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5/24/16 – Think Like a Hiring Manager and Land the Job

May 28, 2016

Written by Julia Churan

Sometimes landing the perfect job means thinking outside the job seeker box and getting into the mindset of the hiring team. Career Connector’s own Executive Director Jessica Pierce turned the hospitality role over to Director of Programs, Sheila Coulam, while Jessica took the stage as the keynote speaker this week to share her 15+ years of recruitment expertise.

Keynote

Jessica Pierce, @JessicaPierceAZ

Jessica in her ever-energetic manner warmed up the crowd by sharing her family’s story that led to the launch of “the” premiere career transition non-profit in the Greater Phoenix area.  She went from 10 years as an HR professional for one of the area’s largest tech employers to starting her own staffing firm to being unemployed during the worst economic period of the last 40 years.  She took a totally different approach, however, and decided to put her talents to work coaching others to improve their marketability.  Today the efforts of Jessica, her team and a large group of supporters have helped over 20,000 people get their careers back on track.

Understanding the hiring process from the corporate perspective will help you alter your game and have less frustration while looking.  Blindly submitting resumes and applying online is not necessarily your best option in the process.  Sixty percent of new hires are made through referrals.  Hiring managers begin with their inner circle.  They ask… “Who do I know for this role?” “Who does my circle of trust know?” “Who might our internal resources know?”

Sixty percent of job placements are made through referrals. The job you want today may never be posted!

The 3 most common connection points to a job are:

  1. Social Media
  2. Relationships
  3. Job Boards

Today social media is the biggest asset in matching talents and needs.  Never dismiss the power of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  They can help you land or lose a job if you aren’t careful with your images.

Fifty-five percent of recruiters have reconsidered a candidate based on their social profiles while 61% have also reconsidered negatively after looking on social media. Avoid politics right now. You just never know how it may be received.

Also, swallowing your pride during the process can keep you from closing future doors.  Two big mistakes to avoid are:

  • don’t ever criticize a company on social media
  • don’t be rude if you don’t hear back right away

Chemistry + Character + Competence = Culture Match

Hiring managers consider all three qualities when finding their perfect match.

Competence
Do you have the right training, experiences and expertise? If not, get training.  Consider the areas you should brush up on. If you are lacking in an area, start researching or go to the library.  If a new skill might round out your abilities, consider getting a professional certification. Utilize grants and GI funds whenever possible.

Volunteering or consulting may also help you gain a more current skill set. It may allow you to add new expertise to your resume.  If social media would look appealing to hiring managers in your field, start a blog about something you are passionate about.  If you struggle with nerves when public speaking, join a Toastmasters group.

Apply for just the jobs that you will be competent in — not every job you see!

Character

These are the features and traits that form your individual nature.  Understanding your strengths and weakness will help you establish a personal brand and play up your strengths.

Look at the traits that are important in the job and the company you are looking for.  Be sure your skills, traits and values align before you waste effort applying.

  • Document your personal traits.
  • Ask your friends and family what they feel are your best character strengths.
  • Take the DISC assessment through Career Connectors or other tools that may be available to you.
  • Make note of action words in the assessment results and be sure to include them in your resume.
  • Research the company’s culture before the interview or ideally before you apply
  • Highlight the traits you have that match with theirs in your correspondence and conversations.
  • Don’t say yes to an offer until you know the culture matches yours.

Chemistry

People want to work with people they like!

When you finally land that interview, you have to hit a home run in the first minutes of the interview.

Be real, but do your research.

  • Prepare to utilize what you learn about the organization and people you are meeting.
  • Connect with your interviewers through LinkedIn before the interview.
  • Be present in the moment and leave distractions AND you phone in the car.
  • Know your resume and prepare based on what their role is seeking.
  • Dress to impress.
  • Make a good introduction.
  • Have a good handshake – match their pressure, web-to-web, pump twice. Don’t hold on — it is creepy.
  • Followup with a professional thank you note.

You have a choice! You need to like them, too!

With the current market, over a hundred applicants apply for any job within days of posting, you must stand out in the crowd. You have to get out of your comfort zone and start connecting.

Hiring Companies

Local Motors
Gwendolyan Dasher, HR Manager @localmotors
They offer a global team of enthusiasts, hobbyist innovators and professionals working together to solve problems and create some of the coolest machines. Gwendolyan described Local Motors as an intimate family company that fosters team-work and personal input. They employ 150-200 team members and are growing internationally with a new facility in Germany. They proudly promote a casual, pet-friendly working environment with a great benefits package and employee discounts. Positions are available in clerical, engineering, and IT.

Cenlar FSB
Blanca Sandoval, HR Site Manager
Cenlar is a trusted mortgage and loan servicing provider headquartered in New Jersey with a growing office in Tempe.  They plan to expand to 500 employees in Arizona by September.

They pride their success on five key factors:

  1. Customer Service
  2. Teamwork
  3. Integrity
  4. Initiative
  5. Work-Life Balance

They offer a competitive benefits package including employee stock purchase and low turnover. Current opportunities include: HR, Customer Care, Loan Servicing, Foreclosure and Loss Mitigation.

NESCO Resource
Kelli Perkins, Area Manager, @NescoResource
NESCO is a contract staffing firm founded in Cleveland, Ohio with five offices throughout Arizona.  Kelli reinforced Jessica’s words of advice about companies and cultural fit.

NESCO began as an Engineering staffing firm but have expanded into IT, Administrative, Manufacturing and Finance with an award-winning reputation.  They currently have hot jobs locally in purchasing, mortgage processing, IT and call center.

They encourage applicants to look at all positions on their site and apply online or drop by to set up an appointment.

Education Management Corporation
Mark Pierce, Talent Acquisition Manager
EDMC is made up of five institutions for higher learning including Argosy University, The Art Institutes and South Univerisity locally.  They are a for-profit, post-secondary program with 1400 employees and 3000 faculty who provide programs in both brick & mortar facilities and online.  EDMC offers a complete benefits package as well as outstanding tuition benefits. Positions are available in the Gilbert and Chandler facilities in Admissions, Academic and Financial Counseling.  Apply at www.edmc.edu/careers/.  He closed out his presentation with a group selfie.

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants
Rodger Brubacher, @DWWTC_AZ
DWWTC offers professional certifications and desktop application training in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility in Tempe.  Their certification programs include PMP, Six Sigma, Medical Billing & Coding, Digital Marketing with Social Media as well as many IT and Cybersecurity programs.

Rodger reinforced financial aid programs through the AZ@Work WIOA grants and GI programs.
He also offered a free MS Office course by contacting Rodger and referring to Career Connectors and the offer.

Closing

Sheila closed the event by promoting the Top Talent – DISC Assessment to assist in establishing your personal brand. Professional photographers are available at each event to offer a free business portrait. LinkedIn and resume experts will meet with members to help improve professional profiles. The Phoenix Business Journal – offers a free copy of the annual Book of Lists to all Career Connectors members.  Finally, she offered a huge thank you to the volunteers who help make these events possible and the Central Christian Church family for opening their doors monthly for these events. Anyone interested in expanding their volunteer efforts may visit the Volunteer Center.

Future events

Join us at the next Career Connectors event in North Phoenix with Stephanie Clergé presenting on Start Strong, Finish Stronger: Your Best Self in Your Next Chapter.  Wednesday, Jun 01, 2016, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Julia Churan

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: Local Motors, Cenlar, Education Manage, NESCO Resource, Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants, Jessica Pierce

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Testimonials

After one year of unemployment, I have been employed with an excellent company at a job which is perfect fit for my experience and desires for many months, through the efforts of the devoted volunteers at Career Connectors. I and my family are eternally grateful. Sincere thanks!
Jeff A.
Networking helps, especially when you do not directly know anyone at a target company. I have attended 4 of your meetings and at one of them a company representative and recruiter presented. I was already familiar with this company, but she also said some other things in the presentation that made me take notice and created more interest on my part. I spoke with the recruiter at your event and she followed up the next week and from there I went on several phone interviews and on site interview t… Read more
Todd S.
After a company layoff thrust me into the job market, Career Connectors was exactly what I needed to develop my networking skills. Networking is a job in itself, and the skills I learned helped me to land a temporary position just three months later that is now permanent. I believe in the Career Connectors mission and continue to volunteer as a way of expressing my appreciation for their support during a very tough time…thank you Career Connectors!
Diane N.
Career Connectors has given me the courage to move forward and the mindset to move out of this moment. I have gained encouragement, opportunity, and a stronger skill-set in each meeting I have attended. This interaction has given me the vision to see my God given talents, the realization of how much I still have to offer, and the ability to put value in my career, instead of only seeing value by a job.
Anonymous
Thank you, Jessica. Although I wasn’t able to meet you personally, I was able to see you working with another applicant and was impressed with your efforts and the excellent platform that your team presented. Thank you very much.
Luis R.
Career Connectors made the pivotal difference in my search for employment after a layoff lasting a full year. Their dedication to providing a consistent, local and no-cost program and venue to search, network and learn, ultimately provided not only an excellent fit in a new job, but also the ability to regain dignity and the ability to achieve financial independence once again. I am forever grateful to all of the volunteers that produced a program so vitally important to our family
Anonymous
I took advantage of Career Connectors when I found myself unexpectedly out of work and back in AZ.  The ease in using their website to locate meetings and identify subject matter at their weekly meetings kept me informed and engaged.  Their meetings are interesting and provide relevant and useful information toward getting into the right job.  They say that a network event is what you make of it … with Career Connectors they create the events and provide the resources you need to land your next … Read more
Jennifer V.
When I was laid off last year from the company I’d worked with for over 14 years, I actually found I had an even BIGGER job ahead of me. With an outdated resume, no interview skills, and a huge feeling of displacement, I went searching for help. Career Connectors was my savior. The program and its’ leaders were instrumental in rebuilding my confidence, providing the necessary tools and resources, and ultimately responsible for my landing a great position with a company that was featured at o… Read more
Lynn S.
If you are a job seeker in transition or looking to find that new great position I highly recommend Career Connectors. The search process has changed significantly over the years and Career Connectors will provide you many tools that will allow you to stand out and demonstrate your unique value to potential employers. At each event I had the opportunity to “sharpen the saw” through top notch expert presentations on image portrayal, positive attitude, networking, social media presence, job… Read more
Joe C.
I own a Leadership Company, and have enjoyed attending the Career Connector events. With gratitude I listen to the speakers you line up… they offer phenominal and practical information. What has struck me each time has been the audience. My heart hurts for them. They are in a desperate place in their lives. I have had the opportunity speak with a few of the people in attendance, and they have shared their stories… I walk away thankful to God for the opportunity to meet these people and they … Read more
Bonnie M.
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