Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

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Jessica Pierce

Using Generative AI In Your Job Search

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Are you ready to harness the immense potential of Generative AI to help you advance your career?

This PDF guide is designed to help you understand how to leverage tools like Chat GPT or Bing to help you find success in the business world. Keep in mind that since this is new territory, our suggestions may not be flawless, but we hope you can use this as a springboard for your own ideas. Have fun making tweaks and putting your spin on it!

Each section of this guide teaches you how to use AI prompts to improve yourself and what you have to offer; it’s meant to strengthen– not replace– your skills. There are prompts for resume improvement, interview practice, job searches, and more. Also remember that no tool should replace your own personal effort. Please use tools like this responsibly and honestly.

We hope this guide helps you embark on your own journey, conquer your career dreams, and remain on the covenant path.

Click here to view and download.

05/03/23 Superior Career & Hiring Expo Recap

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On May 3, 2023, the town of Superior, Arizona, came alive with the buzz and excitement of the Superior Career & Hiring Expo. This much-anticipated event, sponsored by Local First Arizona, and hosted by Career Connectors brought together a diverse range of employers and a vast array of eager jobseekers. Held at the Superior Enterprise Center, this in-person expo offered a unique opportunity for face-to-face interactions, which are often rare during the average job fair. Luckily, there is nothing average (or job fair-ish) about Career Connectors events!

Engaged Employers 

One of the standout features of the Superior Career & Hiring Expo was the remarkable level of engagement and participation from employers. Companies from various industries eagerly participated, showcasing their job openings and career pathways. The event attracted major employers like the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Queen Creek, State Farm Insurance, Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry (formerly referred to as simply the AZ Department of Corrections), Capstone Copper Pinto Valley Mine, Resolution Copper, and Rosendin Electric, as well as other construction, healthcare, and electric companies. These employers collectively offered more than 549 jobs and numerous opportunities for jobseekers, ranging from internships and apprenticeships to full and part-time positions, including remote and in-person positions.

Organizations offering training, free classes, and other educational opportunities, as well as open positions, included Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT), Per Scholas, National Technical Institute, and DPR Construction.

From major companies to local businesses to educational organizations, employers were enthusiastic about participating in the expo and enjoyed connecting with job seekers directly.

Interested Attendees 

The expo drew a wide array of students and jobseekers with diverse interests and career paths. Attendees ranged in age from high schoolers to experienced professionals, demonstrating the appeal and inclusivity of the event. This incredible diversity created a dynamic environment, where jobseekers were able to connect directly with local employers and explore opportunities relevant to their career goals. Attending job candidates left with many job opportunities and training/upskilling options, and were full of hope for their next career step. 

Opportunities Galore

Jobseekers were presented with a wealth of opportunities. State Farm Insurance alone had 191 job openings, while the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation & Reentry offered 184 positions. Capstone Copper Pinto Valley Mine had 33 openings, and various construction, healthcare, and electric companies also had dozens of entry level, skilled trades, and professional roles available. With such a diverse range of industries and positions, attendees had an excellent chance of finding suitable employment. 

In addition to job openings, the expo provided training and certification opportunities, ensuring that attendees could enhance their skills and qualifications. The event also facilitated one-on-one conversations with hiring managers, allowing job seekers to make a lasting impression and forge valuable connections. As we always stress, networking is crucial when searching for a job! Importantly, 43 interviews took place during the event, with dozens more scheduled for follow-ups.

Perks

As if featuring job opportunities wasn’t enough, the Superior Career & Hiring Expo offered additional perks. Attendees enjoyed a complimentary taco lunch, free professional business portraits, and exciting raffles and giveaways. These added incentives created a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere, making the event even more memorable.

Positive Experiences

The event left a lasting impression on both employers and job seekers. An overwhelming 85.7% of attendees rated their experience at the expo as high or very high. The corporate employment sponsors were particularly appreciative, noting the attentiveness, responsiveness, and encouragement they received throughout the event. Local business representatives expressed appreciation that this expo was essentially hosted in their back yard and all involved look forward to future opportunities to participate in Career Connectors’ career expos.

After the career expo, students from Superior High School spent time in a workshop with Jessica Pierce, CEO and Founder of Career Connectors. They discussed career pathways, networking engagement, job opportunities and next steps. Students were engaged and excited about all the new options that were open to them from this community event. 

Success

As our first Career Connectors Career Expo in such a rural area, the Superior Career & Hiring Expo proved to be a resounding success, bringing together engaged employers and eager job seekers in the remote community located less than an hour east of the Phoenix metro area. We were delighted at the registration numbers, with 219 people registering for this in-person event, which shows there is great interest for similar events in rural areas. 

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from both employers and attendees highlights the effectiveness and value of in-person career expos. The event not only facilitated job connections, but also fostered a sense of community and support within the local workforce. It served as a stepping stone for individuals seeking to build a successful career path, ultimately benefiting the entire community of Superior, Arizona.

A great way to stay informed about upcoming Career Connectors events is to check the Events page of our website, as well as to Like and Follow our Facebook page. We’d love to see you at our next virtual or in-person event!

Employment Outlook: The Great Rebalance Workforce Trends

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Written by Jessica Pierce

The number of workers who are unhappy with their jobs is at a staggering all-time high, according to Gallup, with 61% of American employees wanting to leave their current jobs in 2023. The top reasons Americans are unsatisfied with their jobs is low income and not having meaningful work. During the “Great Resignation” in 2021, 47.8 million workers in the U.S. quit their jobs, with a record 50.5 million people leaving their positions in 2022. And although the resignations are slowing in 2023, they aren’t stopping.

Workforce Trends for 2023

Smart employers are instituting an excellent hiring experience to better attract, develop and retain valuable employees. By streamlining the hiring process and communicating regularly, as well as investing in the kinds of supportive training and development that encourage employees to apply for jobs and then remain a loyal employee once hired, leaders at companies are learning that they need to offer more than just simple employment. Job seekers in 2023 are interested in working for organizations that have a robust company culture, generous benefits, and those that embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 86% of employees care about a company’s DEI strategy, especially Gen Xers and Millennials.

The Candidate Experience

Unfortunately for many of the unemployed and underemployed, the candidate experience involves being disenchanted; not hearing back from hiring managers (even after going through 3-5 interviews!) and left to wonder what happened to their resume or job application. This leads to a loss of integrity with the company and fewer quality applicants for open positions. Transparency and communication are vital – especially in today’s marketplace.

Learning and Development

Companies that invest in their workers implement learning and development opportunities to encourage growth – both for the company and their employees. They build pipelines, offer training, and encourage people to step up.

When leaders at healthy companies review their processes and procedures and identify gaps, they develop programs to bridge those gaps by offering benefits, including certification programs and technology courses. By reskilling or upskilling their current employees, it helps develop the kinds of employees who are more likely to stay with the organization.

Technology Investment

When companies make a tech investment like updating software, it makes it easier for workers to do their jobs. Employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) facilitates faster decisions, improves operational efficiency, reduces costs, and also helps to make current jobs easier for workers. Automating repetitive and mundane tasks allows employees to attend to tasks that require critical thinking and subjective interpretation, which can easily lead to feeling more fulfilled and having a higher job satisfaction. On average, satisfied and happy employees are 13% more productive and companies save billions when they don’t have to constantly hire and train new employees.

Work Environment

The work environment of the not-too-distant past has changed considerably amidst the recent professional global landscape. Positions where workers are able to work remotely are in high demand, with 40% of workers searching for hybrid or remote positions over in-office jobs. These kinds of jobs also often mean more flexible hours, which leads to a healthier life/work balance. This better affords individuals the chance to focus on mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress. When employees struggle with their health, they might only be working at about 25% capacity. It’s also imperative that employers keep open communication and inform their employees about all the wellness programs their company offers.

Almost 60% of U.S. workers suffer from moderate to high burnout, so removing the social stigma and stressing the importance of mental health benefits will go a long way towards keeping workers happy and healthy. Unhappy employees actually cost the U.S. at least $550 billion annually. For the average company, this equates to 18% lower productivity and 15% lower profitability.

How Does Your Company Measure Up?

Ensuring your organization’s core values and company culture align with your principles will lead to a higher quality talent pool that will be attracted enough to your company to apply for your open positions. It is proven that retaining your workforce is a more successful and profitable strategy than replacing it. So establishing your business as one that cares more about its workers than the bottom line will likely lead to greater successes at all levels.

Career Connectors

At Career Connectors, our vision is all about building a better community – one organization, one career at a time. And our mission is to elevate communities by empowering job seekers, employers, and service providers. Won’t you join us at our in-person and virtual events?