Written By Susan Lamphiear
This doggone PANDEMIC. Now, doesn’t it just bring so many human basics into laser focus? Sort of in your face? Like the importance of making connections with people. Real connections. Meeting people. Looking people in the eye. Hearing the sound of the human voice. Hearing the voice of the human soul through connection. Listening, really listening to people. Not occasionally eyeing them as they speak, your real attention fixed on your iphone. Or your own attention focused on what YOU’RE going to say next, not on what they’re saying. In the present moment.
Career Connectors’ keynote speaker on August 26, 2021, day # “what seems a billion” of the Pandemic, brings added relevance to a little thing, often known in the context of the business world, as “networking.” But guess what. Networking is not just a means to a job, though it helps. It’s about so much more. Thus the title, “Networking Anywhere.”
Keynote
Whether you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert, do you ever find yourself in the throes of networking dread? When she was in her early twenties, our keynote speaker Erica McBeth admits she didn’t feel all that confident in the networking process. Walking back from an event, a friend reassured her, “You are the best at networking, Erica.”
“Why would you say that?’
“Well, I sat and watched you talk for an hour to someone you didn’t even know.”
“But we were just talking about his dog!”
“That’s what networking is!” her friend said.
Erica talked to an online audience of job seekers at Career Connectors recently, where she defined networking as “just talking.”
But first, Erica told her back story about a life-changing aha moment that centered on–you guessed it–just talking to people.
Turns out 2017 was rough–her heart had been broken, her health took a detour, and a lucrative job she thought would be easy–WASN’T.
Depression she’d battled her whole life came creeping back. Night after night she’d retreat to her condo with her three little dogs and watch Netflix.
By chance one day hearing about a suicide prevention walk in downtown Phoenix, Erica decided to invite her friend Katie, whose brother had died from suicide the year before.
In the midst of that crowd of 2000 people who gathered that day in Phoenix –because they felt passionate about preventing suicide–it dawned on Erica–“I bet a lot of people lost someone they loved because they felt sad and lonely and depressed.” Kind of like Erica was feeling right there in that moment.
“If there are this many people in the world lonely, and I’m lonely, then why aren’t we just talking to each other, ’cause that seems like the thing that could make us all feel better, right?” And suddenly she was filled with a desire to do something about it.
That’s how the idea emerged–to meet 52 people in one year–one per week. That seemed like a lot of people. So began Erica’s project which led to her book, 52 New Friends and her video series How to Make Friends and Beat Loneliness. Plus a whole lot more. It’s basically changed her whole life.
In 2018 Erica met people in all different ways. It wasn’t even hard, she says. She’d imagined having to wander throughout coffee shops pathetically begging strangers to talk to her. Instead, slowly but surely, people actually starting catching onto her ways. “They actually started coming to me, and I actually had a waiting list of people who wanted to sit down and talk to me–how crazy is that?”
“I’m not some big important person. I’m just a regular person they wanted to sit down with and it was only because I was willing to listen.”
“Three months into the project I suddenly realized–all of that depression I had in 2017–completely gone!”
“Six months into the project I realized it was changing me in ways I couldn’t explain.”
“You can change almost every aspect of your life in a positive way just by talking to people. And that includes finding a job.” Erica has lived the mantra.
When she was growing up, Erica honestly believed most mothers had the kind of information her mother had about the townspeople her mother ran into–their names and all about their families. “Everyone in that little Kentucky town loved my mother because she stopped to talk to them and made them feel important.”
“Networking is just an exercise in kindness that we give to ourselves and to other people,” Erica says.
Where to Find People
- Old and Current Co-Workers
- Your Current Friends
- A Friend Referral
- Social Media
- Your Neighbors
Where Erica Has Found Jobs
- Erica reached out to a former co-worker on social media she hadn’t seen in nine months who mentioned online she was going through a divorce. Erica knew this was a difficult situation and wanted her friend to know she supported her. Her friend mentioned she was working for a company she really liked and since friend Amy had really liked working with Erica, Amy invited her to apply. As it turned out it wasn’t the job for her, but Erica reminds everyone that because she showed genuine interest in her friend, it led to a job prospect and interview. You really never know where your job leads will come from
- A current social media friend asked Erica to lunch and after Erica said yes to a specific time and day, she started to panic a little because she couldn’t remember how she originally connected with the friend. Turns out it didn’t matter because they had several things in common and now they really enjoy hanging out together. Friend Heather works in HR and since Heather knew Jessica Pierce of Career Connectors, that’s the reason Erica’s speaking to Career Connectors today. So, get to know people on the “fringe” of your circle, because you truly just never know.
- A man she was dating invited Erica to his young daughter’s birthday party but no one at her job could take time off over the weekend. When Erica asked for an exception, they said “No” which quite frankly made her a little mad. The guy she was dating mentioned the issue to his co-worker who said she had a friend in Erica’s industry. That friend called Erica who ultimately got a different job through that referral!
- She reached out to someone she didn’t know on social media because she thought they looked “cool.” At the time Erica thought the opportunity could lead to a side hustle but it turned into a marketing consulting company in its own right–all because of an opportunity someone gave her over social media. Again, you just never know where opportunities may come from.
- Five years ago Erica lived across from Jen but hadn’t talked to her for six months. One day they had lunch and Erica mentioned she wasn’t all that happy with her current job. Jen said, “We’re hiring. Why don’t you come and work with me?” Erica thought Jen owned a daycare out of her home. But since they’d moved, Jen now worked in HR at a tech company. Shortly after that lunch, Erica applied and got that job, too.
What to say
- I think you’re interesting.
- I’d like to get to know you better.
- Could I buy you a cup of coffee sometime? (Or during Covid: Could we do a Zoom call sometime?)
- When would be a good time for you?
- How can I contact you so we can get something set up?
Homework on The Art of Chit-Chat
Once you’ve set up a coffee OR Zoom, try this:
- Ask an open-ended question.
- Listen to the response and acknowledge.
- Ask another question.
- Repeat these steps.
Erica demonstrated these steps live by getting to know the new Executive Director of Career Connectors Joey Richardson. At the conclusion of the demo, Erica said, “Now, see how easy that was?”
Hiring Companies
Amkor Technology
Brenda Perry, VP HR and Privacy Officer
Amkor employs 33,0000 workers in nine countries. In business for 50 years, they are an innovative global semi-conductor processing company with headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, looking for equally innovative employees.
- Recognized as a great place to work, the company offers many benefits including matching 401k and a diverse workforce.
- Amkor prides itself on very little employee turnover; they emphasize work-life balance for all employees.
- Award-winning Amkor Health Happenings (AHH). Medical premium costs can be offset by employees improving their lifestyle choices with a fitness tracking device.
- Many opportunities are available.
Benefits
- 401k with company match
- Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Supplemental life dependent insurance
- Short/long term disability insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Paid holidays
- Bonus vacation (after 5 years of service)
- Employee assistance program
- Pre-paid legal
- Profit sharing
- Service recognition
- Skills development
- Tuition reimbursement
Current Positions Open in Tempe, AZ
Engineering
- Advanced Flip Chip Product Management
- Director, Water Services Business Unit
- Director, Advanced Product Development
- Sr. Engineer/Software Developer, Design Automation
- Sr. Manager, Power Product Line
- Sr. Manager, Leadframe Products
- Sr. Manager, MicroLeadframe Products
- Sr. Manager, Business Enablement
- Manager, Engineer Pricing
- Manager, Leadframe Products
Accounting/Finance Position
- Sr. Accountant, External Reporting
Legal/Human Resources
- Director, Compliance
- Manager, Human Resources
To apply, or for more information, visit their website.
Rogers Corporation
Bea Trembath, HR Manager
Rogers Corporation is a global leader in engineered materials headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. They manufacture advanced electronics and elastomeric solutions, elastomer components, and Durel drivers. They make material for computer chips. The company has been around many years but moved from their Arizona headquarters in 2016.
Known for their innovation and delivering results, they employ 5000 people worldwide.
The corporation offers much to its employees.
- Competitive Salary
- Annual Incentive Compensation Bonus Plans
- Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Life Insurance
- Short and Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Health Savings Accounts
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Wellness Reimbursement Program
- Paid Vacation Sick Time
- Employee Assistance Program
- Global Stock Ownership Plan
- Matching gift program for charitable donations
- Corporate Training
Current Openings
- Production Operator (multiple openings/shifts)
- Pricing Analyst
- Tax Manager
- Quality Engineer
- Talent Acquisition Manager
- Technical Service Engineer
- Sr. SAP Solution Architect
- Sr. Tax Accountant
- Quality Director
- Director Accounting Controls
- Sr. Accountant
For more information or to apply visit their website.
WealthWave
Jason Wiseman, Senior Marketing Director
WealthWave, through its network of financial leaders, strives to create a financially literate world. Made up of independent business owners, WealthWave professionals seek to educate the masses and make investing and financial success easier for regular families all over the world.
Concerned because he wanted to know more about financial planning and retirement, Jason Wiseman talked with his wife about their need to educate themselves for their own financial health. At one point he turned to his CPA and said, “What does it take to do what you do?”
After several years in corporate America, when Jason transitioned into his current role at WealthWave, it helped him ease into the field by working part-time, something unheard of in the industry.
WealthWave strives to educate people and help them navigate the world of finance to have more peace of mind, including in their retirement plans.
Why Choose WealthWave?
- Turnkey Solution
- Licensed Profession
- Ownership
- Digital Marketing/Media
- Start Part-time
- No layoff or Furloughs
- Hands on Training and Mentorship
- A long history of helping families
Jason is currently looking to train either two full or part-time professionals. To apply, contact Jason Wiseman.
Resources and Closing
Founder/CEO of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the first part of the meeting in preparation for online breakout sessions, turning that part of the meeting over to Sheila Coulam, Director of Operations at Career Connectors.
Jessica thanked all in attendance and referred everyone to the free resources available on the Career Connectors website. Among upcoming events include the Resume Mythbusters: Certified Resume Writer Panel September 9, 2021, and East Valley Job-A-Palooza, September 23, 2021. Click on the links to register for these online events.
Anyone interested in volunteering as a blogger for the events, click on this link.
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