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Event Recaps

11/6/19 – The Future of Work…at Least for 2020

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Written by Jim McBride

The Future of Work

Keynote

From donut designer, grocery bagger, delivery driver, bank teller, restaurant server all the way up to casino accountant and business executive. This is the unique career journey of Jennifer Mellor, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Phoenix Chamber.

Your career arc may not include a yummy role in donut design like Jennifer’s, but her journey may help explain the fundamental change in the way companies are doing business and the expectations for career professionals to adapt and thrive.

How is the Future of Work Changing?
Start with the gig economy. Uber, Airbnb, freelancing and independent consulting are just a few of hundreds of examples where workers don’t want to be tied to a company or specific job and are using their own resources to generate income by gig.

Also, many companies are decentralizing their workforce and have liberated employees from the office cubicle farms. Technology has enabled work teams to connect from remote home offices and coffee shops across the globe.

It was once an expected career accomplishment to be employed with one company for 35 to 40 years. But, the motivation for staying or leaving for the next big step in a career journey has evolved. Today’s professionals tend to be focused on the type work they do and not an actual job. People are more personally mission-driven and seek opportunities to quench a thirst for life-long learning.

Industries and Hiring Demand
Statistics from the Maricopa County Bureau of Labor Statistics show the local industries with the most workers are restaurant/hospitality, healthcare, construction, local government, IT and financial services, among many others.

Occupations in high demand include customer service representatives, retail sales, registered nurses, operations management, office clerical and food prep. Although many are entry level, these roles are in such high demand they often serve as a gateway for career pathways.

Here’s encouraging good news for job seekers: An imbalance exists between the local industry demand for hiring and the supply of available skilled workers. Seasoned mid-level professionals with qualified transferable skills in business management, customer service, marketing, healthcare, engineering, technology and transportation are all in very high demand in the Phoenix area.

Jobs Replaced by Technology
The smartphone has replaced that old thing called a phone booth. Instead of a worker collecting all of those quarters from pay phones, developers are creating apps for the iPhone. It’s challenging to grasp, but the tech trend will continue as artificial intelligence and automation could replace lawyers, journalists, chefs, financial analysts, musicians, customer service representatives and data entry clerks.

Experts say that perhaps 30% of today’s jobs will be automated in the future, which means your technical skills and education requirements will likely become more important than ever.

However, soft skills will continue to endure and will be always be in demand through the job evolution. Hiring companies still look for strong communication, time management, conflict management, change management and storytelling skills. Artificial intelligence cannot replicate or fit into workplace culture.

So, keep evolving and remain relevant. Your employability skills will be in demand for change in 2020 and beyond.

Hiring Companies

USAA
Gay Meyer – Assistant VP of HR Regional Operations

The USAA Mission – The mission of the association is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates and their families through the provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services. In so doing, USAA seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community.

  • Located in North Phoenix
  • 5000 Phoenix employees, 35,000 overall
  • Maternity/paternity paid leave, 12 weeks for each
  • Wellness Program – fitness center
  • 401k match – up to 8%
  • Performance related bonus opportunities
  • Education assistance – available day 1
  • 30% of new hires are veterans or military spouses
  • Looking for caring, passionate, approachable, authentic, dynamic, intuitive and empathetic individuals

Open Positions
Customer Service Representative
Loan Officer
Adjuster – entry level
Java Software Engineer
Protective Security Officer II
Risk/Compliance

U-Haul International, Inc.
Alex Taylor – Corporate Recruiter

  • Founded in 1945, corporate headquarters in Phoenix
  • 32,000 team members nationwide
  • 100,000 trucks, largest fleet in the world
  • 20,000 independent dealers and over 1,900 company-owned U-Haul Moving and Storage Centers
  • Industry leader in do-it-yourself moving, self-storage, moving supplies, propane and custom hitches
  • 401k and stock share plan
  • Medical, dental, vision insurance, prescription savings plan
  • Home and auto insurance, U-Haul kids’ program

Open Positions
Customer Service – Contact Center
Sales – Contact Center
Accounting – Corporate
Project Manager – Corporate
Software Infrastructure
Software Engineer

Resources

Career Connectors Academy Training Program
Landi Carfi – VP of Corporate Training

Brighton College is about creating the ultimate learning experience and driving employability skills for the working/non-working and the underserved.

Dreams fulfilled through better learning
We are proud to launch this new partnership with Career Connectors to offer the best support from both organizations from enrollment to employed.

We believe this starts by identifying your natural talents through behavioral and skill-based surveys and assessments. With this knowledge we help you identify a customized learning pathway, then leverage innovative technology to deliver these in-demand courses and programs that lead to improved employability skills:

  • Technical Support
  • Programming
  • Cyber Security
  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Web & Graphic Design
  • Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD)
  • Short-term Allied Health Certificate Programs
  • Short-term IT Certificate Programs
  • Customer Service Certification Programs

Student and Career Services Support (resume help, mock interviews) for your journey.

Online, at your own pace!

30% Career Connectors discount on already affordable programs. Payment plans available.

Closing

Jessica Pierce encouraged all attendees to make full use of the career transition resources, speaking with the hiring companies, utilizing the professional resume writers, connecting with the LinkedIn coaches, getting a business portrait and taking the free DISC Assessment. Jessica also thanked the many partners and volunteers who supported the first-ever Career Connectors event held at GCU during the evening hours. The next gathering is Tuesday, November 12th at 9:00 am in Gilbert. Sheila Coulam will present “Confront Change with Confidence.”

10/22/19 – The Networking Brief: Increase Your Influence

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Written by Jim McBride

Networking Brief Increase your influence

Keynote: The Networking Brief: Increase Your Influence

How you activate the “process” and truly benefit from networking during your career transition and beyond, is an absolute necessity in today’s business climate. Consider Career Connectors founder and today’s keynote speaker Jessica Pierce and her transformation into a networking expert.

It’s very likely that Jessica is the most networked career transition expert in the state of Arizona. However, she’s quick to reveal that she has frequently experienced the trepidation and anxiety of showing up for meetings, events or parties and having to initiate conversations with people.

Addressing a spirited Career Connectors audience, Jessica said networking is forging new friendships and her firm belief is that even the most introverted person can learn to confidently network by simply committing to the process.

Companies strongly prefer hiring people they actually like. Which makes sense, right? People tend to do business with people they know and like. External job postings tend to draw enormous piles of applications that drain resources and cost money. Companies would rather hire somebody they already know. Savvy networking is the gateway into the hidden job market.

When you think of networking as a process model, it provides clarity on how to leverage the people you already know — along with the people you don’t know yet — to help you land that first interview at your next gig.

To become a successful networker, it requires a continuous call to action on these networking process “chunks” — assess, identify, connect and create value.

ASSESS – Who’s on “your team?” How strong are your relationships? How many new people do you talk to each day? How effective are you at networking right now? These are questions to answer when assessing your personal networking readiness. To get started, follow this link to a Networking Tool Self-Assessment:

Jessica-Pierce-Networking-Assessment-092719Download

IDENTIFY – Once you’ve assessed your readiness, then identify your “developmental” network of relatives, friends, former colleagues, supervisors, employees, college professors, alumni, club members, neighbors and religious organizations. You’ll find that people want to help. Make a list and ask these contacts, “who do you know?”

Your developmental network can then introduce you to the people you don’t know, which builds up your “strategic” network. These are the people you will need to know. Industry-specific contacts, members of associations or chambers and special business events.

Follow through and do the work to increase your exposure. Show up at networking events. Arrive early. Stay late. Meet people. Be brave and ask questions. Make friends. Volunteer.

CONNECT – Reach out, use LinkedIn, and share your story with the people in your network to let them know what’s going on in your life. Find a mentor or coach. Don’t go through the job search journey alone. Ask for advice and guidance, but do not ask anyone for a job. Be specific about your job search goals and know what you want. And here’s an important point: it will deepen the relationship if you ask your network contact what you can do to assist them.

Again, it’s crucial to state your specific job search end-goal when you’re having networking conversations. The more purposeful and straightforward the goal, the easier it will be to strategize with people who may be able to facilitate an introduction on your behalf. Follow the link to this Networking Brief template, a very useful tool to put your goals, personal branding statement, transferable skills, desirable job titles and target industries/companies down on paper:

Jessica-Pierce-Networking-BriefDownload

Hiring Companies

Deloitte
Matthew Harrison – Chief of Staff, US Delivery Center

Deloitte’s US Delivery Center (USDC) help’s clients achieve a higher level of service in operational efficiency and business value. The USDC leverages scale, talent, and a center delivery model to provide high quality, cost-effective service with standardized processes and procedures. See the “explore your fit” link on the website.

Open Positions:

  • Risk & Financial Advisory
  • Audit & Assurance
  • Consulting
  • Technology

Vertical Move
Ian Freeman – Business Development Manager

Our formula starts with understanding our clientele and all the technical aspects of their business and overall industry. We retain the most knowledgeable and experienced technical headhunting professionals from our own industry whom are blind to keywords and who search within the depths of a resume for actual experience and interview at levels that most cannot. We are located in Scottsdale, our recruiters are subject matter experts and we match candidates with niche roles.

Open Positions:

  • Data Engineer
  • Quality Assurance Analyst
  • Senior Business Analyst
  • Software Developer
  • Senior Architect
  • Media Analyst
  • Sr. and Mid-level JavaScript Engineer
  • Sr. Backend Engineer

Optima Tax Relief
Ben Simpson – Vice President, Phoenix Operations

The Optima Tax Relief team has had one vision since inception – to help Americans nationwide deal with the aggressive collection policies of the State/IRS tax agencies.

Optima details:

  • Founded 2011
  • 100 employees by end of 2019
  • No tax knowledge required to get hired
  • Promote from within
  • Hiring leaders as operation grows
  • Team environment – “mischievous fun”

Open Positions:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Facilities Coordinator
  • Jr. Systems Administrator
  • HR Manager
  • Resolution Support Representative – Customer Service
  • Help Desk Technician Support
  • Tax Prep – Trainer
  • Inside Sales

Resources

Career Connectors Academy Training Program
Steven Hatch – Director of Admissions

Brighton College is about creating the ultimate learning experience and driving employability skills for the working/non-working and the underserved.

We are proud to launch this new partnership with Career Connectors to offer the support of both organizations from enrollment to employed.

We believe this starts by identifying your natural talents through behavioral and skill-based surveys and assessments. With this knowledge we help you identify a customized learning pathway, then leverage innovative technology to deliver these in-demand courses and programs that lead to improved employability skills:

  • Technical Support
  • Programming
  • Cyber Security
  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Web & Graphic Design
  • Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD)
  • Short-term Allied Health Certificate Programs
  • Short-term IT Certificate Programs

Student and Career Services Support you in your journey. Career Connectors discount of 30%.

Closing

Sheila Coulam thanked the many partners and volunteers for their contributions to the Career Connectors event. Job seekers were encouraged to utilize the many transition resources – professional resume writers, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and take the free DISC assessment. Next event: The Future of Work…at Least for 2020, Wednesday November 6th, 2019 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in Phoenix. Stay tuned for weekly emails and LinkedIn posts.

10/10/19 – Finding and Landing a New Career FAST

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Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

As job seekers we want to know, “when will I find a job”? Wouldn’t it be great to look at a crystal ball and find out we will find a job two weeks from today? Unfortunately, we cannot rely on a crystal ball, psychic or tarot cards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the data for August 2019 indicates the average duration of unemployment was 22.1 weeks; 20.6% of the unemployed were out of work for 27 weeks or longer. Randstad commissioned a survey of 2000 Americans in 2018 and found that it took respondents an average of five months to find a job. Glassdoor reports an average time frame, 23.8 days, from interview to job offer. As a reminder, there are many variables that impact the length of time it takes to find work. Estimates do not really apply when applied to any one individual and his/her situation.

Keynote: Dave Sherman, Trainer, Speaker and Best-Selling Author

All of us would love to know how to make the job search process move faster and resolve any uncertainty about future employment. Dave’s enthusiasm and passion offered us some ways to secure the perfect job faster.

TIP #1: EMBRACE YOUR DECISION
While your mind may be racing on things you should be doing in your job search, it is best to embrace your decision. You may be considering a job in IT but you really want to get into AI development. Dave encouraged us to focus on a single decision, not several. Doing so scatters your energies.
Be sure to tell as many folks as possible that you are looking for a job! Avoid … indecision, explanations, validation and negativity. Negative people will darken you and your efforts. Be sure to avoid them at all costs.

TIP #2: PERUSE THE JOB BOARD
There are many job boards available. Broaden your search by visiting those sites that have the position you are attempting to secure. Dave reminded us that you need to identify those positions you want and don’t want. Dave is a fan of LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter. Apply to those jobs that are interesting, challenging, rewarding and fun.

TIP #3: START MEETING MORE PEOPLE
As Dave noted previously, the more people who know you are looking for a job the closer you are in finding the next career opportunity.
Places to go to meet other professionals are chambers, associations, business groups, networking groups, and career transition groups. Avoid telling people you are looking for a job! Instead tell them you are in career transition.
Suggestions for attending networking events are showing up early, bringing business cards and asking for help.

TIP #4: WHEN ATTENDING EVENTS, LET GO OF THE OUTCOME!
Focus your efforts on finding connections. Do not expect to find a job.
When meeting new connections, you need to establish commonality and likeability.
In establishing likeability, strive to be interested not interesting. People will connect with someone who offers a smile; has a good personality and sense of humor. Studies have shown that 60% see a person’s smile when first meeting someone new. Common threads for commonality are hometown, hobbies, school and favorites.

TIP #5: FOUR MOST IMPORTANT WORDS
WHO DO YOU KNOW? Unfortunately, you are not capable to find a job relying on your own resources. A successful professional knows that the larger your network is the closer you are to finding your next opportunity.

As I gaze into my crystal ball, it clearly says……. “The perfect job is in your immediate future”!

HIRING COMPANIES

LIVEOPS
SHEREE BUTTERFIELD, CORPORATE RECRUITER

Liveops is a leader in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) of virtual contact center solutions that maximizes every sale, support, and social customer interaction to ultimately drive brand loyalty. Liveops has led the industry in flex agent service for more than 19 years. The company supports a wide range of industries including healthcare and human services, insurance, retail, telecom, finance, direct response, roadside assistance and travel & hospitality. LiveOps culture, benefits, and work rewards are positive and diverse.
A sampling of current positions are facilitators, instructional designers; client results directors & managers, agent results advocates; BI analysts, BA analysts, and QA analyst; workforce planning; finance; human resources; and sales & marketing. If interested, go to website.

VIXXO
HEATHER KITSKO, TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGER

Vixxo is a technology driven asset management and facilities maintenance. The company services over 1.1 million revenue generating assets in the restaurant, retail, convenience store and grocery industries with a network of 150,000 service provider partners. Vixxo serves brands such as Starbucks, Target and 7-Eleven.
Open positions include equipment technician, service coordinator, systems analyst, technical solution architect. For more details visit Vixxo website.

ACCOLADE
JAMIE CANFIELD, LEAD HEALTH ASSISTANT/LEARNING SPECIALIST

Accolade is a personalized health and benefits solutions that dramatically improves the experience, outcomes and cost of healthcare for employers, health plans and their members. At the heart of Accolade is a team of health assistants, registered nurses, and clinical experts with the right blend of educational, professional and life experience to provide unique and highly personalized services. Accolade’s cultural cornerstones are empathy, teamwork, innovation and commitment.
Accolade has offices around the globe and has 1,000+ employees. The company serves nearly 1.5 million members from employer and health plan customers to supporting companies with large employee populations. Featured positions are health assistant (clinical navigator) and clinical health assistant (registered nurse). Additional information can be found at www.accolade.com/careers.

RESOURCES

GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER FOUNDATION
BRITTANY HOLMES, FINANCIAL SERVICES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Phoenix has the 6th largest finance and insurance cluster in the US. Business and finance jobs are projected to grow 16.8% over the next 10 years. Roles within financial services are high growth, high-wage, and in high demand.
In response to the need, Maricopa Corporate College is offering financial industry training. Students prepare to take the (SIE) Exam. They also get resume and interview help. The next class is October 21, 2019 at Rio Salado Northern. Funding is available through Arizona at Work and Arizona Career Pathways. For additional details, contact Brittany Holmes.

CLOSING

Jessica Pierce, CEO/Founder, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking Highlands Church & the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Gilbert on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 & features Jessica Pierce, as speaker for the topic “The Networking Brief: Increase Your Influence.” For additional information on this event & future events, please visit the Event Schedule.

9/24/19 – Expert Tips on How to Navigate the ATS

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Written by Julia Churan

It sounds so easy to apply for positions online. No hassle driving to a prospective employer’s office and trying to find someone that will accept your resume, or sealing a copy in an envelope and running it to the post office only to wait for a call that may or may not come.

The reality is there are so many websites that promote the same jobs and each one wants you to upload your resume with the hope of landing your dream job. Then there is the anxiety of whether your dream company actually receive it and are they considering you. Did some bit of technology between your internet provider and the company’s recruiters go haywire? You wonder if you will get a call and you may never even know if the role was actually filled or if your resume was seen by the hiring manager. The whole process can often feel overwhelming, impersonal and extremely frustrating.

Making Sense of the Online Application Process

Keynote Speaker: Jackie Schierenberg, Dignity Health

Jackie took the stage with over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition. She was there to share her insights from the other side of the job search: the recruiter’s perspective. Her focus has been on finding top talent, understanding HR technology and maximizing social media in the hiring process.

How does a Recruiter find talent?

  1. Candidate submissions
  2. Past applicants whose data is still in the applicant database
  3. Current employees
  4. Referrals – both internal and external
  5. Social Media – Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Facebook
  6. CRM – databases of acquired names through Talent Pools and other sources
  7. Boolean Search
  8. Conferences and Association Lists
  9. Job Boards

Most companies give current employees first consideration. Roles that are more difficult may require more extensive methods of search.

The ATS

The database system that recruiters use to manage the entire hiring process is known as an ATS or Applicant Tracking System. The software will do everything from post new job requisitions on websites, store and help categorize candidate resumes, manage the interview process and track activity on any particular job opening.

Companies rely heavily on these systems to process the hundreds of applications that may come in for a posting in a faster, more efficient manner.

Some ATS systems allow new postings to populate the company’s portal and the most popular job boards in a fully-automated way. Many of the newer systems are using artificial intelligence to aid in the overall process and remove human bias.  Companies are able to maintain compliance and pull reports to analyze metrics about a specific posting, role, candidate and more.

Most job searches today start on Google.com. Candidates can search to see who is hiring, research desired companies, learn minimum requirements and keywords to include in their resume, gather salary information and tips for interview preparation.

Tips to Be Aware of When You Upload a Resume to an ATS

  • Keep things simple! – Many ATS systems will strip formatting or even omit information if they find unknown tags within the document. Font type, bullet points, and some file types can “confuse” older systems. Consider a basic formatted version specifically for uploading online.
  • Be aware of the requested file type – Jackie recommends using a PDF format unless noted specifically.
  • Keywords – Be sure your resume has terms the are specific to the role and used in the company’s description. You can use generic keywords for a specific job, but if you are looking for a nursing role and the description specifies RN, be sure to use RN rather than Registered Nurse.  Some recruiters may include both when they search for candidates, but you have a greater chance of rising to the top of the search by using the exact terms from the company’s posting.

Do Your Homework

There are so many resources today, applicants have no excuse for not preparing when applying and interviewing for roles.

  1. Start with a Google Search – Understand the business, the products and get perspective on the corporate style and culture.
  2. Leverage Your Network – Reach out to friends and social media groups to find people to share insight about the company or role. Try to find people who are connected to individuals within the hiring team.
  3. Company Career Groups – Many large companies will have their own Career Groups where you can interact with the HR team and even inquire on status or resumes.
  4. Glassdoor.com – Research the interview tips, salaries, and benefits.
  5. Indeed.com – Recruiters monitor this chatter and reviews.

Other Tips to Staying Aware in the Search

Apply Directly to the Company’s Website. The job boards may not be as up-to-date with positions and a resume can get lost between the different systems.  Your best bet is to go directly to the source.

Sign Up for Email Alerts – This feature is often in the search function or after you have uploaded your resume on the company website. It can save you time from checking that company’s website every couple of days for new postings that meet your criteria. You may also be one of the first candidates to apply if you are on these lists.

Join Talent Pools – These are often available on the employer career portals. Sourcers are tracking engagement and this is a great way to show interest in the organization. This will allow you to become part of recruiting news or email campaigns.

Recruiters Often Tag Candidate Profiles – Try to make personal connections with the talent team by social media, career fairs, and even cold calls. Recruiters can apply tags to a candidate profile to make candidates easier to find later.

Email and Text Campaigns – Recruiters will send prospective emails to potential candidates from past applicants and talent pools. Keep your resume current in the ATS.

White Text Trick – Put added keywords at the bottom of your resume in white text. They won’t be detected when printing, but when a recruiter runs a search, they may help you get picked up.

Meet the Minimum Qualifications – If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you will not make it to the hiring manager through the talent team.

Be Discoverable – Companies can see the different resumes you have submitted and your history, but the hiring company is likely looking at your most recent one. Make sure your profile is as complete as possible to be found.

Cover letters – Recruiters generally do not read cover letters. Make the resume and cover letter all one document before you upload them to the system.

Get Personal With Recruiters – Leverage LinkedIn to find recruiters and hiring managers.  Search for them on Google and make a call or reach out directly to the talent or hiring team.

Track Your Application on the Career Portal – Many companies today do not notify applicants when the position has been filled, so watch your profile on the company’s portal.

Hiring Companies

Dignity Health

Marcos Day, Recruiter

Dignity Health is one of the Valley’s largest healthcare providers and growing with a recent merger. They will soon be known as CommonSpirit Health and serve 22 states. They often carry up to 8600 open positions at any time.

CommonSpirit offers a strong benefits package including a Zero Premium Option for employees plus a pension plan & 403(b) company match program of up to 6%. They also invest in their staff with a variety of educational and financial services.

Current Career Openings:

  • Patient Facing Roles – Nurses, Rehab Therapists, Radiology, Lab Techs, Patient Transportation
  • Non-Patient Facing – Food Service, Facilities, IT, CyberSecurity, Accounting, Finance, Marketing

Applicants are encouraged to apply on the Careers Website.

Copper Springs

Cooper Springs is a part of Springstone. They have mental health and addiction services in 17 states and are opening their newest facility in East Valley, Copper Springs – East.

There will be many clinical and non-clinical opportunities available for this new location. Check out their Career Website or contact Melissa Barry regarding the new Gilbert location.

Terros Health

Tracy Outlaw, Recruiter

Terros is a non-profit, integrated care provider in the valley. Since 1969, their mission has been to serve the needs of the public with integrity, passion, and empowerment. Today they provide services through 19 locations around the state of AZ in Primary Care, Counseling, Health & Wellness, and Addiction services.

Current Openings:

  • Front Office Staff
  • Behavioral Health Techs
  • Clinicians
  • Recovery Support Specialists
  • Case Managers

Apply online at https://www.terroshealth.org/

AZ DES – Department of Economic Security

Nancy Stanford, Recruiting Manager

DES is the second largest agency of the State of Arizona with more than 7,700 team members.  They assist over 2.9 million Arizonans each year through the following agencies:

  • Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS)
  • Division of Benefits & Medical Eligibility (DBME)
  • Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)
  • Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
  • Division of Employment & Rehab Services (DERS)

Along with a comprehensive benefits package and time off, DES is one of the few employers to offer Arizona Retirement Systems with vesting after 5 years and a 12% match.

Current Openings:

  • Adult Protective Services Investigators
  • Program Service Evaluators
  • Direct Care Worker
  • Customer Service Reps
  • Case Managers
  • Finance roles
  • HR Roles

Application Process

  • Visit https://azstatejobs.azdoa.gov/ for current postings.
  • Be sure to watch for position closing dates, salary and job grades. Interviewing will not begin until the position close date.
  • Use keywords at the very beginning of your resume.
  • When applying and uploading a new resume, delete the old one first.
  • Recruiter’s information is always posted.
  • No ATS system is used, all resumes are reviewed individually by a recruiter.
  • Follow up with the contact in the job description and always refer to the Job ID#.
  • Keep applying!
  • Remember – Salaries are posted and always negotiable.

Upcoming Events

Diversity Talks – October 3, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

This is the 5th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Event in conjunction with BestCompaniesAZ to help Arizona’s top employers meet talented individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities, experiences, beliefs and abilities.

The panel will include USAA, State Farm, Freedom Financial Network, GoDaddy, AMEX, USAA, Farmers Insurance and Charles Schwab. There will also be a career fair with top companies.

To register or learn about the participating companies, visit the Event Page.


Finding and Landing a New Career FAST! – October 10 in Scottsdale


The Networking Brief – October 22 in Gilbert

See the Events Page for complete details of these and other upcoming events. Register today.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Founder/CEO of Career Connectors, took the stage to thank everyone for taking the next step in finding a new career.

She recognized the many hiring companies, sponsors and partners including Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona and Brighton College.

Anyone interested in IT, funding is now available up to $4000 for tuition assistance of online certifications through Career Connectors Academy and AZ@Work. To learn more about these opportunities, connect with a staff member and visit the website.

Every seeker was encouraged to network with other seekers, build more LinkedIn connections, take a free DISC assessment and have a professional portrait taken by a photography volunteer at the event. Professional resume writers, LinkedIn experts and Career Coaches are also available at the event to perfect your search tools.

Thank you to Central Christian Church for hosting the event and the 90 volunteers that serve Career Connectors around the Valley.

09/12/19 – Resume Mythbusters: Certified Resume Writer Panel

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Resume Panel

Written by Susan Lamphiear

Keynote

“It’s not the evil empire out there, people,” Brenda Cunningham tells job seekers trying to craft their resumes. It’s a matter of convenience that companies are trying to deal with the huge numbers of resumes they are likely to receive for any given available position.

“Think of the resume as a marketing tool,” stresses Martha Rockwell. It’s all about using your very specific, targeted, resume to nab that precious interview.

“Focus on the HEADLINE,” Donna Tucker reminds us. Include that vital section on what VALUE you, specifically, bring to their business.

“No such thing as a generic resume exists,” explains Amanda Miller. Today’s resume more than ever before must be crafted and drafted for each position you apply for.

These four experts formed the resume panel, hosted by Career Connector’s Founder and CEO Jessica Pierce, who asked the bottom line questions job seekers long to have answered. Host of the panel, Jessica began using her own skills in resume building–and created Career Connectors eventually–when she and her husband were both laid off in 2009, and she turned to helping other job hunters at her church design their resumes.

The panel did not disappoint. Made up of professionals in resume writing, they possess certifications, belong to professional organizations like the Resume Writers Council of Arizona and the National Resume Writers Association, receive ongoing training, including national conferences, and well, they have years of experience helping job seekers design very specific resumes with the end goal of getting the interview. They are EXPERTS and their certification process is rigorous.

Biggest Resume Mistakes

  • Failing to highlight or even include your accomplishments and results of your job experience. Use numbers if possible. Percents. Dollars saved. Numbers of people served.
  • Missing, incorrect, inappropriate, or confusing information. Be sure to include your name! Include only one phone number to avoid confusion. Ideally use the preferred Gmail email account. DO NOT use inappropriate email addresses like daddyslittlegirl@yahoo.com! Retire your AOL account!! Customize your LinkedIn profile URL.
  • No goal is evident (no common theme). Include RELEVANT experience.
  • Failing to take advice from experts. Professional resume writers are always learning and keeping up with industry expectations and following Best Practices.

Guidelines in Creating Your Resume

  • There’s not one single kind of resume. Different companies and positions may need different focus.
  • Remember professional resume writers use Best Practices; some companies and government agencies require specific formats. Be aware of requirements. The State of Arizona, for example, wants you to include ALL your work history. If it’s a requirement when you apply, then DO IT!
  • Regarding COVER LETTERS. If there’s no place to include a cover letter, do NOT include one and DO NOT attach it to the resume. If you do, it interferes with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). But if directions say a cover letter is “optional,” then INCLUDE your cover letter.
  • Keywords are vital to the ATS. Don’t get creative with terms. Use standard terms like “experience.” Sometimes there are multiple names for the same or similar titles–change the title to match the job you’re applying for. If two terms describe your job, use the term used in that industry or the most standard term. The ATS may quickly eliminate you for consideration if it doesn’t recognize your key terms. Make sure your resume title reflects the work for which you’re applying.
  • Measure your accomplishments–don’t just say you did it well. Avoid empty phrases like “consummate professional.” Results matter more than adjectives. What was your budget, did you meet it, and was it on time? Use exact numbers wherever possible. How much money did you save the company? What were your accomplishments? Did you make people happy? Did you improve something or create a process? Did you reduce or eliminate or streamline something? Use bullet points starting with action words to highlight what you did at the company. Don’t just explain your job description–instead, what were your RESULTS? Scale and scope of accomplishments are important. How many? How much?

Details to Consider in Crafting Your Resume

FONTS: No smaller than 10-point font. No lower than 10-point on sans serif fonts, 11-point on serif fonts. Try to take no more than two pages. Put a header on page two in case it gets separated from page one.

EXPERIENCE: Include up to 10 to 15 years of experience. Add an “additional experience” section without dates for prior relative experience.

DATES: Only include dates on degrees if it is recent and explains lack of experience. We often give away information when we don’t need to.

EMAIL: Gmail is the preferred general email program. Don’t use funny, silly, or childish email addresses.

ATS: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) vary. Some cannot read newer or fancy fonts. Use standard fonts. Use standard headings. Put dates on the right side. Use .doc instead of .pdf format.

BULLETS: Begin bullets points with action words, then the accomplishment and how you did it.

EMPLOYMENT GAPS: Up to a six-month employment gap is acceptable without explanation. Explain longer gaps with a simple, one-sentence explanation. Don’t use dates, even in the interview. It’s YOUR business. For mothers with gaps of years, remember to use volunteer experience such as PTA or anything at school. In the experience section, especially in the volunteer category–10-15 years of experience–it doesn’t need to be paid to be considered experience!

VOLUNTEERING: Fill in gaps with contract work or training or volunteering in your field. Volunteer work counts as experience on a resume. If you don’t have current experience related to the job you’re seeking, get some experience NOW by volunteering, getting a certification, or taking a class.

AVOID: Do Not include an “Objective” or the phrase “References available upon request.”

PROFESSIONAL HELP: Consider working with a professional resume writer because that means your resume reflects best practices. Or do your homework and at least consider having a professional review your final resume.

Hiring Company

USAA

Jeff Shewan, HR Associate

USAA seeks to be the provider of choice to the military community. Their mission is to facilitate the financial security of their members, associates and families, by providing a full range of competitive financial products and services. They offer products including comprehensive financial services of banking, investment, property and life insurance, and financial advice. Phoenix employs over 4800 people.

Jobs at USAA North Phoenix–at Happy Valley Road and I-17–include customer service, insurance, banking, IT software developers, and risk compliance. Perks include paid time off accrued by years of service, 12 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave, a wellness program–including fitness center, energy/relax zones, and healthy points program.

USAA wants you to know military members are their primary focus, with thirty percent of new hires being veterans or military spouses, and they are mission-focused.

USAA is looking for employees who are mission focused and possess both the needed job experience and the certain fit–people who will do justice to their clients–their customers.

To apply, go online to set up a profile– including setting a keyword alert. Also, you can change your resume each time you apply for a different job. Click here to apply online for jobs.

Resources

Career Connectors Academy Training Program

Landi Carfi, Brighton College, VP Corporate Training

Career Connectors is proud to partner with Brighton College to form Career Connectors Academy. The Academy offers a wide variety of accredited online certificate programs, along with many professional development classes. Our focus is on quality and affordability. You will find the best online certificate programs!

Brighton College is proud to launch this new partnership with Career Connectors to offer the best support from both organizations.

Brighton strives to create an ultimate learning experience, driving employment skills for working, non-working and under-served adults.

The college provides short term certification programs discounted for Career Connectors Academy (30% discounts for programs already reasonably priced and payment programs while you are enrolled are available as low as $39 per month.) The average time invested typically ranges from three to four months.

Included among their certification offerings are the following: Technical Support, Programming, Cyber Security Medical Billing Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Web & Graphic Design (very big now), and Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD).

Throughout your time with Brighton, you receive support with issues such as awareness, onboarding and graduation. Then after you complete your coursework, career services are offered including professional development, employability and lifetime support.

For more information, visit the website and apply.

Closing

After the formal meeting, Founder/CEO of Career Connectors, Jessica Pierce invited attendees to visit with and take advantage of the expertise of hiring managers, resume and LinkedIn experts, financial planners, and the professional photographer who does free head shots. She also thanked Volunteers and the host, Highlands Church.