Written by Susan Lamphiear
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. Henry Ford
No doubt about it. Losing a job– being in career transition—takes its place right up there with some of life’s most difficult challenges. At times it can feel like it’s literally sucking the breath from you. But it helps to realize that others, having traveled this particular part of the storm, have not only lived to tell about it, but have come through this particular storm stronger and ready to tell their story. And ready to share what they’ve learned. Like the airplane, they’ve taken off against the wind.
Consider the message from the Broadway musical Wicked, Defying Gravity: “It’s time to try defying gravity. I think I’ll try defying gravity. And you can’t bring me down” as you consider our keynote’s personal story and her advice.
Keynote
Naomi Buckta has been in your shoes. She feels your pain. She, too, has experienced job loss. The good news is she came out stronger on the other side and shares her tips for getting through the storm.
Today she’s Vice President of sales & marketing for four related companies. Through her experiences she’s conducted seminars and workshops focusing on personal transition and social networking.
Naomi’s Tips After a Job Loss
- Lost your job? Don’t panic. When you start to doubt yourself, make a list of your strengths. Go to your LinkedIn profile and read the great stuff people have written about you.
When Naomi Buckta was laid off in 2010, it caught her off guard even though she was part of the executive team. She had to remind herself what a rock star she is.
- Assess yourself. Clean up your social profiles. Know what you really want and let your resume reflect that. Consider a career coach. And a mentor.
- Don’t be resentful. Develop the habit of writing thank you notes. Don’t burn bridges.
- Stay current in your field. This is the number one reason people lost their jobs in their organizations. Remember MOOCs. Say, what? You know MOOC–Massive Open Online Course. It’s those courses of study available on the internet and available without charge to large numbers of people. Make a section on your resume to document ones you’ve taken. It’s one more sign to potential employers that you’re staying current in your field.
- Have a plan—Connect with people through NetworkingPhoenix.com, LinkedIn groups, church groups. Find out who knows who. Prepare your elevator speech.
- Build your network whether you’re in job search or gainfully employed. Relationships matter. What do you know, what are your targeted companies, and what networking events are available to you? Find a mentor who among other things will be honest with you and even help you debrief after an interview.
- Your resume—don’t sound like a zombie—aim to make your resume sound like a human voice. Make sure your resume reflects the exact job you’re looking for now. Put it on quality paper.
- Is your portfolio up to date? Consider writing a 30/60/90 day plan and aim to work it into an interview.
- The interview—Prepare questions to ask for every level of the organization. And be prepared to answer behavioral questions.
- Speak positively about the company you just left NO MATTER WHAT.
- Make your own opportunities while going through job transition. Consider contract work, consulting, teaching a class, working part-time to make ends meet. Or do something you’ve always wanted to do but never took time like planting an herb garden, organizing family photos, and taking a picnic lunch to the park.
Naomi summed up her thoughts, expressed in a quote, about getting through tough times like a job loss and career search.
Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.
M. Scott Peck, American psychiatrist
Hiring Companies
Northcentral University
Bradley Dial, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Northcentral University, regionally accredited, features online education at a higher degree including degrees in education, technology, business, psychology, and marriage & family science. Online degree programs allow students to learn in a one-to-one learning model from a 100% doctoral faculty.
One of the benefits includes free education.
Currently they are hiring for academics, administration, enrollment, information technology and student support services.
For more information or to apply, visit their website.
AB Staffing Solutions
James Gonzales, Recruiter
AB Staffing Solutions, a staffing and recruiting agency, is one of the fastest growing companies in the healthcare industry. They provide healthcare personnel at government and commercial medical facilities across the country.
Their company is casual, attracting employees who gladly roll up their sleeves to get the job done and who are not afraid to talk to people. AB Staffing hires medical staff for three to six month contracts, sometimes with the opportunity for permanent placement.
For more information or to apply, check their website or call. Many opportunities for healthcare workers, including recruiters, nurses, and doctors, are available in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and California.
Vanguard
Renee Brown, Sr. Recruiter
Vanguard, a large client-owned investment company founded in 1975, is one of the world’s largest investment management companies, with 17 locations worldwide. Unique in its industry, as a client-owned company, they have no outside owners seeking profits. A stable company, they’ve had only three CEOs over their 42 years, with their fourth CEO Tim Buckley slated to become new CEO in January, 2018.
The company stresses integrity, a 37 ½ hour workday, and community service.
Perks or benefits include 18 days paid time off, 9 paid holidays; up to 4 ½% 401K; onsite gym, dry cleaning, and wellness; health, dental, and vision benefits starting the first day; intramural sports leagues and more.
Currently the company offers positions ranging from entry level to management, including client relationship specialist, processing associates, financial advisors, compliance manager, and team leader roles. For more opportunities or to apply, visit their website.
Resources
Coder Camps
Jason Jones, Sr. Admissions Advisor
Coder Camps provides web development opportunities in data science. Increasing demand for this relatively new field of data science means there’s an ever-increasing demand for specialists who help companies make business decisions using the data.
There’s no entrance exam for the school. Instead, recruiters sit down and talk with potential students one-on-one. Coder camps take students where they are. The emphasis is training for developing projects—which is how students will get a job. Employers want to see their coders know how to develop projects. Universities these days connect with coder camps because the coder camps can keep up with the rapid changes inherent in web development.
Coder Camps are Coders for Life meaning since technology changes so fast, the school allows graduates of the coder camps to come back over and over at no additional cost. Coder Camps offer ongoing training and job placement for life.
Upcoming events include a free introduction, so contact the school to sign up for a free intro Wednesday, October 18, 2017, from 5—7PM. And on Friday, October 20, 2017, from noon-3PM please visit their big Demo Day.
For more information on applying or signing up for their events, visit their website or call.
Closing
Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the meeting and introduced breakout sessions. The breakout sessions include the opportunity to speak directly with hiring managers, LinkedIn and resume specialists, financial consultants, coaches, educational specialists, and a professional photographer for free business head shots.
Jessica thanked volunteers and our host facility Highlands Church.
The next Career Connectors event is the Glendale launch, featuring Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 9AM at Calvary Church at 59th Avenue and Bell in Glendale. Topic of the keynote address will be You’ve Got This!: Real, No-Nonsense Ideas for Mentally Regrouping After a Layoff presented by Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins. The Glendale location will be held the third Thursday of each month.
The next meeting for the Scottsdale event will be Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 9 AM and features keynote speaker Cary Pfeffer on the topic of Telling Your Story.
To find specific location details, visit the events section of this website to register for any or all of the four locations.
