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02/27/18 – Telling Your Story

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Written by Lauren Kutsko

Keynote

Telling Your Story
Cary Pfeffer

As a published author of a wildly successful book called, There’s Not an App for That, Cary Pfeffer had us laughing and engaged as he shared his passion for communication. With a keen eye for connection, he encouraged us to take time to speak authentically and succinctly about our desires, futures and knowledge.

“You can be the best of the best, but if you can’t tell your story well you aren’t going to be noticed.” Cary Pfeffer

Here was our basic outline for the morning:

  • Telling your story effectively one on one
  • Telling your story effectively with the written word
  • Telling your story effectively in front of an audience

Telling your story effectively one on one

  • Start with your audience.

As we talk with others it is best to know your audience. What do they care about? Who do they aspire to become? How can you authentically help them get there? Do a bit of research to know who you are speaking with, especially in an interview situation.

The secret sauce in the networking and interviewing process is to listen. When you listen well you will be better able to answer the specific questions they are asking without oversharing!

  • What is your comfort zone?

Many times in a networking environment or an interview process we believe that we have to be the quintessential ideal of someone. But that isn’t required, in fact is detrimental and fake! He encouraged all of us to be an authentic representation of who you are. You are the best at being you!

  • Are you a good editor?

He couldn’t have emphasized this point enough! Do not overshare! When people ask the time they don’t want to know how your watch was made. They want to know the time. Editing your words to hit the important points is essential to creating engaging dialog. Despite your deep passion and knowledge for a certain subject, it is best to not firehose them with all your information in one sitting. When we are networking and interviewing, there is no reason to go into a long, involved drama or detailed jargon that overwhelms the interviewer. When you are looking for a new job, you want to talk about your skill set and how you can contribute to their cause and then stop talking. Listen. And when they respond with seeking more information, answer their questions in a natural, authentic and succinct way.

Exercise #1
In one sentence, write what you are all about.
The rules:

  • No mission statements
  • Include a people connection
  • Can be quickly understood and remembered

For example: If you are an engineer that works in national security, your one sentence could be, “I work on keeping our country safe.”

Try it! If you have a hard time communicating your desires and passions in a way that connects with others keep these three things in mind:

  • The goal is to elicit a thought in someone’s head. How does this connect to the listener?
  • It is as much about your words as how you say it. Are you speaking from the heart or is it some memorized statement that sounds tired and flat?
  • Try to communicate your direction and confidence for life. If you can’t communicate your vision for your life, why would anyone else want to buy in?

Telling the story effectively in writing

Fact: The written word is interpreted more negatively than it is intended.
Because written language lacks body language and tone, consider the importance of the words you use.

  • Spend time crafting your words to stand out and be unique
  • Demonstrate why what you are saying should matter to the listener and get straight to the point! If possible keep your words no longer than the space of an email window.
  • Don’t wait until the third paragraph to say what you need. People will stop reading and never go back to it.

When crafting emails make sure you spend time on the subject line and greeting. If you type the first thing you think of into the subject line it’s probably the first thing everyone else thought of.

Unoriginal Subject: Concerning New Hire Position
Original Subject : Energized Applicant With A Quick Question

Telling your story before a live audience

How do you start?
Most business meetings start out with some unenthusiastic employee thanking everyone for coming today with hunched shoulders and no eye contact. But your first words should state authentic reasons why this meeting is worth attending. For example, “This budget proposal holds the potential to unlock enough funds to hire a new team this year. And if we can do that we could take on another client, which would grow our business by 30% next year. I am looking for your input today to help us navigate these exciting times.”

The first words should get straight to the punch with why this is worth listening to.

How do you end?
Instead of a long winded exhale while verbally noticing that, “well I guess that’s our last slide”, perhaps end the meeting with a human story of why this meeting was of real importance.

Don’t underestimate the Question and Answer time. Many people make their decisions during the Q and A so spend time predicting what questions they might have and come prepared.

Remember that the point of communication is connection and without listening to others, it’s hard to find a connection. Cary stated many times throughout the talk that the most overlooked skill in communication is listening.

He ended with a reading about smiles from his book. It was a delight to listen to Cary Pfeffer share his experience and wisdom and hear his encouragement as we begin to wordsmith our own stories in hopes to find connections with others.

If you would like to sign up for Cary’s monthly emails, purchase his book, or find his email address, go to his website.

HIRING COMPANIES

Alorica
Stacy Imgarten, Talent Acquisition Recruiter

Alorica’s mottos is: Do what you love, love what you do! Their office is located on Gilbert Road and Main Street in Mesa. A business that serves other businesses clients, Alorica could be the right placement for you if you are passionate about customer relations and want a flexible schedule. Their current opening is in Inside Sales and they take promotions and growth opportunities very seriously. You also can obtain Medical, Dental and Vision insurance after 30 days on the job. There is also the option for tuition reimbursement and 401k available after 90 days.  More information here.

Robert Half
Brandon Kostelic, Recruiting Manager

Robert Half is a specialized staffing firm that can staff anyone in the office.

Some current openings are:

  • Accounting Clerk
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts receivable
  • Payroll Generalist
  • Bookkeeper
  • Full Charge Bookkeeping
  • Staff Accountant
  • HR Generalist

For a complete job listing, go to their website.

Allstate
Tori Castlegrante, Agency Process Specialist

Allstate is a national brand that has your back. Their open positions are:

  • Claims Analysts
  • Product Management
  • Information Technology
  • Agency owner
  • Licensed Sales Producer

They do great work with veterans and are looking for agency owners.  Click here for further details.

Upcoming Events

There is an upcoming military career event. Attendance is FREE for all job seekers! Create your profile to be pre-matched with hiring companies for onsite interviews March 7! More information including participating companies can be found here.

On March 15th Andy Gray will be speaking about “How to Get Your Message Across in 60 Seconds or Less” in Scottsdale. Join us!

1/11/18 – Finding and Landing a New Career FAST!

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Finding and Landing a New Career FAST!Written by: Mary Beth Huffman

Keynote

Finding and Landing a New Career FAST!
Dave Sherman

Author of 3 books: 50 Tops Tips, Breaking the Ice, Elevating Your Elevator Pitch

Tip 1: Embrace the decision
It may be obvious, but avoid indecision, explanations, validations, and negativity. Window shop the job boards. In the search box type job title or keyword city and state. Look for a job that fits you. Be creative when looking at your options. Open yourself up to whatever it could be. What career would be:
• Interesting
• Challenging
• Rewarding
• Fun
Dave works for Mobile Mini, which is hiring, by the way. See those positions here.

Tip 2: Peruse the Job Boards
Step out of your box. Can you stay here? Look for the stuff you really want to do. Do you know what you are really good at? Gallup Clifton’s survey identifies greatest strengths. You can live your best life when you tap into your unique strengths. You can either pay the nominal fee and take the survey online: https://is.gd/zNzEJd or buy the book Strength Finders and get it for free.

Tip 3: Start meeting MORE PEOPLE!

To get into a new career or field, expand your network and the people you want to meet. You will need some assistance.

Where should you go?

  • Chambers: attend 2 events. No need to join unless you are starting a business.
  • Associations
  • Business groups
  • Networking groups
  • Career transition groups

Come to meetings. Then when you get to where you want to be you can help others.

  • Show up 15 minutes early.
  • Bring business cards. If in transition get business cards with: name, phone, email, and if you want your LinkedIn profile. Make sure they’re not too thin.
  • Ask for help! Let people know you’re in transition.
  • When attending events let go of the outcome! Don’t expect to come away with something. Just see what happens. If you golf you may score an 83 and the next week 93. It doesn’t matter.

What should you do?

  • Build more likability. Smile. Be genuine. Be interested, not interesting. Ask questions. How did you get into this field? If I wanted to get into X, what do you suggest?
  • Build more commonality. Ask about their hometown, hobbies, school, family, friends, and favorites.

Finding a new career is like a rollercoaster. Think of what a great opportunity you have. How long this adventure lasts is up to you. Do all this every day. This will go faster than if you spent the day looking at the job boards. Where you are sitting might be a little scary. If you can, take that one minute and say to yourself what might come out of this?

Hiring Companies:

Connect Wireless

Chandra Sandoval, Corporate Recruiter

Connect Wireless’ headquarters is in Scottsdale, with 80+ stores in 8 states and launching 8 new stores this month. They are currently hiring for a variety of positions, from Sales, to corporate positions: Commissions Assistant Auditor, Data Reporting Specialist, and Administrative Assistant/Operations to Lead Training Manager.  A complete list of openings is here.

Supreme Lending

Darin Dow, Business Manager

Direct lender Supreme Lending has pretty much no middle-man. This privately owned and debt-free company started in 1999 in Dallas. Operations are in the main office off I-17. Supreme Lending doesn’t do reverse mortgages, but does all sorts of residential mortgages. They are a direct Lender to FHA, Fannie, Freddie, VA, and USDA. All are government down-payment assistant programs. They have a program that gets owners back into a home in under 30 days with a 580 credit score with FHA.
Supreme Lending does no-cost moves for their clients. They are opening up 8 more branches and are looking for Branch Managers, Producing Branch Managers, Licensed Loan Officers and Assistants, and Processors all across the state from Tucson to Phoenix to Flagstaff.  See all openings at Supreme Lending.

Allstate

Tori Castlegrante, Agency Process Specialist

Allstate has been around for 85 years in U.S. and Canada. They have 47 products, including financial services. They are looking for Agency Owners, IT, Product Management, Claims Analysts, and Licensed Sales Producers.
In general, Allstate’s main focus is on the local community and servicing them. A big bulk of the business is their property and casualty line. Allstate assists employees with the cost of licensing. They have an active Veterans Program and are currently running a short hiring referral promotion. There are also 40 openings with their partners. Go to Allstate for more information.

12/06/17 – Brand Elevation: Power Up Your Influence in 3 Simple Steps

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Brand ElevationWritten by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

What do Oprah, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Martha Stewart, Jennifer Aniston and Snoop Dogg have in common? Not only are they all celebrities but also masters of personal branding. Personal branding isn’t restricted to the rich and famous but also professionals.

KEYNOTE

Brand Elevation: Power Up Your Influence in 3 Simple Steps
Felicia Davis
There are many factors that contribute to our professional success. Felicia emphasized that “your brand is arguably your most important asset.” But how do you achieve an elevated brand? Felicia provided a road map to a prominent and leading brand.

4 BLIND SPOT BEHAVIORS
Each of us has a behavior that holds us back in achieving our goals. Common blind spots include:

  1. Hiding Out: Are you going incognito and practicing your best introvert self? Are you avoiding putting yourself out there?
  2. Impostor Syndrome: Do you continuously ask yourself, “Am I good enough?”
  3. Clear Boundaries: Are your boundaries clearly defined for you and others you interact with? Boundaries embrace our values/value system. Do you enforce them and do others respect them?
  4. Status Quo Behavior: Are you not putting changes in place and still waiting for magical results? Are you doing just enough to get by?

These blind spots are keeping you on a losing streak of missed opportunities and a powerful brand!

WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE YOU
There are a number of reasons why candidates are selected as a final candidate/promotion. Studies have revealed that 10% are chosen for skills; 30% for passion; and 60% for positioning and presence. It has been shown that presence dictates a “yes” 90% of the time.

HOW WELL BRANDED ARE YOU?
Felicia introduced a mini assessment to establish how well branded we are. Our answers determined if we had a Potential, Rising, Super or Mega Brand. It is important to remember that branding is a process and evolves over time.

BRANDING REQUIREMENTS
Several factors need to be defined and demonstrated by your brand.
1. CLARITY: Who you are and are not.
2. CONSISTENCY: Your message should mirror who you are.
3. CONSTANCY: Continuous visibility to your target audience.

BRAND EFFECTIVENESS
Felicia noted the effectiveness of your brand and its presentation are evaluated by your REPUTATION (gets you known); RELATIONSHIPS (gets you access) and RESULTS (increases your value). Your reputation, relationships and results all measure how effective your brand is.

WELL-EXECUTED BRAND
A well-executed brand brings with it many benefits including:
• Building trust and loyalty.
• Increasing earning potential.
• Engaged conversation, support and evangelism of your message.
• Closing the gap between your identity and the perceptions others have of you.
• Differentiate you as a professional more than price and function.

HOW DO YOU ELEVATE YOUR BRAND?
What a great question? Fortunately, Felicia shared with us her 4 power moves that will elevate your brand:

  1. Know and own your narrative. Your narrative is what shapes your brand identity. There are 3 common challenges in developing your narrative. Those obstacles include “don’t know what you don’t know, voice doesn’t matter, and the comparison trap”. Felicia indicated there are two questions you need to answer to avoid the described challenges. You need to know the answer to “what do you believe about the future success of your field or industry and what will be my role in making it happen”.
  2. Be magnetic. Being a magnet or having brand magnetism requires you to position what you do with the right people at the right time. To be a success you need to be clear on who your audience is and understand their problems, challenges, desires and secret fears. This move also has common challenges including “waiting to be discovered, missing key relationships and unable to articulate value”. One way to resolve these issues is to “be clear about the value you bring and how it impacts the organization.
  3. Develop brand ambassadors. These individuals bring brand loyalty. To develop brand loyalty, you need to be clear that your target audience is your partner in your success. Challenges surrounding this move are commoditized conversations, not knowing the agenda and silo mentality. To resolve these roadblocks, you need to have high-stake conversations and understand the agendas of others.
  4. Get visible. Being visible leads to brand loyalty and brand voice. You need to be noticed, known, and vocal. Those factors challenging your success are the fraud factor, comparison & conflicting messages. Becoming visible requires you to avoid being invisible, a voyeur, laying low & watching others shine. Most importantly you need to decide where you would like to be.

DEVELOP YOUR STRATEGY
Developing your strategy to achieve your desired brand requires you to know the answers to “What do I want to be known for?”; “What do I want to be known as?”; What do I need to give up in order to be visible and create my desired legacy?”; and “What’s the first step?”

As you elevate your brand, remember that it is a process and does not happen overnight. The rewards from a powerful brand may not make you a well-known celebrity but you will be a rising star in your profession.

Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.Jeff Bezos, Amazon

HIRING COMPANIES

AZ DES
Ruth Ford, Recruiter

The mission of AZ DES is to help Arizonians reach their potential through temporary assistance for those in need, and care for the vulnerable. There are several divisions providing a full array of services: Aging and Adult Services, Benefits and Medical Eligibility, Child Support Services, Developmental Disabilities, Employment and Rehabilitation Services, Early Intervention Program and Community Outreach.
Employee benefits include medical, dental, and short and long-term disability insurance; paid time off; work-life balance and retirement. A sampling of current openings are Employee Relations Specialist, Child Support Services Call Center Agent, Caregiver, Case Manager Lead-Early Intervention, Rehabilitation Services Specialist 3, Auditor 2, Physical Therapist, Training Officer 2, Financial Exploitation Manager, State Monitor Advocate, and Core Services Engineer/Supervisor. If interested, apply on the AZ DES website.

Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
Wendy Christensen, Recruiter

Lifewell Behavioral Wellness was formed in 2011 as part of a merger. The organization has over 80 years of cumulative experience and offers a wide array of services and care for adults who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness, general mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. Services range from residential, outpatient, supported housing to vocational rehabilitation services; and transportation.
Lifewell offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, personal and professional growth; learning and development; and having a positive impact in their client’s life. Available opportunities are Clinician Associate I(BHPP), Application Developer, Claims Specialist, Drivers, Intake and Housing Specialist, Client Service Representative, Case Manager, Psychiatrist, Maintenance Technician and Therapist. For more details and apply online.

All About People
Desirae Noonan, Corporate Branch Manager

All About People is a staffing and recruiting firm that puts people first whether those individuals are job seekers, client companies or franchise owners. The firm is “generalist” by nature. Opportunities are everything from clerical/administrative needs to senior leadership and all corporate functional areas in between. Current openings are Credentialing Specialist, Claims Specialist, HR Benefits Coordinator, Part Time Customer Service, Recruiter, Clinical Administrator, Bankruptcy Legal Assistant, Accounting Specialist, Tax Accountant, Exam Technician, Legal Secretary and more. Please refer to the website for more details.

Allstate
Tom Wheeler, Field Sales Leader

Allstate was established in Chicago in 1931 and has been in business for 80 years. Allstate is #81 on Fortune 100 list and has an employee population of 70,000 employees in the US and Canada. The SW region is composed of AZ, OK, NV, NM and UT. Allstate is one of the most recognizable brands in America and has 47 products to help serve its customers’ needs.
Available positions include Claims Analyst, Product Management, Information Technology, Agency Owner and Licensed Sales Producers. The company is military friendly and offers free education to veterans and a bonus award of $500. In addition, Allstate has a $10,000 referral award. To learn more about careers visit Allstate’s website.

RESOURCES

Grand Canyon University
Scott Bromander, Head of Education, Non-Degree Technology Programs

Grand Canyon is launching a Coding program. Students will learn immersive software engineering in a Java pilot program free of charge. Students need to complete the program to avoid tuition costs. Prior coding experience is not required. Classes start January 8 and run until April 27, 2018, Monday-Friday, 9 am- 5 pm for 15 weeks. The program is limited to 20 students. Candidates must complete admissions requirements to be considered for the program by December 17. Interested applicants are to contact Scott Bromander.

Coder Camps
Jason Jones, Sr. Admissions Advisor

Coder Camps prepares students for a career in software development with immersive coding boot camps, online instruction, and career placement support. Graduates are equipped with a practical knowledge of full-stack software development, interview skills and a portfolio demonstrating their abilities. Coder Camps’ accelerated learning programs are offered full-time, part-time and online. The school is the only code camp to offer graduates lifetime access to all courses, a community of developers, and career services for free. For more information or to apply, visit their website.

CLOSING

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking North Phoenix Baptist Church and the volunteers. For additional information on this event and future events, please visit the Event Schedule. 

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.Maria Robinson

10/24/17 – Courage to Communicate: Interview with Confidence

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Courage to CommunicateWritten by Miriam Spinner

I had a job interview at an organization several years ago that had an amazing culture. In the midst of the interview, I realized that I had no interest in the role. When the interviewee said ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’ I said, “starting my own business”. The interview ended real quick.

My business did not start 5 years later, and my response damaged the opportunity to be considered for other positions in that organization. I should have completed the interview,
with a friendly face, and let them know immediately afterwards that the position was not a good fit for me.

Interviewing is never easy, and the process typically is long with multiple steps. It may feel frustrating, but with patience and understanding the pain will be eased.

Congratulations if you scored the first step!

Keynote

“Courage to Communicate: Interview with Confidence”

Jody McPhearson

Jody McPhearson knows how to communicate and build relationships. He is a professional development and leadership speaker. He is the founder and CEO of “Jody Speaks”, and the non-profit organization “Three C’s Youth Project”. He is an expert in connecting companies with emerging generations, and providing solutions on how to attract, recruit, onboard, retain and develop them.

What is a job interview?

An interview is no different than selling a hamburger at McDonalds, or dating your first partner. Think about it – a successful dater or sales person has a short time to engage their listener, and to communicate a strong image. The job candidate needs to do the same. It has a dual purpose: 1) To get to know you, and 2) You to get to know them. We need to determine if the role is a good fit for us. If the inside structure in the organization looks shiny and new, and they are playing air hockey, it may or may not be a good fit for you.

Jody’s Tips for a Successful Interview

Don’t know where to start? Start with confidence. DJ Khaled is no less than 350 lbs. He walks around with no shirt. He exhumes confidence. You have the experience – be confident in who and where you are. Interviewers can smell desperation.

Practice, practice, and practice more. Schedule time with a friend, family, colleague, or coach to conduct a mock interview. If the interview will be on a video call, then set it up, and ensure there are no technical issues. Make sure you are well equipped, and the confidence will follow.

Know the company

Do your research. Talk about them, know where they are located and travel to the site. They have the same personalities as people.

What happens in the interview?

Every interview leads up to the same question – “Why should I hire you?”
Why are you qualified? Build rapport with the interviewee. Tell your story in 3 sentences. Connect with the interviewee, and help them see how you fit in the group. Learn how to sell yourself, and how to bring value to the company.

If you are asked an illegal question, stick to the job qualifications, and if you are asked for salary requirements, you can state that you would prefer to talk about it after a decision has been made.

LinkedIn

Jody’s network has over 3,000 connections. Network with business associates, clients, and colleagues. Your second and third degree connections can help you network for a potential job. Companies could reach out to you for other positions.

STAR

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action and Result) approach in responding to interview questions. The interviewer is seeking your skills in organization, planning, leadership, decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking. Interpersonal skills are critical since it can disrupt the harmony in the culture. Remember to take a moment to think about your response.

Jimmy Fallon writes handwritten letters. Write handwritten notes to set yourself apart, as well as email within 24 hours after the interview. In a panel interview, send a separate note to each interviewer. Follow-ups keep you on their radar. Ask how long it will take to decide on a final candidate.

  • Jody summed up by sharing with us a few thoughts:
  • If you don’t have the courage to ask, you will not get.
  • Find the pain, and fix it.
  • Sell yourself, but not too cocky.
  • Be humble, don’t assume and respect all people.

Hiring Companies

Republic Services
Danielle Eugene, Recruiter
Clayton Myers, Recruiter
Republic Services is a preferred waste recycling and waste services company. Candidates that have done due diligence are appreciated the most by the recruiters. Sell us who you are, and why you need to work for us. Often candidates are not the person they presented during the interview. Don’t put the responsibility on the interviewee – we can see the truth. Build rapport with us – it is huge. Do your research ahead of time. The interview starts the minute you leave your driveway. Your interviewee might be in the same coffee line or bathroom prior to the interview. The CEO of Republic Services started as a driver. They respect all positions – from driver to CEO. They seek reliable and resourceful candidates.

Republic Services is seeking people who are passionate about customer service. Their branches are in several valley locations including Buckeye and Mesa. Their corporate office is in Scottsdale. They value promotions within the organization. Open positions include Payroll Administrator, Application Programmer Analyst, Business Analyst Technical-Business Intelligence, Customer Service Rep, Director Engineering Operations, Division Accountant, Manager Risk Management, Staff Engineer and Environmental Manger. Complete your application online.

Cognosante
Robin Stanton, Corporate Recruiter
Cognosante translates to “Mind” and “Health” in Latin. Cognosante is a leader in health information technology solutions and services for federal and state public health agencies. Their headquarters is in Virginia. The culture is centered around their employees and their contribution. They look for innovation and take pride in their work. They celebrate different cultures, and this month is dedicated to Spanish heritage. They volunteer as a group, and take ski trips together. Cognosante even has a softball team!

Benefits are effective on the first day, which include pet insurance, company match, and PTO. They have a leadership development program that includes topics such as empathy, accountability and team development. They also offer access to courses and LinkedIn learning. There are remote opportunities for various roles. Open positions include IT Support Analyst, Production Support Analyst, Consumer Outreach Specialist and Case Analyst. Apply at www.cognosante.com/careers.

Allstate
Jill Romanowski, Field Sales Associate
Tori Castlegrante, Agency Process Specialist
Allstate offers opportunities in their corporate office, as an agency owner, as a financial representative or as part of an agency staff. There are 250 Allstate agencies in the SW region (Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah). The regional offices are in Tempe. Opportunities in the Tempe office are in claims, product management and Information Technology.

Opportunities are in owning any agency. You will receive support to secure a license. There is a 1 week training class. There is a veterans program that provides support for licensing.
Allstate is offering a $10,000 referral to become an agency owner! Apply at www.allstate.com/careers.aspx

Freedom Financial Network
Alesia Martin, Director of Human Resources
Freedom Financial Network provides financial solutions, services and education to consumers to resolve their debt. There are 1800 employees, with offices in Tempe and headquarters in San Mateo. The recently added 800 positions. Their offices will be relocated to new buildings next to Tempe Marketplace. They were #1 Best Place to Work in Phoenix for 2016!

The culture is not flashy. The founders match employee contributions to build a financial fund for employees in need. They take care of their own. There is also monthly lunch. Also monthly is a unique performance incentive. The bonus is real!

Alesia’s last message was the following:
We have the lowest unemployment rates, and as an HR professional, make sure you show up with lots of energy for the position.

Open positions include Negotiations Supervisor, Project Manager, Risk and Controls Specialist, QA Engineer, Business Intelligence Specialist, Business Process Analyst, Manager Talent Acquisition, Compliance Analyst, Marketing Specialist. Apply at www.FreedomFinancialNetwork.com.

10/19/17 – You’ve Got This!: Real, No-Nonsense Ideas for Mentally Regrouping After a Layoff

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Written by  Shweta Shrivastav

Keynote Speaker

Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins

Bridgett is the CEO and Founder at BMcHAWK Talks, LLC, a public speaking coaching firm. She has presented at various conferences, universities, colleges, student organizations, and corporations and gets her energy from being around others who are passionate about the work they do and how it propels others to be their best. You can find more about her work here.

As a job seeker, we have a lot of ideas but do we know how to mentally regroup and charge ahead after a layoff? It is one thing to work on our resume and another thing to work on our mindset.

The objectives of the presentation are to:

  1. provide practical, real-life techniques
  2. examination of your “why”
  3. strategies for the neutral zone

When we think of someone who is incredibly confident, what qualities do we associate with them? Happy, positive, energized, go-getter? The fact is that all of us came to the world as confident beings. A baby is always happy. As we grow up and as we interact with others, we imbibe their opinions of us as our own and we lose our confidence. Similarly, when a company sends us a rejection letter, we think that something is wrong with us. Bridgett says, “A company does not define you or what you are good at.” So, she suggests the following steps to gain your confidence back and make your job search a success.

  1. Make a statement of your worth – Start with two realities (__and __), present a problem (but), and then present what you do (therefore).
    • Example: It’s hot outside and it is important to stay hydrated in this kind of weather. But conveniently getting a quality beverage made from the freshest of ingredients can be a challenge. Therefore, I operate a lemonade stand that offers a refreshing homemade beverage with great service and a smile.
  2. Get comfortable with displaying awesomeness – Being humble is a great quality to have but this is not the time to be humble. As a job seeker, we need to be proud of our achievements and the difference we can make. So toot your own horn and let the world know what you can do.
  3. Do something that excites or scares you – like returning to school, starting a blog (ex. WordPress), collaborating with someone on a project, selling a service (ex. Thumbtack.com) or starting a business.
  4. Get (more) uncomfortable – Once you start doing something exciting or scary, challenge yourself to get more uncomfortable. This moves you away from the despair over rejections and helps you focus on something positively creative and stops you from brooding.
  5. Be ready with a response – When people ask about your job search. You might say something like, “I am good at what I do. I know my industry. I will be fine.” Use positive and powerful words. Share how much you are comfortable sharing.
  6. Mark the past – Captain Hernan Cortes landed in Veracruz for his great conquest in 1519. After arriving he ordered his crew to burn the ships. Similarly, as job seekers when we are looking for a new role we should take steps to mark the past and get ready for a new chapter in our life. It could be having coffee with your boss, cleaning the closet or traveling.
  7. Respect the past – The last job provided you with great returns but it is a thing of the past now. Though it was fun while it lasted, now is the time to keep moving by taking one step at a time to reach your target of finding a great new role.
  8. Avoid burning bridges – The world is a connected and small place. Don’t spoil your relationship with your last employer. Part on good terms. You never know who from the company might reach out to you. If they decide to burn the bridges, you be the bigger person and keep your side of the bridge.
  9. Burn some bridges – Clean up some toxic connections and make space for more awesomeness in your life. You might also decide to suspend some connections for the time being and decide to get back to them later.
    • Take a minute to make two lists:
      • the people, thing, and ideas you need to keep
      • those you need to toss
  10. Constantly use power words –
    • I hope this will work vs. I know this will work.
    • I might be able to do that vs. I can do that.
    • If we can meet, then we can share more ideas vs. When we meet, then we can discuss more ideas.
    • I believe that I can make that happen vs. I am confident I can make that happen.
  11. Give great eye contact – When talking to someone looking them in the eye displays confidence. Either as a speaker or listener, eye contact is essential. Here is a trick to stay focused in a conversation and to give a great eye contact. When talking to someone first look at their one eye, then the other eye, and then the nose.
  12. Avoid giving reasons for actions or decisions – Say you spilled wine at a restaurant dinner table. Instead of saying “My bad. I am sorry” and moving on if you decide to explain how you think that the wine glass was too close to your plate or how the waiter had placed it incorrectly, it is to no avail. You don’t need to explain. If someone specifically asks you, then you give them an answer, a strong one, filled with power words.
  13. Respond to criticism only when/if necessary – Maybe you find yourself in a situation where someone you know criticizes you for your career decisions. Try and get out of that discussion as soon as possible. That might mean diverting the discussion or responding to it briefly. If you give it too much time, you get sucked into their black hole.
  14. Don’t just talk about it; be about it – The purpose here is to constantly move and keep growing instead of being stuck in a negative mindset. So, make a plan and stick to it. The list of things which excite you or scare you, work on them. Make moving a habit. Make your plan and work your plan.
  15. Make others feel incredibly important – It gives you a sense of achievement and helps you build your confidence. It also takes the spotlight away from your situation and helps you manage your energy in a positive way.

Hiring Companies

Arizona Department of Health Services

Key Bentley, Sr. Healthcare/Administration Recruiter at Arizona Department of Health Services presented about key job opportunities at Arizona State Hospital (ASH). Some of the available jobs are for nurses, behavior health technicians, and administrative positions along with many other roles. You can find all the ASH jobs by going here and in the agency field select “Department of Health Services” and hit search. She suggested reaching out to her in case an applicant has a follow-up question about their application.

Accounting & Finance Professionals, Inc./Staff-Logic Inc.

Deanne Desautels, President/CEO at Accounting & Finance Professionals, Inc./Staff-Logic Inc. talked about some of the roles they generally get which are in IT, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Legal, Healthcare, Customer Service, and Light Industrial / Warehouse. Staff Logic has ranked #1 for 5 years in a row for direct hire placements. They are also a preferred vendor the State of Arizona jobs. Please visit their office to register as a job seeker so that they can match you with a suitable role.

Allstate

Jill Romanowski and Allison Chafin presented about the opportunities at Allstate. Allstate is one of the most recognized brands in America helping to educate and protect consumers from life’s uncertainties. The SW region (AZ, OK, NV, NM, & UT) is growing and they have new roles added every week. Some of their current roles are Claims Analyst, IT, Small business owner, Licensed Sales Professional and Agency owner. Find all of their open positions here. Allstate is currently offering a referral bonus of $10,000 for referring a small business owner for their Agency owner position.

Resources

Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona

Jezreel Ramirez, Employer and Community Relations at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona. Jezreel described that Goodwill put 90 cents of every dollar they earn from reselling the donated goods toward helping job seekers in the community. They have career centers all over Arizona. You can find the nearest one here. They have five divisions – Commercial Maintenance, Corporate Careers, Retail, Workforce Development, and Warehouse/Transportation. Open positions in all the divisions can be found here.