Dave Sherman

5/6/2020 – Networking from Home

May 11, 2020 by Diane Forner

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.

10/10/19 – Finding and Landing a New Career FAST

October 17, 2019 by Sheila

Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

As job seekers we want to know, “when will I find a job”? Wouldn’t it be great to look at a crystal ball and find out we will find a job two weeks from today? Unfortunately, we cannot rely on a crystal ball, psychic or tarot cards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the data for August 2019 indicates the average duration of unemployment was 22.1 weeks; 20.6% of the unemployed were out of work for 27 weeks or longer. Randstad commissioned a survey of 2000 Americans in 2018 and found that it took respondents an average of five months to find a job. Glassdoor reports an average time frame, 23.8 days, from interview to job offer. As a reminder, there are many variables that impact the length of time it takes to find work. Estimates do not really apply when applied to any one individual and his/her situation.

Keynote: Dave Sherman, Trainer, Speaker and Best-Selling Author

All of us would love to know how to make the job search process move faster and resolve any uncertainty about future employment. Dave’s enthusiasm and passion offered us some ways to secure the perfect job faster.

TIP #1: EMBRACE YOUR DECISION
While your mind may be racing on things you should be doing in your job search, it is best to embrace your decision. You may be considering a job in IT but you really want to get into AI development. Dave encouraged us to focus on a single decision, not several. Doing so scatters your energies.
Be sure to tell as many folks as possible that you are looking for a job! Avoid … indecision, explanations, validation and negativity. Negative people will darken you and your efforts. Be sure to avoid them at all costs.

TIP #2: PERUSE THE JOB BOARD
There are many job boards available. Broaden your search by visiting those sites that have the position you are attempting to secure. Dave reminded us that you need to identify those positions you want and don’t want. Dave is a fan of LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter. Apply to those jobs that are interesting, challenging, rewarding and fun.

TIP #3: START MEETING MORE PEOPLE
As Dave noted previously, the more people who know you are looking for a job the closer you are in finding the next career opportunity.
Places to go to meet other professionals are chambers, associations, business groups, networking groups, and career transition groups. Avoid telling people you are looking for a job! Instead tell them you are in career transition.
Suggestions for attending networking events are showing up early, bringing business cards and asking for help.

TIP #4: WHEN ATTENDING EVENTS, LET GO OF THE OUTCOME!
Focus your efforts on finding connections. Do not expect to find a job.
When meeting new connections, you need to establish commonality and likeability.
In establishing likeability, strive to be interested not interesting. People will connect with someone who offers a smile; has a good personality and sense of humor. Studies have shown that 60% see a person’s smile when first meeting someone new. Common threads for commonality are hometown, hobbies, school and favorites.

TIP #5: FOUR MOST IMPORTANT WORDS
WHO DO YOU KNOW? Unfortunately, you are not capable to find a job relying on your own resources. A successful professional knows that the larger your network is the closer you are to finding your next opportunity.

As I gaze into my crystal ball, it clearly says……. “The perfect job is in your immediate future”!

HIRING COMPANIES

LIVEOPS
SHEREE BUTTERFIELD, CORPORATE RECRUITER

Liveops is a leader in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) of virtual contact center solutions that maximizes every sale, support, and social customer interaction to ultimately drive brand loyalty. Liveops has led the industry in flex agent service for more than 19 years. The company supports a wide range of industries including healthcare and human services, insurance, retail, telecom, finance, direct response, roadside assistance and travel & hospitality. LiveOps culture, benefits, and work rewards are positive and diverse.
A sampling of current positions are facilitators, instructional designers; client results directors & managers, agent results advocates; BI analysts, BA analysts, and QA analyst; workforce planning; finance; human resources; and sales & marketing. If interested, go to website.

VIXXO
HEATHER KITSKO, TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGER

Vixxo is a technology driven asset management and facilities maintenance. The company services over 1.1 million revenue generating assets in the restaurant, retail, convenience store and grocery industries with a network of 150,000 service provider partners. Vixxo serves brands such as Starbucks, Target and 7-Eleven.
Open positions include equipment technician, service coordinator, systems analyst, technical solution architect. For more details visit Vixxo website.

ACCOLADE
JAMIE CANFIELD, LEAD HEALTH ASSISTANT/LEARNING SPECIALIST

Accolade is a personalized health and benefits solutions that dramatically improves the experience, outcomes and cost of healthcare for employers, health plans and their members. At the heart of Accolade is a team of health assistants, registered nurses, and clinical experts with the right blend of educational, professional and life experience to provide unique and highly personalized services. Accolade’s cultural cornerstones are empathy, teamwork, innovation and commitment.
Accolade has offices around the globe and has 1,000+ employees. The company serves nearly 1.5 million members from employer and health plan customers to supporting companies with large employee populations. Featured positions are health assistant (clinical navigator) and clinical health assistant (registered nurse). Additional information can be found at www.accolade.com/careers.

RESOURCES

GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER FOUNDATION
BRITTANY HOLMES, FINANCIAL SERVICES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Phoenix has the 6th largest finance and insurance cluster in the US. Business and finance jobs are projected to grow 16.8% over the next 10 years. Roles within financial services are high growth, high-wage, and in high demand.
In response to the need, Maricopa Corporate College is offering financial industry training. Students prepare to take the (SIE) Exam. They also get resume and interview help. The next class is October 21, 2019 at Rio Salado Northern. Funding is available through Arizona at Work and Arizona Career Pathways. For additional details, contact Brittany Holmes.

CLOSING

Jessica Pierce, CEO/Founder, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking Highlands Church & the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Gilbert on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 & features Jessica Pierce, as speaker for the topic “The Networking Brief: Increase Your Influence.” For additional information on this event & future events, please visit the Event Schedule.

9/5/19 – Instant Likeability

September 11, 2019 by Diane Forner

Written by Gary Matsuda

You want the job. You need to get the sale. You need to get stuff done and there is so much to do. Who cares about being liked?

Not so fast!

Despite how much we rely on technology to communicate and be productive, deep down we still want to know that others are listening to our needs and value us as people, not projects. Being likeable helps us connect with others by answering some subconscious questions: Do we have something in common? Are we on the same side? Is it possible for us to get along?

Your brain makes ‘friend or foe’ instant judgments on people we meet for the first time. So, unless you are in a profession where you need to appear intimidating, use the pointers below to make yourself more approachable and appear as someone who can be trusted.

Keynote

Enter Dave Sherman, expert on mixing, mingling and schmoozing, who has 3 best-selling books on networking and sales. For a long time, others thought Dave was likeable just because his dad was that way. But that wasn’t entirely true, he had to learn lessons along the way about connecting with people. He says if we’re not born with it, we don’t have to give up and resign ourselves to be lifelong wallflowers. We all can learn to be likeable – here are his tried and true words of advice:

Tip #1. Put on a smile.
This is the first thing you should do when you arrive at an event. It takes little effort and costs you nothing! Studies have found that those who smile are thought to be warm, friendly, approachable and smart. People will be more likely to respond to you. Let it be natural, show it in your eyes, and you will appear more authentic. Do it early, do it often.

Tip #2. Ask questions.
This suggestion applies whether you are outgoing or an introvert. To get a conversation going and get others to talk, come prepared with questions and you’ll be more comfortable approaching strangers. The other person may have been looking to start a connection so you’ll both overcome nervousness this way. Ask them about how, what, why and when – maybe you can learn something about them.

As they are answering take note of the next tip.

Tip #3. Pay attention.
Listen to their answers and try to find commonality. The mind processes thoughts five times faster than we speak, so be aware of your thoughts while in conversation and resist the temptation to interrupt.

Tip #4. Let them talk.
Try to do less talking about yourself and keep your attention on learning about opportunities. We have the tendency to believe what is going on in our heads is more important, so again fight the temptation to interrupt.

Think of your worst date (or dates). You can probably think of a time when the other person talked about themselves the whole time. You don’t want the other person to do all the talking either! Neither side should dominate the conversation. It’s also OK to end a conversation when it has run its course. Find a break in the exchange and you might say:

“It was a pleasure to meet you, but I would like to meet someone now”

“I’m going to take a restroom break”

“How about those Crab Rangoons, excuse me I’ve got to get some!”

Tip #5. Practice Servant leadership:
Zig Ziglar said, “You will get anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” And how would you know what others want? (Hint, see tips #2, #3 and #4).

Dave has thought about you. No, not you personally but as a community. At one time you may have been irritated by fake Facebook scam ads. Dave started a scam stoppers website to help others who had the same frustration. He was paid nothing for his work, but he created this because he wanted to help improve the culture of the web. There was no personal gain for him except for the knowledge and satisfaction that he was making a difference, especially when one of those ads got pulled!

Tip #6. Show some personality.
Humanize yourself. In this overused, over hyped digital world, there is a tendency to relax our social skills. During face to face interaction, be intentional and show personal authenticity. You are not your resume. Or your cover letter. Or your LinkedIn profile. Let the real you show, be genuine. If you are more comfortable with books, be proud of that. That can be a good topic for discussion too, ”What have you been reading lately”.

Tip #7. Remember the Golden Rule.
The Golden Rule applies not only when the situation is going well, but it’s especially relevant when things don’t go your way. The job search is tough and one of the worst feelings is having an application rejected. Don’t let it get to you personally and corrupt your attitude. Be prepared to act graciously when things go wrong – even when you have followed all the suggestions here. The next tip should help you look on the positive side.

Tip #8. Use humor…carefully.
Don’t worry if you don’t think you are funny. If you try too hard, it will seem like, well. . . you’re trying to hard. For most of us humor doesn’t come naturally but it too can be practiced and learned. At the very least, always look at the positive side of a situation or conversation. You’ll want to be someone who can add something of value, not find fault.

We’re nervous at networking events because we don’t know what to expect, our defenses are up, yet we’re there to talk to people! No wonder we’re stressed! Humor enables us to relax, let our guard down and allows our brain to be more willing to accept new information. So relax, make a joke, break the ice – people will tend to be more open and possibly share more about themselves. So, laugh a little, learn a lot.

Tip #9. Treat everyone with the same level of kindness.
Dave’s dad was always known to treat everyone with kindness. This includes people who seem to have no decision-making power. However, in sales or a job search, the gatekeeper can be the most important person who can open doors for you – think of them as the first decision maker.

Do this and you’ll build a habit, a good reputation and you’ll feel better too.

Tip #10. Build commonality.
Investigate and research to find personal information. If you’re sitting at someone’s desk, notice personal items, photos of kids, pets, sports and comment on them.

If you have the chance to prepare for a meeting, do your research to find out what you may have in common, such as sports, kids, schools, hobbies, or places.

In person is a great way to use questions, to find out what they do, about their likes, what motivates them and what they do when they are not working.

Anyone can be more likeable if they understand the importance behind it and put effort into improving their first impressions. Learn to be instantly likeable and you’ll open yourself up to opportunities and become known as someone who is easy to work with. What’s not to like about that?

Hiring Companies

Honor Health

Jo Bryant, Executive Search Strategist

Looking for a career where you are cared for while you care for others? Consider Honor Health who are on a mission to improve the health and well-being of those they serve. They do this by supporting the HONOR in you. They strive to maintain a unique relationship with each employee, listening to feedback that help with decisions that make a direct impact.

Career Opportunities

Patient Care Tech
RNs and Therapists
Food Services
Social workers and Care Managers
Registration/Schedulers
Customer Navigation Coordinators
Financial Services
Security Services
Logistics/Supply Chain Services

Resources

Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation

Brittany Holmes, Workforce Development Manager

Financial Industry Training (F.I.T.)

Looking for a rewarding new career?
Willing to complete a short training program to get there?
Have customer service skills, passion for helping others and a desire to learn and grow?

Then get F.I.T. for a new career!

Whether you are working in hospitality, customer service, education, or just want a change, a career in Financial Services is possible. No degree? No experience? No problem! Financial services firms are looking for talented customer focused individuals. You can enroll in F.I.T. with in-person, hybrid and online study options!

Closing

Jessica Pierce, CEO and Founder of Career Connectors, closed the event by thanking GCU for hosting the event and thanking the volunteers, sponsors and partners who make the Career Connectors events possible. Attendees were encouraged to network and take advantage of the many available resources.

Upcoming event details are available on the Events Page.

02/14/18 – Instant Likeability

February 21, 2019 by Sheila

Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

KEYNOTE

Dave Sherman, INSTANT LIKEABILITY

LIKEABILITY is the impression you make on the interviewer. It is more than a great response to a question. It is your ability to connect to another person in a way that is comfortable and pleasing to the other person.

Webster’s defines likeable as…. having qualities that bring about a favorable regard; pleasant, agreeable. Synonyms include: agreeable, amiable, appealing, attractive, charming, engaging, enjoyable, friendly, genial, good-natured, nice, pleasing, sympathetic, winning. In an article by Pam Holloway, “The Secret to Likeability”, Pam notes that “likeable people are known to:

Be more successful in business & life.
Get elected, promoted & rewarded more often than those less likeable.
Close more sales & make more money.
Secure better service providers, including doctors & other health care providers.

Likeability is not magic. It’s not luck. It’s not a gift inherited by only a few anointed people. It is merely a skill set. Gallup values the benefit of likeability. The Gallup organization has conducted a personality factor poll prior to every presidential election since 1960. Only one of three factors – issues, party affiliation, and likeability, has been a consistent prognosticator of the final election result. Of course, the factor is likeability.

So how do you develop skills to be likeable or likeability? Dave was our “Likeable Guru” in sharing tips that open the door to Likeability.

TIP #1: BE HAPPY
People thrive on being around others that are happy, enthusiastic and energetic. When you smile, you make yourself more approachable and smarter.

Dave shared the story when he first began interviewing with a company that became an employer. After researching the company’s recent press releases, he discovered the organization was celebrating its 1-year anniversary for being in its new site. Dave brought a celebratory cake to his interview. The cake instantly made Dave likeable.

TIP #2: BE ATTENTIVE
When interviewing, be attentive. Listen to what others have to say. Ask lots of questions.

TIP #3: BE PATIENT
Avoid interrupting. Biggest challenge is not knowing what to say. If you don’t have anything to offer. LISTEN! If you listen, you will learn something new.

TIP #4: BE CURIOUS
Establish a commonality between you and the person you are talking with. Ask questions such as where are you from.

TIP #5: BE HELPFUL
Discover ways you can be helpful to others. Have a service mentality.

TIP #6: BE ENTHUSIASTIC
Enthusiasm is contagious!

TIP #7: BE NICE
Be nice to everyone you come in contact with & leave a niceness legacy.

TIP #8: BE FUNNY

TIP #9: BE MEMORABLE

TIP #10: BE GRATEFUL
You may have trouble being grateful but there is always room for gratitude.