Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources


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AB Staffing Solutions

01/28/20 – They Want It, and You’ve Got It…How to Communicate Your “It” Factor

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Written by Jim McBride

Keynote

Bridgett McGowen

Can you do the job? Will you do the job? That’s what recruiters want to know. But hiring managers, they want to know if you have that “it” factor.

Bridgett McGowan, award-winning professional speaker and business owner, coaches up professionals to be “the most engaging, dynamic, incredible communicators ever.” Bridgett knows what it takes to make your “it” a legit differentiator when interviewing for your next career adventure.

With the Recruiter

It’s likely your first interaction with a company will be with a recruiter. The recruiter is not typically taking a deep dive into your career accomplishments. Recruiters take a preliminary checklist approach to see if the candidate is a potential fit for the organization by zeroing in on your education, job history, experience in similar work environments and your overall demeanor.

The recruiter is an important step in the hiring process because you’re being evaluated on how you may fit into the company culture based on how you think, how you talk and what you believe in compared to how they think, how they talk and what the company believes in.

With the Hiring Manager

Mirror the communication style of hiring manager during the interview. According to Bridgett, a “peacemaker” likes to build rapport, so reciprocate the small talk. “Truth-keepers” need messaging that is logical, makes sense and fits with what they know. If you interview with a “solution seeker” be concise – no rambling – get to the bottom line, while the “risk taker” feeds on excitement and lots of positive energy (be interesting and alive!).

Research and connect with the company’s vision, mission, products and services. Demonstrate your ability to synthesize information, problem solve, communicate. All of your focus goes into emphasizing your strengths, not your weaknesses.

As every interview question is designed to see how you fit with the work culture, always be the absolute best version of yourself. Give the interviewer an idea of what life will be like with you as a member of the team. Communicate that you aren’t just looking for any job. Say, “I am the person for this position!”

Your “It” Factor

You didn’t wake up this morning and plan to be mediocre.

It’s time to be “on” when it matters the most. Hint hint…the interview. Hint hint…networking. Show interest and passion. You have the talent and the energy. Respond to every question with an affirmative response. Drive enthusiasm, gain buy-in for their interest in you. Engage with the interviewer through rapport building and create a personal connection. Focus on themes to make your message all about how you will elevate the company. Provide objective content regarding your abilities and talents.

Create a one-line personal value statement to articulate what you do incredibly well.

Ensure that showtime at the interview is not the first time. Rehearse the actual words you will say. See the actual body language you will use. The internet is loaded with sample interview questions. Practice your energy.

You ready to crush it? Everywhere you go. Everything you do. Every move you make. Every word you say. Every look you give. Everything is GREAT. They want it. You’ve got it!

Hiring Companies

Cenlar
Diane Kaber – Sr. Recruiter

Cenlar is the leading mortgage subservicing company in the country. Based in New Jersey with locations in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Missouri, the company is projecting 40% growth in the near term. Cenlar is a private company with stock options for eligible employees.

Open Positions
Customer Service
Collections
Loss Mitigation
Claims
Foreclosures
Bankruptcy

HR / ER
Leadership
Service Excellence
Research

AB Staffing Solutions
Courtney Bleskachek – Recruitment Resource Coordinator

AB Staffing Solutions is the leading provider of healthcare professionals and human capital solutions to Federal Government and Commercial clients in three segments: Nursing, Allied Health and Physician supplemental staffing. Among the company’s benefits is full cost coverage of health, dental and vision insurance.

Open Positions
Recruiter – We are looking for the right individuals to join our team as Recruiters within all specialties

ADP
Laura Lynn Smith – Division Vice President
Pamela Farling – Talent Acquisition Business Partner

ADP is a comprehensive global provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, payroll, talent, time, tax and benefits administration and a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics and compliance expertise.

Open Positions
Director, Client Services
Manager, Client Services supporting Master Tax
Manager, Payroll Operations
Sr. Client Services Manager
Associate Relations Specialist
Sr. Technology Solution Consultant
Major Accounts District Manager
Strategic Outside Sales Executive
401k Plan Specialist
Full Level Tax Specialist I Implementation

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

U-Haul is the recognized industry leader in Do-It-yourself moving, self-storage, moving supplies propane and custom hitches. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in downtown Phoenix. With the largest truck fleet in the world, U-Haul employs 32,000 people nationwide and has 20,000 independent dealers and 1,900 company-owned Moving and Storage Centers.

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

Resource

Career Connectors Academy Training Program

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 of 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!

Closing

Jessica Pierce thanked the Career Connectors volunteer staff and encouraged all attendees to make full use of the career transition resources – speaking with the hiring company representatives, utilizing the professional resume writers, connecting with the LinkedIn coaches, getting a business portrait and taking the free DISC Assessment. The next Career Connectors event is Wednesday, February 5th in Phoenix from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Cheryl Covert will present “Where the Jobs Are.”

10/11/17 – Lost My Job, Now What

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Lost Your Job Now WhatWritten by Susan Lamphiear

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. Henry Ford

No doubt about it. Losing a job– being in career transition—takes its place right up there with some of life’s most difficult challenges. At times it can feel like it’s literally sucking the breath from you. But it helps to realize that others, having traveled this particular part of the storm, have not only lived to tell about it, but have come through this particular storm stronger and ready to tell their story.  And ready to share what they’ve learned. Like the airplane, they’ve taken off against the wind.

Consider the message from the Broadway musical Wicked, Defying Gravity: “It’s time to try defying gravity. I think I’ll try defying gravity. And you can’t bring me down” as you consider our keynote’s personal story and her advice.

Keynote

Naomi Buckta has been in your shoes.  She feels your pain. She, too, has experienced job loss.  The good news is she came out stronger on the other side and shares her tips for getting through the storm.

Today she’s Vice President of sales & marketing for four related companies. Through her experiences she’s conducted seminars and workshops focusing on personal transition and social networking.

Naomi’s Tips After a Job Loss

  • Lost your job? Don’t panic. When you start to doubt yourself, make a list of your strengths. Go to your LinkedIn profile and read the great stuff people have written about you.

When Naomi Buckta was laid off in 2010, it caught her off guard even though she was part of the executive team. She had to remind herself what a rock star she is.

  • Assess yourself. Clean up your social profiles. Know what you really want and let your resume reflect that. Consider a career coach. And a mentor.
  • Don’t be resentful. Develop the habit of writing thank you notes. Don’t burn bridges.
  • Stay current in your field. This is the number one reason people lost their jobs in their organizations. Remember MOOCs. Say, what? You know MOOC–Massive Open Online Course. It’s those courses of study available on the internet and available without charge to large numbers of people. Make a section on your resume to document ones you’ve taken. It’s one more sign to potential employers that you’re staying current in your field.
  • Have a plan—Connect with people through NetworkingPhoenix.com, LinkedIn groups, church groups. Find out who knows who. Prepare your elevator speech.
  • Build your network whether you’re in job search or gainfully employed. Relationships matter. What do you know, what are your targeted companies, and what networking events are available to you? Find a mentor who among other things will be honest with you and even help you debrief after an interview.
  • Your resume—don’t sound like a zombie—aim to make your resume sound like a human voice. Make sure your resume reflects the exact job you’re looking for now. Put it on quality paper.
  • Is your portfolio up to date? Consider writing a 30/60/90 day plan and aim to work it into an interview.
  • The interview—Prepare questions to ask for every level of the organization. And be prepared to answer behavioral questions.
  • Speak positively about the company you just left NO MATTER WHAT.
  • Make your own opportunities while going through job transition. Consider contract work, consulting, teaching a class, working part-time to make ends meet. Or do something you’ve always wanted to do but never took time like planting an herb garden, organizing family photos, and taking a picnic lunch to the park.

Naomi summed up her thoughts, expressed in a quote, about getting through tough times like a job loss and career search.

Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

M. Scott Peck, American psychiatrist

Hiring Companies

Northcentral University

Bradley Dial, Talent Acquisition Specialist

Northcentral University, regionally accredited, features online education at a higher degree including degrees in education, technology, business, psychology, and marriage & family science.  Online degree programs allow students to learn in a one-to-one learning model from a 100% doctoral faculty.

One of the benefits includes free education.

Currently they are hiring for academics, administration, enrollment, information technology and student support services.

For more information or to apply, visit their website.

AB Staffing Solutions

James Gonzales, Recruiter

AB Staffing Solutions, a staffing and recruiting agency, is one of the fastest growing companies in the healthcare industry. They provide healthcare personnel at government and commercial medical facilities across the country.

Their company is casual, attracting employees who gladly roll up their sleeves to get the job done and who are not afraid to talk to people. AB Staffing hires medical staff for three to six month contracts, sometimes with the opportunity for permanent placement.

For more information or to apply, check their website or call. Many opportunities for healthcare workers, including recruiters, nurses, and doctors, are available in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and California.

Vanguard

Renee Brown, Sr. Recruiter

Vanguard, a large client-owned investment company founded in 1975, is one of the world’s largest investment management companies, with 17 locations worldwide. Unique in its industry, as a client-owned company, they have no outside owners seeking profits. A stable company, they’ve had only three CEOs over their 42 years, with their fourth CEO Tim Buckley slated to become new CEO in January, 2018.

The company stresses integrity, a 37 ½ hour workday, and community service.

Perks or benefits include 18 days paid time off, 9 paid holidays;  up to 4 ½% 401K; onsite gym, dry cleaning, and wellness; health, dental, and vision benefits starting the first day; intramural sports leagues and more.

Currently the company offers positions ranging from entry level to management, including client relationship specialist, processing associates, financial advisors, compliance manager, and team leader roles. For more opportunities or to apply, visit their website.

Resources

Coder Camps

Jason Jones, Sr. Admissions Advisor

Coder Camps provides web development opportunities in data science. Increasing demand for this relatively new field of data science means there’s an ever-increasing demand for specialists who help companies make business decisions using the data.

There’s no entrance exam for the school. Instead, recruiters sit down and talk with potential students one-on-one. Coder camps take students where they are. The emphasis is training for developing projects—which is how students will get a job. Employers want to see their coders know how to develop projects. Universities these days connect with coder camps because the coder camps can keep up with the rapid changes inherent in web development.

Coder Camps are Coders for Life meaning since technology changes so fast, the school allows graduates of the coder camps to come back over and over at no additional cost. Coder Camps offer ongoing training and job placement for life.

Upcoming events include a free introduction, so contact the school to sign up for a free intro Wednesday, October 18, 2017,  from 5—7PM. And on Friday, October 20, 2017,  from noon-3PM please visit their big Demo Day.

For more information on applying or signing up for their events, visit their website or call.

Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the meeting and introduced breakout sessions. The breakout sessions include the opportunity to speak directly with hiring managers, LinkedIn and resume specialists, financial consultants, coaches, educational specialists, and a professional photographer for free business head shots.

Jessica thanked volunteers and our host facility  Highlands Church.

The next Career Connectors event is the Glendale launch,  featuring Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 9AM at Calvary Church at 59th Avenue and Bell in Glendale. Topic of the keynote address will be You’ve Got This!: Real, No-Nonsense Ideas for Mentally Regrouping After a Layoff presented by Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins. The Glendale location will be held the third Thursday of each month.

The next meeting for the Scottsdale event will be Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 9 AM and features keynote speaker Cary Pfeffer on the topic of Telling Your Story.

To find specific location details, visit the events section of this website to register for any or all of the four locations.