• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Career Connectors eUpdate
Subscribe Here
  • Job Seekers
    • Events
      • Event Schedule
      • Webinar Recordings
      • Event Recaps
      • Prepare for an Event
    • Resources
      • PipelineAZ
      • Community Updates
      • Career Chats
      • DISC
      • Business Portraits
      • Career Advice
      • Trusted Resources
      • LinkedIn Basics
    • Featured Companies
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Volunteer Application
  • Employers
    • Hiring
    • Outplacement Services
    • Partners
  • About Us
    • Donate
    • Applause & Testimonials
    • In The News
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact

Bri Martinez

7 Ways To Successfully Navigate Change

September 21, 2022 by Bri Martinez

Written by Melissa W., Talent Acquisition Manager for Achieve

Change. It’s the one thing we know we can count on, right?

Currently, I’m in a season of experiencing a lot of change both professionally and personally. Don’t get me wrong, some of this change is amazing, but it doesn’t change the fact (no pun intended) that all this change makes me feel out of sorts. Mark Twain said, “I’m in favor of progress; it’s change I don’t like.” I couldn’t agree more, Mark!

I want to be on the other side of this change already. I want to have the clean process, the shiny new system, the amazing relationships, the personal growth, but…don’t touch my schedule or habits or life or anything that disrupts my safe and cozy environment. That’s not how it works though.

So, when I’m faced with something I’m not sure how to approach, I go directly to the experts. Who’s done it already? Who’s done it well? I reached out to a handful of leaders I greatly respect and admire to get their take and share their stories and tips on how they’ve navigated through change.

Consider how the change makes you feel.

Nineveh D., Sr. Manager, Payment Operations

I have been working at Achieve for almost 10 years so it’s safe to say I have experienced a lot of change, ranging from minor process updates to changes that have impacted my life. The first thing I do when change is announced is watch for my initial response. Is it stress, frustration, excitement, fear, confusion, blatant resistance? Once I pin down my initial reaction, I look at what’s going on in my life to see if things are imbalanced. Am I putting enough time into other areas of my life or do things need to shift? If the change has a positive impact, I am grateful and I share that joy with others around me. If it ends up challenging me, then I look for the areas of opportunity that pop up inside of me and I embrace the uncomfortable process of growth. These are my “character developing seasons” where things may not look great on the surface but I gain the most internal development.

Surround yourself with the right people.

Ninja R., Sr. Unit Manager, Sales

Personally and professionally, 2022 has been a year of change, challenges, and overcoming adversity. My tribe and therapy have helped me through all of the lows of the year; while also celebrating me for all that I am. My tribe sees past my imperfections, faults, and quirkiness. They believe in me, sometimes more than I believe in myself. While they’re supporting me, therapy is allowing me to celebrate myself and believe that I can do literally anything that I set my mind to, regardless of the situation.

If you want to thrive through change, look at your values.

Joseph K., VP, Chief Security Officer and Head of Technology Risk Management

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher stated that the only constant in life is change…this is perhaps truer today than it was in the past.  With this view in mind, thriving or excelling through change is rooted on values and principles that one espouses, that become magnified during times of change. When we had to move our entire workforce to securely work remotely at the height of Covid, multiple teams rallied to ensure successful business continuity. There were countless meetings and deliberations at many levels that resulted in positive outcomes for our employees, customers, and the business in general. In essence, we all thrived in the unprecedented change moment because we valued collaboration.

It’s okay to not have all the answers.

Sara V., Director, Customer Service

When I first joined Achieve, I had recently left a 22-year career with an employer where I was seen as the expert. In my first days in my new role, I felt a bit lost and overwhelmed as I didn’t fully understand all that we do. I realized I was no longer the expert and felt very uncomfortable not being the go-to person that everyone reached out to for help. I asked myself “How am I going to lead leaders and support them and their teams when I have no idea what we even do?”

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I always pause and take a step back and work on a solution to not feeling that way. I was hired because of my leadership skills and know that leaders don’t always have all the answers. I created a plan to meet with my team to get to know them and their roles in the business. It’s okay to not know everything as long as you’re honest with your team, identify who the “go-to” people are, and just focus on understanding your people and building trust.

When you’re the one making changes, listen.

Symon R., Sr. Director, Customer Service

People always approach change with a “What’s in it for me?” or the WIIFM perspective. We all do it.  It is in our nature.  Is this new policy going to make my job easier or harder; and if so – why?  How are new operating hours going to impact my home life? The list goes on. That is why the most crucial thing to do when changing anything is listening first, listening second, and listening third.  Once someone feels truly heard and understood, then they are more open to listening.  If someone does not feel heard, then all change is adversarial, buy-in takes much longer, and the overall impact to the experience is not as profound as it could be. 

Embracing change is a skill.

Jake F., VP, Legal Partner Networks

I’ve realized throughout my career that if you can not learn to navigate and thrive when presented with change, paralysis will quickly take over your career aspirations.

I’ve learned through my experience that thriving and excelling through change can be an acquired skill through effort and motivation. This skill has proven beneficial throughout my career and led me to achieve the career aspirations I had set for myself over 20 years, sitting in my cubicle admiring those around me. 

Break it down.

Beth D., Sr. Director, Settlement Operations

When you’re approached with change, you know you’re almost never going to change back to what was. Breaking it down into smaller pieces can make it feel less intimidating. What parts are making me anxious? If it’s the unknown, ask more questions. Is it a change that is beyond my skill set? Find out where you need to go to learn more so you can prepare.

Face your change head on, but not all of it at one time, just one piece at a time.

Are you going through some change right now? Let me know how you approach change and share your tips on how to navigate in the comments below.

Filed Under: Career Advice Blog Tagged With: Achieve, career advice

Simple Tips To Guide You Toward Career Advancement

September 1, 2022 by Bri Martinez

Written by Caitlin V., Internal Recruiter for Freedom Financial Network

At Freedom Financial, one of our core values is “Get Better” and embracing this value creates an environment of self-improvement, learning from our mistakes, and using what we learn to grow. One way we foster internal mobility and career growth is allowing employees to apply for a new position within the company after only 90 days. We consider internal talent first and we encourage employees to strive toward their ultimate career and personal goals.

I began my journey with Freedom in Customer Service but after some time, I decided to explore other options. I applied for a Recruiting Assistant job that had just been posted. I was thrilled to be selected for the position and I spent a year assisting a brilliant team of recruiters who taught me so much that I was promoted into a recruiter role myself. I am appreciative to have found a career I am truly passionate about.

Because of my gratitude for Freedom’s growth culture, I became an Internal Recruiter and Career Counselor. I recruit for positions that are exclusively available to current employees. I also offer counseling for employees who want to discuss their growth options, resume writing, or interviewing.

Although everyone’s ideal career path is different and each employee has a diverse skillset and experience, here is some of the most common advice that I provide to our employees working toward career advancement.

Ensure that you have mastered your current position

The best way to prove you are ready for a new challenge is to excel in your current job. Hiring managers will often seek references or proof of your success. Keep copies of scorecards or feedback about your performance and reliability so you can share or highlight these in your interview and on your resume. If someone is struggling in their current role it can be difficult for a manager to consider giving that person a new challenge.

Share your interest with your leadership team

Most of our employees have consistent coaching sessions with leadership. This is the perfect platform to discuss your performance and areas of opportunity. You can also use these sessions to talk about career goals. Most leaders can offer advice or recommendations for how to achieve your goals. They may even assign you special projects or leadership tasks that you can add to your resume.

Research the positions you are interested in
I highly recommend learning all you can about a position before you apply. Read the full job description and think of ways you can prove that you meet the requirements. Think of situations when you have used the skillsets mentioned in the job description. In some cases, your supervisor might be able to help you set up a side-by-side with someone who is currently in that position. This is a great way to see the work up close and ask questions about why that person enjoys their job or what their biggest challenges are.

Brush up on interview skills
Some of the most challenging interview questions are behavioral-based questions. These questions will ask you to tell the interview about a time that you used a certain skillset or came up against a particular challenge. The interviewer wants to hear about a specific situation from a current or previous job. The best way to answer these questions is to use the S.T.A.R method:

*S= Situation: Describe the situation you were in or the request you received.
*T= Task: What was the goal or what was being asked of you?
*A= Action: Describe the actions you took in order to reach the goal or complete the request.
*R= Result: What was the outcome? How did it end? Was the customer/leader satisfied and how could you tell? What did you learn?

Taking the leap toward a new career can be exciting as well as nerve-wracking. Following these guidelines should take some of the guess work out of your development pathway. The thought and work you put into your career search and the interview process will tell you more about yourself and whether you can see yourself succeed in a new area of the business or, possibly, a whole new industry.

Filed Under: Career Advice Blog Tagged With: career advice, Freedom Financial Network, Job Advice

1/27/22 – Show Out When You Show Up

February 15, 2022 by Bri Martinez

Guest Speaker, Bridgett McGowen, award-winning international professional speaker and presenter.

Written by Sheri Kerr

Bridgett McGowen is an award-winning speaker and author.  Bridgett’s positive vibes vibrate through the Zoom microphone and shined through the computer screen.  She believes everyone has the ability to “Show Out When You Show Up”.   Bridgett starts her speech with a question –  Do you hear the words – “No”, or “You are wrong”, or  “You can’t do that!”  The audience responded in the Zoom chat by commenting about their experience.  Those expressions can hurt a person and create low confidence. Bridgett stresses that everyone has what they need to show up and show out.  “Have you heard about the 40 percent rule?” she asks the audience.  This comes from the book, “You Can’t Hurt Me” by David Googins.  His book outlines how people only use 40 percent of themselves and then people give up.  When we have 60 percent more energy and ability within us. Bridgett realized she was living the 40 percent rule and had the potential to use the other 60 percent inside herself.  She had an epiphany!  She suddenly realized she could perform her duties at work and shine the light on herself at the same time.   There are three steps to “Show Out When You Show Up” with the energy for people to recognize your value.  It requires for a person to do three things daily:

  • Know, Act, & Believe where there’s a will, there’s a way!    
    • Don’t be down about your circumstances! You might now see the path or how you’ll afford it, but wait for it  – as a revelation will arise.
    • Second, respond to criticism only when necessary when it is constructive.  Never say the word “JUST” as you are not just anything. 
  •  Think to yourself – how do I want to be remembered? Be confident! Use a song that inspires you.  Listen to the song and replay it in your head.  Hold your head up high, shoulders back, smile, and laser focused eyes. Do this all the time and it will become a natural part of you.  A genius is a talent that is easy for you to do. What can you do better than most with very little effort – name it, own it, and push it by asking yourself what is the next level with your talent
    • Don’t move to fast and not slow.  Go the speed of a model on a cat walk. 
  • Showing up as the Best version of yourself.  Be the person that has energy or being “on” and know when to be engaging.
    • Sometimes you’ll not feel it, but push through and be your authentic self.
    • Recognize your skills and talents and use them to the fullest.

She stressed:

  • Avoid using labels! You are not a “Just” anything. As the term “just” mimimzes your value and worth.  
  • Stop negativity
  • Don’t get down, but realize determination is the key.

Finally, Bridgett encourages the audience that despite any past hurts a person can “Show Up” and shine the light on themselves. 

BCBSAZ (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Liz Carrion, Talent Acquisition Mgr

Blue Cross Blue Shield has offices in Phoenix, East Valley, Flagstaff, and Tucson. The employees range from baby boomers, millennials, and Gen X with 70% females and 39% minorities. BCBSAZ recruits candidates willing to commit themselves, a person that wants a career, a person BCBS can invest in and values the same things they do. They offer robust benefits for all full-time employees.

Career Opportunities Include:

•Customer Service Representative

•Financial Analysts

•IT (Project Managers, Product Owners, Developers)

•Clinical (QA Analysts, Compliance Specialists,

•Data & Analytics (Actuarial Analysts, Data Science)

Go to BCBS career site: https://jobs.azblue.com/

Candidates can learn more by engaging with the chat bot

Arizona Dept of Health Services, Tracy Outlaw, Talent Acquisition Business Partner

Department of Health Services Purpose, Mission, and Vision

•Arizona State Hospital Patients & Families, Arizona Community Protection &Treatment Center

•Directors Office – Office of Strategic Initiatives, Public Information Office, Office of Border Health

•Licensing – Child care licensing, long term care licensing, Marijuana, Vital Records

•Planning & Operations – Human Resources, Financial Services, Information Technology Services

•Preparedness – Epidemiology and Disease Control, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, State Laboratory Services, Emergency medical Services & Trauma System

•Prevention – Healthy People Healthy Communities IGA, Women’s and Children’s Health, Tobacco and Chronic Disease

ADHS Mission: To promote, Protect and improve the health and wellness of individuals and communities in Arizona.

ADHS Vision: Health and wellness for all Arizonans.

•AZ Dept of Health Services is one state agency out of 130.   State Agencies comprised of executive branch, authorities, commission, councils, administrative, legislation, judicial, registrars offices

•Department of Health Services, Water Resources, Revenue, Public Safety, DOT, Pioneers Home, Lottery, Juvenile Corrections, Housing, Game & Fish, DCS, DEES, Board of Barbers, AZ Parks & Trails, AZ Capitol Museum, Department of Administration and many more

•You can choose from more than 1,700 types of career opportunities, all with the same employer, making job mobility and career advancement easy. With so many diverse roles, you can see why our employees join state service and never want to leave!

ADHS promotes alternative work schedules, flexible hours. We have positions that can fit any stage in your career, from entry to senior level

AZDH is hiring for multiple positions, levels, and offer a massive benefits package: https://www.azstatejobs.gov

The Entrepreneur’s Source, Anna Brambilla, Career Ownership Coach She helps professionals seek a better fit in their profession.  She is a career coach and desires to help others. She has helped 100 clients explore career or franchise options.

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: career advice

2/10/22 – Getting My Career SHIFT Together

February 15, 2022 by Bri Martinez

Keynote Speaker: Travis Hardin

Written by Jessica Pierce

A native of the great state of Tennessee, Travis Hardin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) in 1999.  As a John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Trainer he is equipped in aiding your personal and professional growth through study and practical application of proven leadership methods. 

For more than 15 years, Travis has given inspirational speeches for purposeful living, specifically, on production capacity, personal and professional growth, overcoming disciplinary challenges, and diversity and inclusion. His self-reflective transparency in speeches and workshops has provided him with opportunities to speak around the globe. 

“It gives me the greatest level of humility to inspire people and demonstrate in practice that all of us can grow and increase our positive influence on this generation and those around us beyond our wildest expectations. I challenge you to a new season of growth. It begins with your passion to reach new levels.”

Growth Zones

  1. Coasting zone
  2. Comfort zone – I do what I’ve always done
  3. Challenge zone – I attempt to do what I’ve never done before
  4. Creative zone – The ultimate growth goal – attempt to think what I’ve never thought before. I’m going to think outside of the box, getting rid of the box. Think in a way I’ve never thought before. Make sure my career and people I know provide opportunities.

Mindsets that keep mental blocks

  1. I don’t know how to do that. Learn as I grow. Proceed without knowing the answers – learn as we GROW!
  2. I can’t do that. Keeps us from the creative zone.
  3. I have to follow the rules.
  4. Mindset that failure is bad. Failures have been greatest growth moments in life. Failure isn’t bad, it means I’m trying.

We need to be Hope Dealers, they place a value on culture and strive to make everything better. When you are looking for a new career, this is the time to be creative, dream and get out of the normal thinking patterns. Here are some creative principles to live by.

  1. Build a creative culture. What can you do to build a creative culture. Freedom and flexibility fosters creativity. Creative thought tank.
  2. Make everything better.
  3. Make plans but look for options.
  4. Place high value on ideas.
  5. Seek out and listen to different voices. Mentors.

Connect at the heart with people- we all need to become HOPE dealers because our family, neighbors, and communities need us.

  1. Goal oriented vs growth oriented. Improving yourself – the first step in improving everything else. Our community is struggling right now, become neighborhood Hope Dealers. Goals help me to do better, growth helps me to become better. The difference between doing and the becoming in your life? Growth changes.
  2. Growth outward vs growth inward. Focus on a few areas. Focus on the growth areas. Successful people have great attitudes, strong relationships. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Learns how to develop others.
  3. Growth with a timeline vs growth without a finish line.

Goals vs Growth Chart:

GoalsGrowth
AchievementDevelopment
StatusStretching
Honors PrivilegeHonors Service
Emphasizes the TeacherEmphasizes the Student
Target is “Arrival”Target is “Growth”

Successful people have:

  1. Great attitudes
  2. Laser-sharp focused on a few things.
  3. Strong relationships (they listen and the next day call you back and pour into you)
  4. Effectively lead their family, community, and those around me (lead in everything we do)
  5. Learn how to develop others. Who will you pour into? 

Final Question to ponder: When was the last time you used something new (not an established process, routine, or known method) to learn/unlearn/relearn something?

Financial Success During Career Transition

Jian Boldi, LPL Financial, jian.bold@lpl.com

  1. Understand your unemployment benefits. Apply – don’t miss out.
  2. Don’t forget to keep paying taxes (even on unemployment)
  3. Deduct your job-hunting expenses
  4. Go back to school to advance your skills or learn something new.
  5. Become under-employed, check out “gig” jobs
  6. Budget, budget, budget
  7. If you are 55 or older, you can take penalty free money from your IRA using (72t)
  8. Purchase health insurance with your IRA funds.
  9. Consider reversing a contribution you made to your IRA.
  10. Ask for help.

ADP

Laura Lynn Smith, Division VP

ADP has led the way in defining the future of business solutions and has won many awards such as Top Companies. Best Companies for Women, America’s Best Employers for Diversity and many more.

Strong brand, culture and career growth opportunities.

jobs.adp.com/locations/arizona: Implementation, Client Services, Sales, Leadership

In person and/or remote opportunities. Main office located in Tempe, AZ

ADP- Laura Lynn Smith, Division Vice President

Laura.lynn.smith@adp.com

&

Ashley Vella, Talent Acquisition Busines Partner

Ashley.vella@adp.com

Mark Anthony Brewing

Sonja Morgan, People Operations Director, smorgan@markanthony.com

4 facilities up and running.

4th largest brewery in the US – family owned. Can run 1500 cans per minute. About a million square feet facility. 24 hours a day / 5 days a week.

Mabrewing.com/careers/

Need 100 more positions filled. Professional and Skilled Labor. West Valley, just off the 303 in Waddell, AZ

People oriented facility/culture. Building a strong culture. Some positions include:

Sr. Manager, Maintenance & Engineering, Assistant Packaging Manager, Health & Safety Specialist, Maintenance Supervisor, Warehouse Supervisor, Sr. Process Engineer. Plant Project Engineer, Director, People Operations, Packaging Supervisor, Controls Engineers and more

Mark Anthony Services- Sonja Morgan, People Operations Director

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: career advice, career transition

Primary Sidebar

Recent Event Recaps

2/10/22 – Getting My Career SHIFT Together

1/27/22 – Show Out When You Show Up

11/18/21 – A 7 Step Career Amplifier

12/14/21 – The Perfect Job in 2022

More Event Recaps

Career Advice

 10 Tips for Returning To Work As A New Mom

How Personal Brand Applies In The Job Search Process

Career Advice For A Changing Landscape in 2023

13 Stories: The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Received

How Leaders Run Successful Meetings: 10 Tips and Tricks

More Career Advice

Footer

Socialize with us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

Navigating the world of career transition can be an overwhelming experience.  In addition to the mechanics of transition (updated resume, career search strategies), there is the deeper need to connect to people who are in the same situation as you are.   For me, all of this was answered by Career Connectors!  Had it not been for this organization, I might still be sitting in my house, wondering what to do next!  At just one Career Connectors meeting you can be inspired by great speakers, … Read more
Iris M.
I am profoundly grateful for all of the support Career Connectors has provided during my recent job search – from the exceptional speakers to the participating employers, LinkedIn experts (Ted Robison is amazing with his individualized approach), resume experts, photographers, and of course the great opportunity to network! I felt like I had an army of support with me every single day. I appreciate all the time and effort invested by many and am particularly grateful for Jessica! You have a fi… Read more
Cindy G.
I wanted to take the time to write you to express my sincerest gratitude for all that you and those who work with you do for so many of us!I lost my job due to our medical office being closed. Your company came highly recommended by an HR person who worked with us as employees to help give us a hand up to become employed again through a very generous program provided by my employer. I am employed again in a job that I really love. It came with wonderful, kind, encouraging management and coworker… Read more
Ann Marie H.
Career Connectors offered me a one-stop-shopping capability for all of the coaching, resources and connections I needed to perfect my job searching skills.  The package of services, and support I found while attending these workshops over the past 7 months was unique to, and more productive than any other networking venues I attended. I am thrilled to share that I’ve landed with B/E Aerospace in Tucson.  I recommend to all Job Seekers to find out what works for you, and exploit it for best r… Read more
Aidan F.
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.
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.
It was amazing, you guys did a great job! I found several potential companies!
Irene
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
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.
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.
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Services

© 2023 · Career Connectors. All Rights Reserved.