• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Career Connectors eUpdate
Subscribe Here
  • Job Seekers
    • Events
      • Event Schedule
      • Webinar Recordings
      • Event Recaps
      • Prepare for an Event
    • Resources
      • PipelineAZ
      • Community Updates
      • Career Chats
      • DISC
      • Business Portraits
      • Career Advice
      • Trusted Resources
      • LinkedIn Basics
    • Featured Companies
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Volunteer Application
  • Employers
    • Hiring
    • Outplacement Services
    • Partners
  • About Us
    • Donate
    • Applause & Testimonials
    • In The News
    • Mission Statement
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact

Colonial Life

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

February 12, 2020 by Diane Forner

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.

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: AZDHS, Colonial Life, U-Haul, Career Connectors Academy, GCU, Jessica Pierce

Primary Sidebar

Recent Event Recaps

2/10/22 – Getting My Career SHIFT Together

1/27/22 – Show Out When You Show Up

11/18/21 – A 7 Step Career Amplifier

12/14/21 – The Perfect Job in 2022

More Event Recaps

Career Advice

 10 Tips for Returning To Work As A New Mom

How Personal Brand Applies In The Job Search Process

Career Advice For A Changing Landscape in 2023

13 Stories: The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Received

How Leaders Run Successful Meetings: 10 Tips and Tricks

More Career Advice

Footer

Socialize with us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

I would like to share that I landed a contract position for 6 months with possible conversion to a permanent position on the team after those contract periods complete. I work on a team as an Instructional Designer and the team is virtual, which means I am able to work from home 100% of the time! I am very excited for the future of my career! I wanted to share that I sadly won’t be seeing you at Career Connector events for the next 6 months at the very least, and we’ll see how my performance … Read more
Bill T.
I just wanted to reach out to you and say Thank you to you, Career Connectors and the whole Team! So let me explain why, while I’ve known of Career Connectors for many years, I never thought that I would need employment services or guidance before. On September 19th 2019 I found myself being let go from my job. I later the next day saw the Career Connectors event at Central Christian Church Gilbert Campus coming up on Facebook and signed up for it. While attending my first Career Connectors even… Read more
Brian P.
I just want to thank you and compliment you and your organization, all the people involved, for providing this free service to the people in the Phoenix area. Last August found me in the unforeseen, unplanned position of being without a job. This circumstance, anytime but especially being a single mom, is very unsettling, sometimes downright frightening and anxiety inducing. I began attending many of your weekly meetings through November, when a job opened for me. I found solace and guidance at … Read more
Dalene U.
I am profoundly grateful for all of the support Career Connectors has provided during my recent job search – from the exceptional speakers to the participating employers, LinkedIn experts (Ted Robison is amazing with his individualized approach), resume experts, photographers, and of course the great opportunity to network! I felt like I had an army of support with me every single day. I appreciate all the time and effort invested by many and am particularly grateful for Jessica! You have a fi… Read more
Cindy G.
Fantastic! Good variety of roles, Obvious interest in quality candidates, really good solid leads. Great investment of time.
Alicia
Thank you, Jessica. Although I wasn’t able to meet you personally, I was able to see you working with another applicant and was impressed with your efforts and the excellent platform that your team presented. Thank you very much.
Luis R.
It was amazing, you guys did a great job! I found several potential companies!
Irene
A good friend told me of her success using Career Connectors networking.  She landed an interview and later, a job in her field, after attending one networking event.  So, when it was my turn, I had to check it out. I was starting to get the blues about being unemployed but the speaker lifted me out of the dumps and put my life back in perspective. So many people were there to help and offer support!   Just by networking that day, I was given a job lead that has led to two interviews and a… Read more
Mary B.
I own a Leadership Company, and have enjoyed attending the Career Connector events. With gratitude I listen to the speakers you line up… they offer phenominal and practical information. What has struck me each time has been the audience. My heart hurts for them. They are in a desperate place in their lives. I have had the opportunity speak with a few of the people in attendance, and they have shared their stories… I walk away thankful to God for the opportunity to meet these people and they … Read more
Bonnie M.
This was terrific! Very successful. I’m glad I came!
Maggie D.
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Services

© 2023 · Career Connectors. All Rights Reserved.