Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

Subscribe Here

arizonaatwork

2/1/17 – Exposing the Hidden Job Market

by

Absolutely Abby KohutWritten by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

As job seekers, we use many sources to help us to find our new position. The job search is frustrating and disappointing to say the least. Our interest is peaked whenever we learn there is a source that will guide us to success. One source that we hear over and over again but know little about is the “hidden job market”. The “hidden job market” is a very stubborn statistic in the world of job seeking, or more specifically, networking. The “hidden job market” is comprised of 80% of those jobs that are never advertised.

Keynote Speaker

Exposing the Hidden Job Market
Abby Kohut, @Absolutely_Abby

Abby challenged us by asking how we would go about hiring a nanny. For all of us, our children are very dear to our hearts and we take every effort in making sure our children are protected. In filling a position, employers want to find the perfect candidate that will be an asset to their organization.

WHY NOT POST THE POSITION?
There are a number or reasons why employers would not elect to post the position. Those factors include:
• Trust Factor
• Cost of Advertising
• Deluge of Resumes
• Tipping Off the Competition
• Position is Confidential

STEPS FOR FILLING A JOB
In filling a position, there are several steps and considerations in determining how to fill a job.
• Consider present employees-anyone qualified and/or interested.
• Consider past employees.
• Employee recommendations.
• Search Applicant Tracking System, Monster or LinkedIn.
• Post internally.
• Post the job.

A SMORGASBORD OF IDEAS
Abby’s goal was to wet our appetite in ways to discover hidden opportunities.
ALLOW FOR SERENDIPITY

THE NEVER ENDING INTERVIEW
• During your job search, you should tell everyone you meet that you are looking for a job. Be sure to let those individuals know what you do.
• Church, Alumni Groups, the gym, Associations, fraternities, friends, family, co-workers and neighbors are all great resources for you to connect and inform of your job search goals.
• Other contacts that have led to a job offer have been while getting a haircut, washing your car, the exterminator and a neighbor while taking out the trash.

“I AM BETWEEN SUCCESSES!”
When people ask us what we do, we quickly reply, “I am unemployed!” Abby encouraged us to reframe our response to “I am between successes!” Doing so places the job searcher in a more positive light and makes you a more desirable candidate.

SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR COMPANIES WHO DON’T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THEM.
Abby shared the story of a women who had shopped at a major drugstore chain and never had an employee share with her the company’s savings and rewards program. The customer who was very talented in marketing proceeded to reach out to the company’s CEO and shared her ideas on how to present the program to customers. In return, the customer was flown to the corporate office to personally share her ideas with the CEO. By the end of her visit the company had created a job for her and extended the offer to the woman.

DELIVER A PRESENTATION
Take time and establish how to save money for a company. Determine a value proposition and what you do better than someone else. Put your ideas into a presentation and deliver to one of the following:
• Association/Organization
• Chamber of Commerce
• Alumni Event
• SHRM Event
Your audience can open potential opportunities to you to perform contract or full-time employment.

TAKE/TEACH A CLASS
This activity offers a wealth of networking opportunities. You will meet fellow professionals in your field. The company usually pays for expensive classes. You could very well connect with someone who could give you an invaluable lead or introduction.

INTERESTING HOBBIES
• Beekeeping
• Stamp Collecting
• Ballroom Dancing
• Plane Spotting
• Needlepoint
• Ping Pong
Your hobbies can introduce you to hidden opportunities.

FILL THE TIME GAPS
Employers view employment gaps in a negative light. Seek out ways to make your time productive and offer the possibility of hidden jobs. Some ideas are:
• Take or teach a class.
• Volunteer
• Take care of children or family.
On your resume be sure to note the reason for the time gap.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR INTERESTS
Be sure to highlight your interests on your resume. The person reading your resume may share similar passions or it may peak his/her rationale in meeting you.

USE LINKEDIN EFFECTIVELY TO OPEN DOORS
LinkedIn sends notifications to you informing you of your network’s birthdays, new jobs and work anniversaries. Seize the moment to send a congratulatory note and invite the professional to a cup of coffee. Wait a week after you receive the reminder so your request does not get missed in all the other comments.

HOBNOB WITH THE C-SUITE…..CEO, CFO, COO
The best venues for these connections are the following.
• Paid Seminars/Events
• Conferences
• Church
• Golf Course
• Volunteer
• Buy Stock….Doing so will get you an invitation to the shareholders meeting.
You may get a price reduction in seminars/events and conferences by asking if there is a discount if you are unemployed.

SUGGESTIONS TO CAPTURE RECRUITERS’ ATTENTION
Abby shared some unique ways to get noticed.
• TESTIMONIALS
Ask your friends and co-workers both current and past if they are willing to give a testimonial on how great you are as a professional. Offer free pizza and film their thoughts on you. Place the session on YouTube and attach it to your LinkedIn profile.
You can also film your own video and highlight the top 10 reasons why an employer should hire you.
• FACEBOOK AD
You can place an ad on Facebook to get a potential employer to notice you. The best way to do so is to place the ad directly on the desired employer’s Facebook page. Place ads one at a time.
• BILLBOARD
Buy space on a billboard and feature your skills and desired job. One job seeker had 4 job offers in 4 months.
• GOOGLE AD
You can buy an ad on Google for $6. If interested in learning more, google “The Google Job Experiment” to read more about one job seekers success.
• CHOCOLATE RESUME
Make your resume unique. Yes, there has been a job seeker who made a chocolate resume! For more details google “chocolate resume”.

Best wishes in discovering the hidden job market!

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan

Hiring Companies

Arizona Department of Economic Security
Katherine Arnsbarger, Senior Recruiter

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state federal partners to realize its vision that every child, adult and family in the state of Arizona will be safe and economically stable. DES helps Arizonians reach their potential through temporary assistance for those in need, and care for the vulnerable. The agency’s culture is highlighted by teamwork, respect, integrity, accountability and diversity. There are six divisions at DES including Aging and Adult Services, Early Intervention Services, Benefits and Medical Eligibility, Child Support Services, Employment and Rehabilitation Services and Developmental Disabilities. The benefits are robust and focus attention on Career Development. Career fields are many and include Dental Care, Administrative, Graphics and Design, Health Care, Human Resources, Procurement, Security and Safety, and Warehouse. There are currently multiple opportunities and openings. If interested in learning more and applying, go to this website.

Trinity Services Group
Nancy Lee-Stanford, Talent Acquisition/Recruiter Arizona

Trinity Services is the leading food, commissary and technology provider to the corrections industry. The organization serves anywhere from 200-1,000 inmates three times a day. Trinity is currently hiring Food Service Directors, Asst. Food Service Directors, Unit Manager and more. Benefits are many and include training opportunities. New employees become fully vested after 30 days of employment. Employees have the ability to grow and develop professionally. To learn more about Trinity and employment possibilities, visit the career page at Trinity Services Group.

Ashton Tiffany
Tom Carr, HR Director

Ashton Tiffany has been in Phoenix since 1995. The organization is about fun and professional culture, operational excellence, financial strength and outstanding reputation. Ashton Tiffany are risk management consultants and help organizations reduce risk and reduce the cost of it. For the ninth year running, Ashton Tiffany was named one of Phoenix’s “Best Places to Work” by the Phoenix Business Journal. Current opportunities include Senior Accountant, Internal Auditor, Senior Benefits Consultant, Front Desk Receptionist, Property Claims Adjuster, Multi-lines Claims Adjuster and School Bus Driver Trainer. Joining Ashton Tiffany will provide you with numerous benefits and an award winning culture. Desired skills include attitude and aptitude. For more details visit their website.

Vanguard
Renee Brown, Senior Recruiter

Vanguard’s rich heritage is powerfully evoked by its logo, the image of a ship. The company is named for a distinguished 18th-century vessel. Meaning “in the forefront,” the name has proven quite fitting as they have grown to become a leader in serving investors. From its start in 1975, Vanguard has stood out as a very different kind of investment firm. Vanguard was founded on a simple but revolutionary idea—that a mutual fund company should not have outside owners. Founder John C. Bogle structured Vanguard as a client-owned mutual fund company with no outside owners seeking profits. Vanguard has 16 locations worldwide with more than 14,000 crew members. The Scottsdale location has 3,000 employees. Positions are entry level to management and include openings such as client relationship specialist, processing associate, retirement plan service representative, financial advisor and team leader roles. Most jobs require a license. Benefits begin on day 1 and are robust including some unique offerings such as pet insurance, cell phone discounts, car services and dining. Great efforts are taken to ensure that employees have a work life balance. To learn more about employment opportunities at Vanguard go the careers page.

Resources

City of Phoenix
Rob Stenson, Supervisor, Business & Workforce Development Center

Rob reminded the group of the purpose of Arizona@Work, “provide resources that link qualified workers to quality employers”. There are a number of Job Centers located around the valley. Those centers offer job search and workforce development; and business services. Rob highlighted the different skill development packages offered by the City of Phoenix. Those include Seminars available to the public; Level 1 Package-Skills Match the Job Market; and Level 2 Package-Research Pathways to Higher Wages. Seminars include: Arizona Job Connection (AJC), How to Create a Winning Resume, Perfecting Your Interviewing Skills, Mock Interview Lab, Understanding LinkedIn, Leveraging LinkedIn, 21st Century Job Search Seminar, and Job Clubs. The 3-day sessions are focused on ways to jumpstart your job search. Topics discussed are Social Skills, Creating and Implementing a Job Search Plan, Interviewing, and Long Term Career Management. The 3-hour session emphasizes Employability. Rob reminded us of the two sources for potential job opportunities including the AZ Job Connection or Maricopa Career Planning System. Phoenix Public Library has a number of E-Resources available. With your Phoenix Public Library Card you can attend nearly 500 online classes, adult learning center, video resume, learning languages and career guidance center.

Coder Camps
Jason Jones, Admission Representative

Coder Camps prepares students for a career in software development with immersive coding bootcamps, 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.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking North Phoenix Baptist Church and the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Scottsdale on Thursday, February 9, 2017 and features Andy Ridley as speaker for the topic “How to Work a Job Fair” For additional information on this event and future events, please visit the event page.

12/07/16 – Career Transitioners – Get Out of Your Own Way

by

Career TransitionWritten by: Pamela Cales-Kuzel & Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

WAYS TO FIND CLARITY IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

Brette Rowley’s article, “9 Easy Ways to Find Clarity in Your Job Search”, highlights ways to get clarity in your search. Some of those ways include:

  • REFLECTION: Make a list of … What do you love doing? What gives you energy? What do people tell you are good at doing? What am I interested in? What are my hobbies?
  • PERSONALITY PROFILING: Understanding yourself and how you best work with others is key to finding a role that is a great fit.
  • ASK YOUR PEERS: Ask their insights on your strengths and weaknesses.
  • STRENGTHS FINDERS: Seek out on-line strength finders to identify your strengths to potential job descriptions.
  • FORWARD-LOOKING RESUME EXERCISE: Cross out those things on your resume that you did not enjoy doing. Highlight activities you enjoyed in previous roles.
  • ASK YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS: Poll them to see what types of jobs they see you in. In addition, they can provide you with a great perspective identifying your strengths and weaknesses outside of work.
  • NETWORKING: As we have heard time again and again, 80% of available jobs are not posted online.
  • TALK WITH A MENTOR OR COACH: An outside resource can assist you in gaining clarity.

Keynote
Clara Chorley, @ClaraChorley

Clara Chorley has vast experience helping professionals around the world gain clarity about what is next in their careers and then establishing strategic steps to obtain their goals. Clara is CEO and founder of Clarity Unlimited, has extensive experience as a career coach and professional speaker and has worked across 5 continents and 44 countries with organizations as diverse as Fortune 500 Ernst and Young, to humanitarian Millennium Village Project. Clara is the author of the best-selling book T.U.R.N.: 4 Steps to Clarity in Your Life and Career.

Clara highlighted with us some of the key elements relevant to our job search.
PATTERNS AND THEMES

TIME FRAMES:

  • Initially we do well with the searching and networking.
  • At 6 months there is a significant change where we become home based and depression sets in.
  • At 12 months there is constructive adaptation and we start volunteering and apply for jobs we don’t necessarily want.

THEMES:

  • THE SLOW BURN: We lose energy and eventually our job search dies. Our
    energy is sucked from us. Eventually, we loose our motivation in conducting our job search. Confidence goes way down and depression escalates.
  • THE CLIFFHANGER: We procrastinate looking for a job and wait until we need a job. As job seekers, we “talk” about finding a job but do little to actually look for a job. Most of us will wait until the last day and our last dollar before we actually do something in finding a job.

Clara encouraged us to take the time to identify what we are, why we are the way we are and develop solutions to change if needed. The best way to do so is to close our eyes and find a time when we were energized, engaging, and passionate about everything falling into place. Doing this exercise will help the job seeker in establishing clarity. To reinforce our newly found clarity, write down an activity that helps you become energized and focused.

3 TRAPS TO AVOID

  1. THE LONE WOLF
    You believe strongly you can do everything on your own and don’t need anyone to help you. The job seeker develops feelings of anger, apathy, and resentment. Reach out to your network! Find those in your network that can help you develop your skills, emotional support and define clear goals of what you want to accomplish in your career. Take a moment to set goals on how your network can help you.
  2. THE MUDDY MIND
    You are unclear about what you want or what you have to offer a potential employer. You lack focus on clear career goals and path. As a result, you have little to no regard for your skill set and experience. The Muddy Mind talks his/herself out of things. The result plays a key factor in not helping you achieve success in your job search.
  3. HORROR STORIES
    We are quick to rule out positive opportunities for ourselves since we have had one bad experience. How we define and tell our story establishes our energy. The key to managing horror stories is to change our mindset and believe we will be successful.Clara’s closing request was to have each member of the group to do something different today and change our behavior.

“A lack of clarity could put the brakes on the journey to success” – Author Unknown

Hiring Companies

Farmers
Jon Dykast, Agency Business Consultant

Farmers was founded in 1928 and is a financially sound and stable company. This industry leader in disaster response maintains a 24 hour claims service . The company is a multi-line carrier and has the ability to offer essentially every line of product to its customers with the exception of health insurance.
Jon shared with us what it takes to be a sales agent with Farmers. The organization looks for those candidates who have been in sales, management, marketing and relationship building. Farmers insurance values consultative sales, which means you are a consultant and sales advisor to your clients. Insurance is about protecting personal assets. Some of the advantages of working for Farmers are base pay, flexible schedule, unlimited earning potential, full commissions, residual income and being your own boss. Entry points to Farmers Insurance are Traditional Agent Program, Retail Agency, Acquisition and Seed Agencies, and Protégé Program.

Arizona Department of Transportation
Brennan Atwood, HR Specialist

AZDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, efficient, cost effective transportation system. Brennan noted that many positions were part of a hiring freeze that now has been lifted. The culture is in a constant state of change, improving processes and efficiency each day. The state is looking for individuals experienced in lean and is interested in those candidates that have Six Sigma or other lean training. The agency conducts behavioral based interviews for all positions. The state provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package. Go to AZ state website to view latest job openings and to apply.

Freedom Financial Network
JD Hasna, Director of Talent Acquisition

Freedom was launched in 2002 by Stanford classmates, Bradford Stroh and Andrew Houser. Freedom’s mission is to provide financial solutions, services and education enabling consumers to resolve their debt and achieve financial freedom. The organization has 980 employees with locations in San Mateo, California and Phoenix, Arizona. San Mateo is host to the company headquarters. Freedom has received numerous accolades including Phoenix Business Journal’s #13 Best Places to Work.
Currently there are 100 openings at the Phoenix location, which is expanding very quickly to reach 1,200 employees. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401K, Life, LT disability, vacation, paid holidays and volunteer activities, employee discounts, and recognition. Top career opportunities include Sales, Customer Service Director of Workforce Operations, Negotiations, Loan Servicing Representative, QA Engineer, and PHP/Java Developer. If interested, apply here.

Revana
Mario Parra, Recruiter

Revana is a professional inside sales organization and recognized leader in outsourced sales and marketing solutions for industry leading clients, generating over $5B in annual client revenue. Revana has over 1,500 employees in their Tempe and Phoenix locations. The organization provides revenue-generating solutions such as professional inside sales, account management, integrated marketing and electronic direct marketing. Revana has won numerous awards and has been recognized by other leading industry professionals for its outstanding sales performance. The organization provides a number of benefits after 30 days of employment such as paid training, competitive base salary with commissions, career advancement, flexible work schedules and medical and dental benefits. A sampling of current opportunities includes Inbound Sales Associate, Inbound Web Chat Representatives, Inside Sales Representatives, Inside Sales Account Managers, and Sales Managers. Apply here to complete an online application and assessment.

Resources

Arizona@Work, City of Phoenix
Rob Stenson, Supervisor, Business Services Center

Rob highlighted the different skill development packages offered by the City of Phoenix. Those include Seminars available to the public; Level 1 Package-Skills Match the Job Market; and Level 2 Package-Research Pathways to Higher Wages. Seminars include: Arizona Job Connection (AJC), How to Create a Winning Resume, Perfecting Your Interviewing Skills, Mock Interview Lab, Understanding LinkedIn, Leveraging LinkedIn, 21st Century Job Search Seminar, and Job Clubs. The 3-day sessions are focused on ways to jumpstart your job search. Topics discussed are Social Skills, Creating and Implementing a Job Search Plan, Interviewing, and Long Term Career Management. The 3-hour session emphasizes Employability. Rob reminded us of the value of registering with the AZ Job Connection or Maricopa Career Planning System. Phoenix Public Library has a number of E-Resources available. With your Phoenix Public Library Card you can attend nearly 500 online classes, adult learning center, video resume, learning languages and career guidance center.

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants
Rodger Brubacher, Director of Continuing Education

Dynamic Worldwide will prepare you with an edge in this competitive job market. DWWTC offers programs and certificates in professional development, cyber security programs, advanced cyber security programs and information technology. DWWTC was awarded the 2015 Juniper Platinum Education Partner of the Year for its award winning instruction. The facilities are state of the art and maintain a low student to instructor ratio. Instruction is available on multiple platforms. DWWTC is licensed by the State Board for Private Postsecondary Education; certified through Arizona@Work; and approved for Grant Programs. For more information, please visit the website.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking North Phoenix Baptist Church and the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Gilbert on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 and features Dave Sherman as speaker for the topic “How to Find a Great New Job in Half the Time”. For additional information on this event and future events, please visit the website.

4/6/16 – Salary Negotiation – Make More Money

by

Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

DO YOU NEGOTIATE INITIAL EMPLOYMENT OFFERS?

If you don’t negotiate, you are not alone. According to a recent study completed by CareerBuilder, it was determined that 49% of job candidates never negotiate initial job offers.
Did you know not only are you financially limiting yourself currently but also long term? In their paper “Who Asks and Who Receives in Salary Negotiation,” researchers Michelle Marks and Crystal Harold found that employees who negotiated their salary boosted their annual pay an average of $5,000. According to Marks and Harold, assuming a 5% average annual pay increase over a 40-year career, a 25-year old who negotiated a starting salary of $55,000 will earn $634,000 more than a non-negotiator who accepted an initial offer of $50,000.
In addition to the financial impact on your career, there are impressive reasons to pursue negotiating during the hiring process. The Huffington Post shared in its post “5 Reasons Why You Should Negotiate Your Salary Every Time.” As noted previously, negotiating your salary gets you a lot more income over time; negotiating your salary helps to close the pay gap; negotiating your salary shows an employer that you know your value; and you’ll never get what you want unless you ask.

Keynote

SALARY NEGOTIATION-MAKE MORE MONEY

Jack Milligan SPHR GPHR, @LMAAZ

Jack’s expertise in salary negotiation is supported by his impressive professional endeavors in human resources. He has been the organization’s representative spearheading those negotiations on a number of occasions for different employers.

THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
Jack reminded us that while many things in our professional lives have changed, the employment process has remained the same. The process begins with the employer creating a vacancy followed by the employer posting/advertising/networking, screening, interviewing, selecting a short list for secondary interviews, performing due diligence in conducting references, making an offer, and the employer and new employee living happily every after.
But do the employer and new employee live happily every after? Sadly, the answer is no. Today’s workforce has evolved to all jobs being viewed as temp jobs and not forever as in the past.

NEGOTIATING IS AN ART
• You can get better at it with practice.
• Negotiating your salary is intensely personal.
• You are served best by maximizing your offer.
• People don’t ask, they accept.
• It never hurts to ask.
• You begin to negotiate when you get the offer.
• Remember there is no failure in negotiating.

WHY CANDIDATES REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE
• Most don’t think they have leverage.
• Most are so “hippy-dippy happy” to have an offer.
• Most people don’t ask for more… they accept what is offered.

IN FACT
• 75% of people who could negotiate their offers, don’t. They accept what is offered.
• Of the 25% who do not negotiate, most of them do it wrong.
• 3 legitimate channels of salary negotiations.
Ultimatum 9%.
Demand 10%.
Requestive 10%.
The main difference between the 3 channels is how reasonable the candidate is in negotiating.
• Jack shared he has worked with 25,000 candidates that have been requestive in asking for what he/she wants for salary.
• Only about 10% of job seekers getting job offers who could negotiate go into the requestive channel.

IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK
• As we all know there are good ways and bad in getting what we want.
• There is an ART of “APPROPRIATELY ASKING.”
Avoid ultimatums and demands.
• You should be making REQUESTS!
• As a reminder, you will not lose the job when asking in a requestive manner.

REQUESTIVE CHANNEL NEGOTIATION (RCN)
• Does not work on all jobs.
• Jobs are classified as either rated or ranged. Hourly/nonexempt jobs are rated while exempt are classified in salary/ranges.
• Most jobs have a range.
• As a reference point, there are 310 million people in America and 150 million in the labor market. Most workers are employed in jobs that have a range.

3 LEGITIMATE CHANNELS OF SALARY NEGOTIATION
• Ultimatum: (!) 5% of candidates use this channel and 70% fail at doing so. This channel is excessive in both amount and attitude; creates lasting
negative impression and has about a 30% success rate. An example would be “Thank you for the $90K offer, it is going to take $120K to get me to move”!
• Demand: (.) Is more sincere and reasonable in amount and attitude. States a specific amount, leaves negotiation choice up to the employer, allows walk-away without counter. 70% are successful. “Thank you for the $90K offer, I need at least $100K.”
• Requestive: (?) Asks a question, implies flexibility, creates negotiable environment, makes positive impression, requires a response. Zero risk. 91% successful in getting something tangible. 9% get at least peace of mind. “Thank you for the $90K offer, do you have any flexibility in that offer?” You are asking for room to negotiate and/or wiggle room.

Jack shared many more tips about how to appropriately negotiate your job offer. He conveyed that it never hurts to ask, and asking is the only way to maximize your compensation.

HIRING COMPANIES

Banner Health
Shaun Gustafson, Executive Recruiter

Banner Health is one of the largest private employers in the area and growing very quickly. Banner is nonprofit and committed to its mission “To make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care.” Its values and core behaviors define the culture of Banner Health and how these values are demonstrated through actions and behaviors. The values include “people above all, excellence, and results”. Banner’s total rewards program includes competitive salaries, great medical insurance, 401K and growth opportunities.

In addition to the traditional needs for doctors, nurses, therapists and pharmacists, there are openings for employee relations consultants, recruiters, risk management professionals, database analysts, IT security consultants, pr/communications staff, contracts administrators, chaplain, practice manager, and financial analysts. To apply, explore their website.

Northwestern Mutual
Jessica Bowles, Director of Recruitment & Selection

Northwestern Mutual has 3 offices in the Phoenix area: Biltmore, Chandler and Tucson. Northwestern is known as the “policy owners’ company”. The company began in 1857 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with offices in all 50 states. The array of financial products offered at Northwestern Mutual includes mutual funds, disability insurances annuities and life insurance. It is an industry leader with the highest awarded ratings from all four major agencies. Northwestern Mutual’s mission is to “impact lives with great purpose”.

The culture and workplace maintains a supportive team environment, capable and encouraging leadership, personal values aligning with company values, active commitment to community and a client-focused, “do what’s right” philosophy.
Current opportunities in the Phoenix area include marketing assistant, administrative assistant, recruiter, campus recruiter, financial representative/advisor and assistant financial representative. Northwestern Mutual likes to get referrals! For an opportunity with Northwestern Mutual, please start here.

Modern Industries
Patrick Frazier, HR Manager

Modern Industries is a private company and has been held by the same family for two generations. The organization is a manufacturing facility specializing in the Aerospace, Semi-conductor and Medical Industries. Modern is a family-oriented workplace that understands the importance of open communication, flexibility and good work/life balance.

Benefits are generous for the company’s employees. They include major medical, dental, vision, company paid short and long term disability insurance, as well as, life insurance; 401K and paid time off.

Current opportunities include manufacturing cost accountant, production control scheduler, commodity manager-metals, cmm inspector/programmer, visual inspector & packager, chemical technician, anodizer, cnc mill operator, cnc lathe operator and brush plater. If interested, visit Modern Industries’ website employment tab.

 

Resources

Arizona@Work, City of Phoenix
Waleed Alani, Employment Specialist

Waleed shared with the group the latest unemployment statistics. There are currently approximately 68,428 available jobs in the Phoenix area. The numbers are down a little due to the quickly approaching summer months and election. Opportunities include retail, hotel management, project management and nurses. Some of the top skills being requested are bilinqual, quality assurance, IT networking, quality control and IT networking project management. A sampling of hiring employers include Banner Health, Honor Health, CVS Health, Dignity Health, Pizza Hut, United Healthcare, Bank of America, Well Fargo and Oracle.

Waleed enlightened us with the different skill development packages offered by the City of Phoenix. Those include seminars available to the public; Level 1 Package-Skills Match the Job Market; and Level 2 Package-Research Pathways to Higher Wages. Phoenix Workforce Connection Seminars include: Arizona Workforce Connection (AJC), How to Create a Winning Resume, Perfecting Your Interviewing Skills, Mock Interview Lab, Understanding LinkedIn, Leveraging LinkedIn, 21st Century Job Search Seminar, and Job Clubs. Level 1 Package; Skills Match the Job Market is for 3 days and 3 hours. The 3-day sessions are focused on ways to jumpstart your job search. Topics discussed are Social Skills, Creating and Implementing a Job Search Plan, Interviewing, and Long Term Career Management. The 3-hour session emphasizes Employability. The Level 2 Package; Research Ways to Higher Wages is a 2 day seminar. Attendees will obtain a better awareness of their career and personal skills along with a discussion of skill gaps and training options. For more details on the Skills Development Packages, reach out to Waleed at 602-255-4628 or waleed.alani@phoenix.gov.  If interested in a job with the state of Arizona or City of Phoenix please go to Arizona Job Connection.

Canyon State Institute
Sheri Carparelli, President/CEO

Sheri is responsible for establishing Canyon State Institute and developing it to an outstanding education venue in the Phoenix area. Canyon State Institute has locations in Phoenix and Chandler. Various certification programs are offered through Canyon State Institute that allow professionals to increase their marketability, increase success when employed, stay competitive in a changing job market, and experience growth opportunities with high demand certifications. Some of the benefits of attending CSI are small classes (limited to 6 for most programs), short term (4-16 weeks in length), graduates are encouraged to audit classes while studying to pass national exam, instructor-led only classes and career and business development specific to the labor market. Certification programs include varied IT certifications, Project Management, CCMA, ASQ Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and SHRM Professional in Human Resources. Canyon State Institute offers job placement assistance through Career Advisors available at the Career Service Center. A number of financial options are offered for students such as Arizona@Work, Trade Act Agreement (TAA), GI Bill approval, Partnership with Western International University and Mountain America Credit Union. Call 602-266-6630 for a tour or visit them at the CSI website.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director, closed the meeting by thanking North Phoenix Baptist Church and the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Scottsdale on Thursday, April 14, 2016 and features Lisa Phalen as speaker for the topic “Identifying the Best Career for You.” For additional information on this event and future events, please visit our event schedule.