Current openings include human resources, product management, technical support for clients, relationship specialist, banking operations and compliance. Hot jobs: service roles à great problem solver, technical skills, passion for finance.
Go to bit.ly/CareerConnectors – The recruiters know the program!
Computer Skills Institute, Sheri Carparelli, Owner/Director
Set yourself apart from others with similar credentials when you obtain a certification. Learn how you can apply for and receive job seeker training and re-training funding from the federal government,
Sandi closed the event reminding guests to take the DISC Assessment.
Volunteers are needed! Complete the application if you’re interested in helping us. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
