Cognizant

Written by: Daniel Tetrick

Life is about transitions. Some transitions in life are planned and generally welcome: graduation from high school and going to college, moving into a new house, or bringing home a new baby. Other transitions are sudden and often unpleasant: recovering from the damage from a storm or the death of a family member. Regardless whether the transition is planned and welcome or unplanned and unpleasant, in both circumstances dealing with the transition will be a struggle to varying degrees. How can a jobseeker overcome his or her struggle to gain new employment? By recognizing and utilizing the “superpowers” of the jobseeker. Superman uses flight, the Hulk uses strength, and Wonder Woman uses her lasso to fight against bad guys. Jobseekers using their superpowers can turn the inevitable struggles of career transition into opportunities for growth and success.

Keynote

Discover and Unleash Your Superpower
Jean Briese

Certainly one of the biggest transitions someone may experience is losing a job. A sudden or unexpected layoff can cause an individual to doubt his or her skills, abilities, and value to an employer, which can delay or even prevent the successful transition to a new, fulfilling position. Jean Briese is a speaker, author, coach, and entrepreneur who encourages jobseekers to recognize and activate five superpowers to overcome that doubt and embrace the transition from a former employer to a new employer. “I don’t want you to miss this opportunity for a new beginning.”

Power of Habit
Habits are the glue that holds our lives together. They are the automatic, repeated behaviors that require little to any conscious thought. In the context of a job search, ask yourself:
• What is your best habit?
• What habit should you change?
• When was the last time you implemented a new habit?
Jean encourages jobseekers to develop habits that are productive to a job search and eliminate habits that are detrimental.

Power of Purpose
There are over seven billion people in the world. One can easily feel lost or insignificant among such a large number. But Jean countered that everyone has a unique combination of traits, skills, gifts, and experiences that can be used for each individual’s unique purpose. Jobseekers should spend time thinking about their unique gifts and purposes and be able to articulate their passions. Look to others for assistance. Send 5-7 people who know you well an email asking for your top three strengths and where you have room to improve. From the answers provided pick a common strength and make it your focus for becoming an expert. Don’t focus on the “weakness”, just be aware of it.

Power of Your Beliefs
A jobseeker’s beliefs can have a significant impact on behaviors. Self-limiting beliefs promote fear and can inhibit a jobseeker from taking positive actions. Usually we obtain a self-limiting belief because our perceptions lead to a conclusion that reinforces the belief. For example, a jobseeker who gets passed over after a first interview might perceive he performed poorly in the interview. He may then make a broader conclusion he “does not interview well” to such a degree that he takes this belief to future interviews and reinforces, consciously or subconsciously, his conclusion with defeating behaviors. But look at his situation from another perspective. Perhaps the interviewer had already chosen her preferred candidate but HR required her to meet other applicants. Perhaps the company didn’t hire anyone and revoked the position entirely. The candidate doesn’t see these other reasons. He perceives only that he doesn’t interview well. Eliminate the potential for such conclusions and the creation of self-limiting beliefs by seeking the perceptions of others to make other conclusions. Throw out self-defeating beliefs by getting a new perspective.

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.Henry Ford

Power of People

Networking remains the number one way people find jobs. People do business with (or in this context, hire) people they know, like, and trust. How does a jobseeker demonstrate to hiring managers they are worth knowing, likeable, and trustworthy? By networking. Job seekers must expand their circles to find others who can help them on their journeys. Networking is about building quality relationships and not about the quantity of contacts. Social media can help jobseekers target people to meet, but networking shouldn’t be left to social media alone. Eighty-four percent of people prefer to meet face-to-face. Jean provided four steps to effective networking:
1. Mission – Show up to a networking event with a plan. Research the event to find specific people to meet. Set a number for how many people you intend to meet. When talking to people, remember networking is not selling. It’s about building relationships. Take interest in helping others. A suggestion for introverts or others uncomfortable with approaching strangers: volunteer at the networking event. You can strike up conversations in your “official” capacity as a volunteer.
2. Engage – Effective networking means attracting people who you want to know, like, and trust. Increase your odds of attracting such people by dressing well, smiling, and being authentic.
3. Elevator Pitch – Be ready to deliver your elevator pitch about yourself. Your pitch should not be your title. Spend time creating a story about who you are and what you offer to others. A good way to find commonality with an elevator pitch is to start with “You know how…” as in:
You know how sometimes your computer starts to run slow and take forever to boot up? Many times that is because of some bug you may have downloaded. The same thing can happen to corporate computer networks. I help companies keep their IT environments running quickly, efficiently, and securely.
4. Tend – A single conversation at a networking event isn’t enough. Cultivate the relationship and follow up with the connection. Send a note to those you would like to meet again. Ask for a face-to-to-face meeting for lunch, coffee, or whatever is convenient. Moreover, keep meeting that person. Perhaps once a month. Stay in touch and build the relationship.

Power of Action
Only ten percent of people take action. Why such a small percentage? Jean states that fear is the biggest reason. The common root of many fears of jobseekers is the fear of rejection and a realization of the struggle to overcome. Avoiding the struggle can lead to stagnation and may even be harmful. Jean told a story about caterpillars she kept to watch them turn into butterflies. She and her family watched each caterpillar engorge on food, form a chrysalis, and emerge as a butterfly. She noted how the newly formed butterflies struggled greatly to break free from their respective chrysalis. In one instance a concerned family member tried to help the butterfly by breaking apart the chrysalis. They noticed afterward the butterfly had a problem with its wing. Not damaged because of an accident during the assisted emergence, but because the struggle to break out of the chrysalis strengthens the butterfly’s wings so that it can fly. The struggle is necessary for growth. Similarly, jobseekers should not remain paralyzed with fear but embrace the struggle to transition to a new employer by using their superpowers.

Hiring Companies

MUFG Union Bank
Erica Driskell, VP Talent Acquisition and Staffing
MUFG is a global financial services company based in Tokyo. The firm and its Union Bank subsidiary will expand operations in its Tempe location with 200 new positions supporting bank operations. Diversity and inclusion are important to the culture. Open positions include Risk & Control Manager and Consumer Lending Data Analyst. Get further information and apply directly on MUFG’s website here.

Cognizant
James Grizzard, Recruiter
Cognizant is one of the world’s largest Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies. Headquartered in Teaneck, NJ, Cognizant has nearly 260,000 employees worldwide and is number 205 in the Fortune 500 for 2017. Cognizant has strong benefits that start the first day of employment. Open positions include Business Analyst and Product Managers. Cognizant also has several urgent, immediate openings for Social Media Content Specialists. Get further information and apply directly on Cognizant’s website.

Staff Logic
Deanne Desautels, President and CEO
Staff Logic is a staffing firm dedicated to matching jobseekers to careers in IT, marketing, legal, healthcare, customer service, and light industrial. Its sister company, Accounting & Finance Professionals, does temporary and permanent placement for accounting and finance. Deanne had four tips for working with staffing firms:
1. Even when working with a staffing company, jobseekers still have to network
2. Sign up and engage with several staffing companies
3. Respond to a recruiter timely and be open and honest regarding criteria that are most important when accepting a position (e.g. location, salary, benefits, schedule, etc.)
4. Use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters and beyond
You can learn more about Staff Logic and open positions by clicking here.

Resources

New Horizons
Joe Rostowsky, Director of Site Operations
New Horizons offers training and certifications in IT, office management, healthcare records management, and project management. Joe recommended those considering such training should consider alternative sources of funding: VA educational benefits, employer tuition assistance, vocational rehabilitation, WIOA grants, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and military spouse grants. Contact New Horizons for details on their programs and options for funding.

Closing

Jessica Pierce concluded the event with some final thoughts and reminders:
• Check out Career Connectors’ Career Advice Blog for insight and suggestions to empower and energize your career search
• Take a free DISC assessment courtesy of Career Connectors and Top Talent Consulting
• Utilize the available resources offered by Career Connectors at each event: resume review, career coaching, LinkedIn coaching, financial/insurance coaching, and business portraits

Next event is Tuesday, June 27th, 9:00 am in Gilbert: “Boosting Your Networking Confidence – Five Tips to Increase Your Comfort and Success”