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5/13/2020 – Genuine Connections in the Virtual World

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Written by: Connie Huber SHRM-CP PHR

“The Coronaviras is showing us how to live online”
from The New York Times, by Kevin Roose

“The virus is forcing us to use the internet as it was always meant to be used – to connect with one another, share information and resources, and come up with collective solutions to urgent problems. It’s the healthy, humane version digital culture we usually see only in schmaltzy TV commercials, where everyone is constantly using a smartphone to visit far-flung grandparents and read bedtime stories to the kids.”

Cary Pfeffer Genuine Connections

Keynote

Cary Pfeffer, Speaker, Author, Media Trainer & Speaker Coach

Virtual Meeting Done Right?
Making Connections in the Virtual World

THE RULES OF THE ROAD:

The Platform must be second nature.
Be sure to understand the platform. In doing so, you establish your credibility.

Get there early.
For interviews, be early. Use the time to make sure any potential glitches are resolved to avoid potential embarrassment.

Address upfront the technical lapses that can occur.
What is the comfort level within your audience?

Looking Your Very Best

First Impressions still count! Even though you are in a different location, your physical presentation is important to your success. Make sure your lighting is working in your favor. Frame yourself correctly. Dark, solid colored clothing looks best.
Bottom Line: You’re On! Understand the Camera’s View.

Speaking Your Very Best

Every important conversation should have a plan. Listen and let it be known that you listen well. What is your message? Deliver your message succinctly.
Bottom Line: Make it a quality experience.

Your Very Best Follow Up
ACTION:
Outline the next steps as the meeting wraps up
Thank you is still important
Remain consistent in your approach

Interview Tips & Tricks

What is your basic pitch? Name expertise/why/personal note.
Practice! (You have a camera in your hand!)
Smile!

Telephone Tips & Tricks

Are you standing? When you stand your diaphragm opens & your breathing is better.
Are you using headphones? Headphones help to block our background noise.
Are your notes easy to read?
What is your best energy level? What is it like when you are at your best & engaged?
Call upon prior conversations that were successful.

Adopt a Meeting Culture

Who runs this railroad? Pick the right leader.
10 minute check in.
The agenda rules. Be focused.

For additional information go to Cary’s Book: There’s Not an App for That!

Hiring Companies

CVS
Roger Adams, Sr. Recruiter

CVS is the 8th largest company in the US. The company has over 9,800 retail locations and approximately 1,100 walk-in clinics. Several divisions are Aetna Acquisition, Caremark and CVS specialty.
The company is rapidly growing and will be adding 50 thousand new positions this year. Stores will be offering COVID-19 testing and centers where patients can take their blood pressure and telemedicine calls.
There are currently 16,000 open positions, including Pharmacy Technician, RNs & LPNs, Medical Billing Specialist. Benefits are excellent; positions are on site and remote. For more information on openings go to website.

Randstad
Dennis Barisano, Sr. Recruiter

Dennis specializes in handling the Randstad recruiting needs for Ball. The company manufactures metal packaging for beverages, personal care and household products. Ball also provides aerospace and other technologies for commercial and government customers.
A sampling of open positions in Glendale, AZ include Industrial Electrician, Production Technician and Storekeeper. Most roles start over $20 per hour. Benefits are robust and begin on Day 1 of employment. For more information see the site.

DES
Edd Schommer, Sr. HR Recruiter

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) empowers individuals with developmental disabilities to lead self-directed, healthy and meaningful lives. Individuals are diagnosed with one of the following: autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cognitive/intellectual disability or are under the age of 6 and at risk of having a developmental disability.
DES is represented by 5 divisions; Aging & Adult Services, Benefits & Medical Eligibility, Child Support Services, Developmental Disabilities & Rehabilitation Services. Total compensation includes a full array of benefits, paid time off, retirement and wellness & employee assistance. Examples of current opportunities are Direct Support/Caregiver, Case Managers and Mental Health Specialist. Interested candidates can apply through the AZ State Job Board.

Resources

Career Connectors Academy

Career Connectors is proud to partner with Brighton College to form Career Connectors Academy. The Academy offers a wide variety of accredited online college programs, along with many professional development classes. The focus is on quality and affordability. There are a number of online certificate programs such as IT, Business Management, Paralegal, Medical Assistant, Legal Nurse Consultant, and Online Professional Development classes.
All programs are online, allowing students to study at their own pace. Career Connectors is offering IT certifications at no cost to qualified people.
Interested professionals must mention Career Connectors when talking to Brighton College Staff to receive a discounted tuition rate. Go here for more information.

Arizona Covid-19 Resources

Career Connectors has partnered with BestComapaniesAZ, Arizona@Work, Arizona Commerce Authority and PipelineAZ to provide resources for both job seekers and employers. Please visit this page for detailed resources including companies now hiring.

DISC Assessment

We all like free, so at no cost to you, complete the assessment to find your gifts and what kind of job will likely fit you through our no cost DISC assessment.

Professional Coaching

Thanks our Career Connectors volunteers, we can provide professional coaching in the following areas:

  • LinkedIn review
  • Resume review
  • Career Coaching/Development
  • Financial Coaching
  • Mock Interviews

Complete a brief form on our website to request coaching.

Jessica Pierce, Founder & CEO, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking the volunteers. You can find details on upcoming and past events, as well as additional resources at CareerConnectors.org.

5/6/2020 – Networking from Home

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written by Gary Matsuda

Dave Sherman networking

You might have it pretty good at home – a roof over your head, access to a refrigerator and eternally running episodes on Netflix. It may have taken some time to get used to the lockdown, but if you’re looking for a job (which is now even more challenging), staying in place might be the last thing you want to do.

To help make networking from home work for you, Career Connectors brought in the esteemed ‘Networking Guy’ Dave Sherman to show us how do this successfully from having the right attitude to follow up.

Keynote

There’s plenty of negative news around to convince us that our situation is hopeless, but Dave refuses to let that influence his attitude. He’s reminded that blessed with family, friends and living in Arizona, he’s living in one of the sunniest places in the world and it’s only going to get better from here!

But time are a Changin’

‘Back-to-normal’ gatherings aren’t coming back anytime soon, so now is the time to get familiar with video conferencing as it’s use becomes more common and accepted. With over 300 million daily users on Zoom alone (one of the more popular products available) virtual meetings are here to stay.

If you’re not accustomed to video conferencing, it will feel strange to feel as if you are talking to yourself, especially if participants don’t enable their video. Therefore, treat virtual meet apps as if they were live in-person meetings, prepare to be presentable and keep your camera and pants on!

For an effective virtual meeting:

  • Have good lighting on yourself so that the viewers can see facial expressions clearly.
  • Don’t get too close to the camera (you don’t want viewers looking up your nose).
  • Keep the camera eye level and sit back in a more natural position.
  • The clearer your image the better your chances of exhibiting trust and competency.
  • Smile on camera, relax. People are attracted to happy people.
  • On Zoom, you can set yourself apart (or just to hide a messy room) by changing the background. Keep it appropriate, non-distracting and be aware of colors that may cause distortions that can create ghostly images.

Now – Curb Your Enthusiasm

We get it, you’re desperately in need of a job, but too many people put pressure on themselves and others to get hired as fast as possible. When you meet someone for the first time, don’t expect a job on the first meeting. They might be asking themselves subconsciously, ‘Why might you matter to me?’ and ‘How much effort will this take on my part?’ With their guard up they’re not quite ready to listen to your needs, so it wouldn’t be wise to start talking about yourself. We all desire meaningful connections, so try to find common ground and get to know them and comment on their interests.

Make it an easy two-way conversation, not just ‘I need a job’, but instead ask ‘Who do you know?’. Chances are the first person you meet is not likely going to be the one who hires you. While they might not be able to help, they may be able to provide the name of someone who can help.

Answer the Question, ‘What are you looking for?’

If you are open to anything, that will increase your chances of getting a job, right? Wrong. That will decrease your chances because you will sound desperate, lost, and unsure of what you really want. When asking for help, be as specific and as simple as possible to make it easy for the listener to engage and remember.

During Dave’s presentations, he sometimes tests his audience by asking them to list 3 companies they would like to work for. Using that list will help define a clear goal of where exactly you want to work. Saying something like ‘looking for something in I.T.’ would be too general. What is ‘something’? What does I.T. even mean? Tell them what you want to do and where? Make it easy for others to understand your needs, fill in the blanks for them, don’t leave the possibility of unanswered questions.

How long will it take to find a job?

It depends your effort. It’s hard work, it’s drudgery, and sometimes boring. If you’re only managing to put in an hour or two a day into your job search it will take a lot longer than putting in 5 or 6 hours a day. Bump it up to a crazy 8 hours a day and Dave says you’ll find something in 2 weeks!

Lots of job are out there, you will just have to put in the work. New technology has made it easier than ever to find available work but unfortunately the old adage is still true, that looking for a job is itself a full-time job.

Not sure what you’re looking for?

While searching for a trainer position, Dave searched job boards for ‘training manager’ and the results were revealing. Training departments might now be called ‘Sales Enablement’ and there are new terms like SDR (Sales Development Representative). On job boards, try searching for anything that comes to mind even if it sounds ridiculous (only you and Google will know). Go ahead, type away to generate some ideas and get up to date on current terminology in your target industry. Look through possible similar job descriptions and see what resonates or triggers your thought process.

Hiring needs are shifting rapidly, so be realistic about your industry’s future. Some jobs are gone, some are going away and especially because of technology there are new types of jobs that didn’t exist until recently.

Follow up

Close the loop with your new contacts and be generous with your appreciation. Also be specific in your response to show you have been actively listening to your past conversation. Make your follow up easy to read, short, direct (but be nice). Showing courtesy and respect is important because you never know what an individual is going through. Treat everyone as if they are going through their own struggles and you’ll come across as empathetic and it’s more likely that you’ll be remembered. Make the most of every opportunity and leave a good impression.

There are plenty of free job hunt tools available, so don’t keep your next opportunity waiting. Just because the world is on pause for now, working on your personal and professional network doesn’t have to be.

Hiring Companies

National Bank of Arizona
Lisa Marcus, Director, Talent Acquisition

NB/AZ has been proud to be a responsive supporter of small business during the coronavirus crisis. With 60 branches all over Arizona NB/AZ builds local relationships and provides exceptional award-winning customer service to clients, neighbors, and business owners. From helping small business in your neighborhood to employees volunteering at the local community center, NB/AZ is committed to creating opportunities.

Positions open throughout Arizona include: Personal Bankers, Tellers, Operations Supervisor. Check here for a complete listing. Benefits include competitive health insurance for FT and PT employees, 401k and profit sharing.

Cenlar
Ann Pierce, Sr. Corporate Recruiter

Cenlar is an employee owned company where there are great opportunities to grow through training and mentoring. They are serious about growing from within, after the first 6 months employment you can apply for internal positions. And check this out, since 1912 there have been no layoffs ever!

Open positions are in customer service, collections, claims, loss mitigation, HR, leadership and research. Go the their website for a complete listing.

Resources

Career Connectors Academy

Through a partnership with Brighton College, Career Connectors has allowed the opportunity to grow your skills online while you are at home waiting out this lockdown! Get a unique learning experience customized through surveys and assessments that identify your natural talents.

If covering tuition is an issue, for those who qualify, there are free IT certifications, federal grants and payment programs set up to make the financial burden lighter. Go here to for further information.

Arizona Covid-19 Resources

Career Connectors has partnered with BestComapaniesAZ, Arizona@Work, Arizona Commerce Authority and PipelineAZ to provide resources for both job seekers and employers. Please visit this page for detailed resources including companies now hiring.

DISC Assessment

We all like free, so at no cost to you, complete the assessment to find your gifts and what kind of job will likely fit you through our no cost DISC assessment.

Professional Coaching

Thanks our Career Connectors volunteers, we can provide professional coaching in the following areas:

  • LinkedIn review
  • Resume review
  • Career Coaching/Development
  • Financial Coaching
  • Mock Interviews

Complete a brief form on our website to request coaching.

You can find details on upcoming and past events, as well as additional resources at CareerConnectors.org.

4/9/2020 – How to Make Decisions in Calm, Crisis & Chaos

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Written by Connie Huber SHRM-CP PHR

Kristi Staab

A couple of weeks ago we all blinked and our lives changed at warp speed to a new landscape. The workforce has changed drastically. Many are now jobless and the economy is suffering. We now are being asked to stay home and self-isolate. In addition, many have loved ones that are struggling with COVID19 and some of us may have the virus and not know it. Who could have predicted toilet paper and hand sanitizers would become scarce commodities! Our days and nights are filled with fear, worry, and doubt. Thank goodness our speaker, Kristi Staab, MBA-Chief Rock Star, Author, Executive Coach and Trainer gave us tools to make effective decisions during this time of chaos, crisis and calm.

Keynote

Kristi quickly established why she is known as “Chief Rock Star.” Her enthusiasm and positivity were well-received as we stumble through the chaos we are experiencing. The goal of her presentation was to guide us on how to make decisions in calm, crisis and chaos. In addition to changing our decision making skills, Kristi noted we also need to establish our near, short- and long-term goals.

Our emotions may be out-of-control and running amuck. We may be feeling multiple emotions, as well as some new ones surfacing. Take a moment to review your emotional well-being. Determine four emotions you are currently feeling. Are you coming from a place of being anxious or stressed? How will these emotions serve you best? What would you rather be experiencing … joy, energized, successful, or sense of community? Where would you rather be making decisions from? Think for a moment of when there may be a period of time you felt like you were drifting. Hold on to hope and put hope in your heart. COVID19 has altered the global population.

Empower yourself, not disempower! Establish three things you have control over at all times:

  • Become the best version of you. During isolation, seize the moment to work on your personal and professional self.
  • Upgrade your skills through online courses, read books relating to your profession, and network. If you are not firm on your professional choice, explore potential options. Employers will want to hear you were productive while isolating.
  • Review your language to see if it projects a powerful you. If you think it is going to be hard, it will be hard. Focus on controlling your language and thoughts.

E+R=O translates to EVENT+RESULT=OUTCOME. Thoughts and beliefs reflect your outcome. Your outcome is influenced by your actions and behaviors. Shift your perspective from surviving to thriving! Understand that billions of people are going through the pandemic. We will get through this challenging time. We have a choice in changing the negative spiral. Ask yourself “Who do I get to become now? Who will I be when we get to the other side of the pandemic?”

Remember the times you said, “I wish I had time to___?” You now have the time to do the things you have wanted to do. Be sure you are being kind and gentle to yourself. Extend grace to others. Use the time to volunteer and give back to the community. How we respond to the pandemic is a choice. Your decision will either serve or not serve you. Focus on love not fear. Create rules to energize you.

In making decisions during times of chaos and crisis, the following will help achieve your goals. Be the calm. Consider how you are going to lead yourself and others. Stand up for yourself. Doing so will fulfill your four basic needs:

  • Be informed
  • Choose reliable sources for your information
  • Limit your exposure to TV and digital devices
  • Make your decisions from facts!

E+R=O. Thoughts, beliefs, actions will provide the outcome to the situation.
Know what motivates you! In making decisions, evaluate the opportunity for you. In addition, define the expectations. Find your calm! Determine how you will become the best version of yourself in getting to the other side of COVID19.

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS: Kristi is holding virtual seminars every Wednesday through April. Visit Kristi’s Facebook page for additional information: Facebook or contact her on LinkedIn.

Hiring Companies

Dexcom
Patrice Baptist, Recruiter

Dexcom was founded in 1999. The company produces medical devices and is a leader in monitoring glucose levels for diabetics. The company culture is very welcoming, diverse, inclusive and fast paced. Benefits are a complete offering and available the month after completing the first month of employment. A sampling of open positions includes Production Planner, Lead Cost Accountant, Cost Accountant, QA Engineer, and Process Analyst. If interested visit their website.

Cable One
Vanessa Corona, Recruiter

Cable One (rebranded to Sparklight) offers high-speed internet; business phone service; reliable, crystal-clear cable TV services; and fiber-optic solutions. Cable One has 9,000 residential and business customers in 21 states. They have been in business for over 30 years and were publicly traded in 2015. Cable One is committed to their customers, associates and community. Benefits begin when you start your employment. Currently, there are over 20 open positions in Phoenix, including in accounting and IT. For more information go here.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Founder & CEO of Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking the volunteers. In response to COVID19, Career Connector meetings will now be virtual and offered every Wednesday. The next Career Connectors meeting will be a virtual event on April 22, 2020; “Preserve Your Well Being During Chaotic Times” presented by Lisa Barrington. For additional information on this event & future events, please visit the Event Schedule.

3/4/20 – Activate Your Strengths

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Written by Gary Matsuda

Difficult co-workers? We’re talking about those who make your life miserable by overly complicating things or leaving out essential process details. Of course, they wouldn’t have done it the way you would have, which would have been faster or more accurate by far!

While interpersonal problems could be the result of differences in personal goals and values, another potential source of conflict is not often recognized or measured. It’s part of our innate way of doing things called conation.

Stephanie Clergé, Career coach, VP of Training and Consulting at Kolbe Corp broke it down for us.

Keynote

Psychology defines 3 parts of the mind:

  1. Cognition (intellect, skills, knowledge)
  2. Affective (feeling, personality type, preferences, values)
  3. Conation (instinctive action, problem solving approaches, decision making methods)

Well-known psychological tests work with the thinking cognitive (IQ, SAT) and feeling (DISC, Myers Briggs) parts of our brain.

The third component of the mind associated with conation or how we naturally take action (or avoid action) is measured by the Kolbe test, the only validated assessment that measures a person’s conative strengths. The results are called your MO or Method of Operation. If you know your MO, you will understand your own human nature and can begin the process of maximizing your potential. You’ll also be able to describe yourself clearly and articulate how you have performed in preparation for interviews and how to thrive in your new job!

The online Kolbe test takes about 20 minutes, during which you’ll be asked 36 questions which are designed to accurately determine your conative strengths. (It’s so accurate, if you change your answers, it will track that too.)

You’ll get your results in the form of 4 numbers representing a range from 1 to 10 for each of the action modes. These are the 4 action modes:

  • Fact Finder – one’s way of gathering and sharing information
  • Follow Thru – one’s way of organizing
  • Quick Start – one’s way of dealing with risk and uncertainty
  • Implementor – one’s way of handling space and tangibles

You then interpret your scores like this for each action mode:

CounterAct – Scores in 1-3 range of the continuum
Indicates an ability to resist being in action mode or being energy saving or conservative.

  • Fact Finder: indicates a need to generalize, give an overview, briefly summarize, and find bottom line information.
  • Follow Through: indicates a need to do several things at once, keep things where they can be seen, take short cuts, go outside regular procedures.
  • Quick Start: indicates a need to avoid chaos, bring stability, stick with the tried and true, and reduce uncertainty.
  • Implementor: indicates a need to avoid literal construction of model, working in three dimensions, or handling special relationships.

ReAct – The in between zone 4-6
Indicating an ability to accommodate in the mode as needed. Not going to detail actions here but generally they blend between the two zones above and below.

Initiate Action – scores in the 7-10 part of the continuum
Also referred to as insistence (on performing an action).

  • Fact Finder: indicates a need to be specific, read and report details, define terms, and justify facts.
  • Follow Thru: indicates a need to be highly structured, act sequentially, and complete one task before starting another.
  • Quick Start: indicates a need to experiment, act spontaneously, and do things in new and different ways.
  • Implementor: indicates a need to touch, physically explore, move around, build, and deal with what is concrete rather than abstract.

The emphasis here is to recognize and exploit your superpowers. We all have habits we should improve, but most career coaches advise that it’s not productive to put significant effort into improving your weaknesses or abilities you were not born with. Likewise, you’re unlikely to change your team members weaknesses into strengths. Instead there is much more return on investment on developing and using natural strengths.

If you have ever wondered why the boss needs to drone on about the big picture, while you just want the details on what to do next, you’ll understand why there is a disconnect. With your Kolbe score you’ll have the basic information to start meaningful conversations and reduce stress in the workplace or at home!

Compared to most career advice that seem to focus on intelligence (i.e. good grades, certifications) and personality, the Kolbe A Index guides us further by:

  • Learning to rely on actions that instinctively work for us.
  • Helping focus time and energy to be more productive.
  • Directing more effective communication, career choices and study habits.
  • Improving relationships with friends, loved ones and co-workers because we’ll trust our instincts instead of trying to change each other.

To get help planning for your next career (or date), take the Kolbe A evaluation. If you’ve registered for this Career Connectors event, it’s free until March 15th.

Stephanie Clergé is a VP of Training and Consulting at Kolbe Corp, which specializes in assessments and interventions that increase individual and collective performance.

Company

Cenlar, Mark Pierce, Recruiter

If your strength is with people, yet you want to be behind the scenes and have immediate impact on people who need help, Cenlar needs you! For many of us owning a home is part of our country’s foundation. Behind most homeowners is a mortgage to manage and some people need assistance. Your help involves guiding customer issues from basic questions on their loan to loan structuring. You’ll get experience with many different banks and lenders so your experience can grow with you ambition! There are flexible schedules, day or night which will work with your availability! Contact Mark Pierce (mepierce@cenlar.com) for full time summer and part time positions.

Resource

Career Connectors Academy, Steven Hatch, Director of Admissions

IT careers are hot, have always been and are likely to be in demand for years to come. If you’re changing careers or building up your current one, there are many paths available through Career Connectors Academy to help you quickly get the needed education and skills! Full work schedule or commute a problem? Well you can get you training done online. If covering tuition is an issue, for those who qualify there are free IT certifications, federal grants and payment programs set up to make the financial burden lighter. Email Steven Hatch (steven.hatch@brightoncollege.edu) for more info.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Founder and CEO of Career Connectors, closed the first part of the event and invited attendees to participate in talking to hiring managers and resume experts, finding educational opportunities, visiting Coaches Corner, and posing for a free head shot by a professional volunteer photographer. And thanks to GCU for the venue!

For details about upcoming Career Connectors events throughout the Valley, click here to visit the events section on the website for times, locations, and details about hiring companies and keynote topics.

02/05/20 – The Networking Brief: Increase Your Influence

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Written by Gary Matsuda

Keynote

You’re attending another networking meeting, looking forward to enjoying the drinks, the appetizers, the speakers. But then there are all those people, selling themselves, passing out business cards, evaluating you as a potential customer. Wouldn’t these meetings be great if it weren’t for all those pesky strangers?

The Networking Brief with Jessica Pierce

Career Connectors founder, Jessica Pierce admits at first, networking was an unpleasant task, to be endured just to get the next job. However, after making hundreds of personal connections and helping others find work and get better jobs, she’s found that mastering the elements of networking are foundational to career success. As a result, Career Connectors is now the Phoenix area’s 4th largest networking organization in one of the most networked cities in country.

For a business to be built on networking and relationships, there must be something to it. Getting a job though relationships saves an employer time and money. Successful hires from referrals reduces their screening time and saves money they’d otherwise spend to recruit and pay for job postings. Recruiters can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 and beyond per placement, depending on the type of job they’re filling.

That’s a lot of recruiting dollars you can save a company if you engage with the right people. But it also underscores the value employers place on having the right person on the team. That’s where networking has an edge. Hiring managers will want someone who has high potential to be a good fit for their culture. They’ll perform better, stay around longer and help boost team morale. Yet for employers and job seekers alike, it’s difficult to determine culture fit through an application, a website or LinkedIn profile – the best way to do that is through personal interaction.

Let’s look at Jessica’s solutions on becoming a better networker and increase our influence.

They got you at “Hello“

It can take just eight seconds for someone to pass judgement on you, that’s barely enough time to exchange greetings! Don’t blow it at the very start! There’s preparation needed to make a great impression that may lead you to a valuable connection. But where would you start if you don’t have an outgoing, high-energy personality? What if you prefer analysis and introspection rather than having to go around the room asking, ‘So, what do you do?’ Jessica provides a short assessment to help you get started and get better at networking.

Networking Assessment Worksheet (download)

Networking-Assessment-Jessica-PierceDownload


Total up the points according to the boxes you checked off and rate yourself:
1060 – 150 Master Interactive Career Networker
750 – 105 Average Networker
0 – 75 Novice Networker

It doesn’t matter where you score right now, we all have work to do. Even master networkers can’t expect to hit it off with everyone they meet. When it comes to engaging different personalities and situations, even an expert will evaluate and practice to maintain their game.

Deep and Wide

Most of us have a network that’s larger than we think. The first of which is developmental, made up of those you already know, some quite well.

Developmental

These include those you already have an existing relationship with and who are more likely to be willing to help but may not be able to directly. For example:

  • Relatives/ Friends – parents, neighbors, cousins, childhood friends
  • Community – doctors, volunteer services
  • Activities – clubs, religious organizations, kid’s activities
  • Academic – High school, college, professors, alumni
  • Former employers – supervisors, colleagues, employees

Cultivate and deepen the already established relationships early so that you aren’t reaching out to them only when you need help, like needing a job. That could seem opportunistic. Keep these relationships fresh and reconnect if necessary.

Strategic

You’ll also want to increase your influence by working on strategic relationships (can happen at networking meetings), who are more likely to give you a more significant step up or have direct access to the opportunities you want.

  • LinkedIn.com
  • Industry specific and/or open networking
    • Networking Phoenix
    • Career Connectors
    • Arrive early stay late – because all the good networking happens at the end

You’re not done after the end of the event. Get at least 5 people to follow up with, if you feel you had a meaningful conversation. Don’t ask for a job (unless that’s what was discussed at your very first meeting), but connect with your leads assuming they will want to help if they can. Be specific in your ask so they are clear on how you can be helped.

Prepare your identity

Jessica also provided a helpful tool to help evaluate and organize your thoughts on paper. No pressure to get it exactly right. Like the assessment above, this can be used as a worksheet to help keep track of what might need improvement. Use a more presentable version of this to use at networking events (or even to formulate ideas for your resume or LinkedIn Profile).

Networking Brief (download)

Jessica-Pierce-Networking-BriefDownload

Which includes:

  • Profile or Summary
  • Management or leadership skills
  • Functional skill or SME
  • Personal vision
  • Target Positions/ industries/segments
  • Target companies

“Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEO’s of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be the head marketer for the brand called YOU.”
– Tom Peters in Fast Company

If this seems like a lot of work, it is. But these tools and advice can build confidence in not only making a great first impression and getting your next job, but can be applied on the job as well! You’ll be known as the one who knows the right people, who can manage customers, suppliers and get along with teammates. Be the one who is a mentor or guide and adds value to others first.

Networking is a relationship building, give and take process. There’s no one- way selling here, which never works. Make things easier for others, create authentic value, especially areas where you feel gifted and you’ll find over time someone in your professional or social circle will reciprocate. Then you’ll know that you’ve truly increased your influence!

Hiring Companies

Colonial Life, Mark Marquez, District General Agent

Relieve stress, guide financial decisions, help people. While the word insurance doesn’t exactly excite people, those who work behind the scenes are stoked about helping others when they need it. When there’s a life and death situation who can people call? Their Colonial Life insurance agent, of course. Be someone who others can rely on in their time of need: apply to Colonial Life, a fast growing company with the goal of being the largest insurance company in the nation. Current positions available as representatives and sales.

AZ Dept. of Health Services, Key Bentley, HR Program Administrator

They really have the big picture in mind. This government organization helps to make sure individuals and community well-being are protected and improved by providing resources from womb to tomb. While carrying out their mission they also take care of their employees with generous compensation, medical benefits and more. Openings include Social Workers, Nutritionists, Medical Records and more.

U-Haul, Alex Taylor, Corporate Recruiter

Want to work in a mid-century historic building? U-Haul’s got a great work location in downtown Phoenix. While not stuck in the past, they keep the country moving with some of the latest IT technology to help them manage the largest truck fleet in the world. There are opportunities in every field: contact center, corporate, field work and IT.

Closing

Sheila Coulam, Vice President of Operations for Career Connectors, closed the formal part of the event and invited guests to participate in the informal sessions including talking directly to hiring managers and resume experts, finding educational opportunities, visiting Coaches Corner, and posing for a free head shot by a professional volunteer photographer. Also, thanks to GCU for the venue.

For details about upcoming Career Connectors events throughout the Valley, click here to visit the events section on the website for times, locations, and details about hiring companies and keynote topics.