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7/29/20 – Know your story, Tell your story, Sell your story

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Written by Sheri Kerr

Geoff Woliner

Keynote

Geoff Woliner is an author, speaker, founder of Winning Wit, writer and a former recruiter.
Geoff’s presentation encourages the audience to develop “their” story. This story is the emotional currency to a new position. Your story needs to outline your achievements and explain how you have overcome adversities. They synthesis your story to showcase your achievements, abilities to overcome adversity and explain how this will benefit an employer.
He encouraged the audience to create an emotional connection with your story. This story includes challenges, and how you achieved them, describe what you have overcome, what difficulties’ have you scaled and achieved.
Next, the power of using LinkedIn to grow your network. He outlines how to tell your story using LinkedIn’s profile header and summary. Again, create a story that highlights your achievements, explain challenges faced, how you have overcome them and explain how this will benefit others. It important to draw out the emotion!
Building and creating a LinkedIn audience by replying to posts & comments. The goal is to grow your connections to be visible on LinkedIn.

Hiring Companies

Dexcom

Monica Brown, Talent Acquisition Sourer
Dexcom develops, manufactures and distributes continuous glucose monitoring systems for diabetes management. Dexcom focus: Better outcomes for patients, deliver solutions – partnering with Apple and Google, empowering our community to take control of diabetes.
Dexcom offers a culture of a welcoming environment, diversity & inclusion, patients first, fast paced, challenging, evolving, and opportunistic. They provide a competitive salary and robust benefits for their employees.
Monica is currently recruiting for current open positions:

  • EHS Engineer (Safety)
  • Quality Inspectors
  • Sr. Manager Manufacturing Automation
  • Engineering Technicians
  • Manufacturing Associates
  • Industrial Engineer- Production Systems
  • Manager Mfg. Training- Evaluation
  • Distribution Supervisor
  • Sr. Industrial Engineer- Analytics & Simulation
  • Sr. Production Controller- Operations
  • Supervisor Manufacturing
  • Sr. Manager Facilities
  • Sr. Manager Manufacturing

If interested go to Dexcom’s website: http://careers.dexcom.com/ then select “Mesa” as the location.

ADP

Laura Lynn Smith, Division Vice President and Pam Farling, Talent Acquisition Business Partner
ADP is a global company with a location in Tempe, Arizona. ADP has been defining the future of business solutions for 70 years and has earned Fortune Magazines’ “Worlds Most Admired Companies” for 12 years.
ADP is a comprehensive global provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions that unite HR, payroll, talent, time, tax and benefits administration, and is a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics and compliance expertise.
ADP values its employees by providing a rich culture with work life balance, teamwork, collaboration with others, core values, onsite events, celebrations, diversity organization and business resources group. ADP provides their employees with career growth and a strong brand. They offer rich and robust benefits to employees.
ADP Open Positions:
• Associate Client Support Consultant
• Client Support Specialist
• Implementation Specialist II
• Implementation Consultant II-Time
• Implementation Consultant II-HR
• Implementation Consultant II-Payroll
• Manager, Implementation Delivery
• Strategic Outside Account Executive

https://jobs.adp.com/locations/arizona/

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.

11/12/19 – Confront Change with Confidence

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Written by Michelle Rock

Keynote

The first full time employee to join Jessica Pierce and the Career Connectors organization was Sheila Coulam. As the VP of Operations, she coordinates the volunteer team, oversees event logistics, directs marketing and communication, creates and maintains the website, plans the keynote calendar and provides overall support for the entire Career Connectors Team. Per Jessica, “Sheila takes my crazy and makes it work. She is the backbone of Career Connectors.” As today’s keynote speaker, Sheila shared how we can all Confront Change with Confidence.

To have a clear understanding of the term “change”, it is important to review the definition of change according to Merriam Webster:
a. to make different in some particular way, ALTER (i.e. never bothered to change the will)
b. to make radically different, TRANSFORM (i.e. can’t change human nature)
c. to give different position or direction to (i.e. changed his residence from Ohio to California)

Change is both PLANNED and UNPLANNED. Personally, Sheila chose to become a stay at home mom for 10 Years. When the economy changed in 2008, she had to go back to work. Sheila was scared to get back out there and volunteered for a year before actually excepting a position with a salary. She was inspired when she heard Dave Sherman say, “People want to help you. But if you don’t know what you want, they don’t know how to help.”

7 Strategies to THRIVE during CHANGE

Strategy #1 Expect CHANGE always.
Always “be open-minded”.

Strategy #2 Embrace the CHANGE cycle.
There are 5 Stages of Change and it is important to NOT resist or skip any steps to ensure you are not looking at the PAST but looking to the FUTURE. However, if you feel you are resisting the move from one stage to another, take time to ensure you have truly processed that step in the cycle.

Stage 1 = SHOCK
Stage 2 = ANGER
Stage 3 = ACCEPTANCE
Stage 4 = PLANNING
Stage 5 = ACTION

Sheila shared her sister’s personal story. After being diagnosed with cancer she was able to quickly move though the Change Cycle and turned her treatment plan into a project plan. She embraced the change and stated, “It is what it is!”. And she successfully dealt with the cancer. 😊

As quoted by John Kabat-Zinn, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf”.

Strategy #3 Understand your emotions.
As you work through the process of change, “be deliberate” in who you include in your network. Ensure you have the right support system to help you through this time of growth that might feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Strategy #4 Work towards balance.
Do you have Balance in your life? Some say balance is the key to everything! Using Sheila’s Balance Circle (diagram below) chart the key aspects in your life that you are trying to balance. For each area you identify, evaluate how satisfied you are today with that area and place a dot on the line for that area. Once you’ve done this for all areas, connect your dots. The result is a visual representation of your overall balance. Do the same evaluation for where you’d like to be a year from now. Now you have a goal to strive for!

Balance CircleDownload

Strategy #5 Visualize a great future.
Images are the language your brain best understands. If you intentionally visualize what you are striving for, your subconscious will help you get there. Top athletes use visualization because it works!

Strategy #6 Demand a positive outlook.
Be resilient, persevere and always push through; striving for the goal even when you might feel deflated. Remember Thomas Edison failed over 1,000 times before he was successful in creating the light bulb. JK Rowling was turned down by 12 publishers before finding success with Harry Potter books. And Walt Disney was fired for lack of imagination and no good ideas. Imagine if Walt Disney had given up on his vision! We would never have grown up knowing about classics like Aladdin, The Lion King or Beauty & The Beast. Disney World, Disney Land and the global media and entertainment empire that the Walt Disney Company is today wouldn’t have existed.

Strategy #7 Keep moving forward.
Pick an action and take the next right step. As Dory says in the Finding Nemo movie, “Just Keep Swimming”.

Hiring Companies

Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona
Ron Mack – Community Awareness Partner

The mission of Goodwill is: “Through the goodwill of others, we create the pathway for all by helping those who desire self-sufficiency”. They want to help people find employment. Goodwill Career Centers provide:

  • Career Advisors
  • Career Navigators
  • Mock Interviews/Resumes
  • Employment Support
    o Job postings inside and external to Goodwill (i.e. Amazon and Target)
  • Digital or Computer Basic Skills Training
    o Internet Skills
    o Email
    o Microsoft Word
    o Social Media
    o Excel
    o Powerpoint
    o Windows
    o Mac
    o Information Literacy

The East Valley center is located at 106 E. McKellips, Mesa Arizona, 85201. Check out the website for more details. Goodwill also has a Virtual Career Center located at www.mycareeradvisor.com.

Dexcom
Micaela Drewett – Recruiter

Dexcom was founded in 1999 and develops, manufactures and distributes continuous glucose monitoring systems for diabetes management. Their focus is to provide better outcomes, deliver solutions and empower our community to take control of diabetes. The Mesa location opened in 2017. Dexcom is proud of their great culture focused on Patients First.

Benefits:
Medical, dental and vision
401 (k) Retirement Plan
5 sick days
3 weeks PTO
2 Floating Holidays
Work-life Balance with Flexible Schedules

Open Positions
Supervisor Manufacturing
EHS Specialist
QA Inspector 1 & 2
Engineering Technician 2
Director of Facilities
Hardware Engineer 2
Manager Materials
Senior Hardware Engineer
Manager Purchasing
Senior QA Engineer
Staff Process Sustaining Engineer
QA Engineer 2
Research Associate 1 & 2
Quality Assurance Analyst 2

TTEC
Rob Briggs – Corporate Recruiter

TTEC is a global customer experience and technology services company focused on the design, implementation and delivery of exceptional customer experience. Some of their customers are Verizon, Google and Facebook. The company offers:

  • Fun, talented and witty teammates
  • Knowledgeable, supportive and present leadership
  • Family-friendly environment
  • Free-spirited, theme-based employee events
  • Career-growth and lots of learning opportunities for aspiring minds
  • Community-minded organization
  • Competitive pay and benefits

They are located at:
o 40 E Rio Salado Parkway, floors 1st and 10th, Tempe, AZ 85281
o 8123 S Hardy Drive, Ste 100, Tempe, AZ 85284
o 16404 N Black Canyon Hwy, Ste 100, Phoenix 85053

Currently recruiting for Sales Representative / Online Marketing Sales Executive. Account Management positions will be available at the beginning of 2020.

Optima Tax Relief
Desiree Smith – Talent Acquisition Partner

Optima Tax Relief helps individuals with a lot of tax debt. The company has grown from 30 employees in 2018 to 96 employees today and is targeting 100 by the end of the year. The office is located at 450 N. 54th St. in West Chandler. The growth over the past year is due to robust business growth, a business-friendly environment and the ability to attract skilled labor. The company is also known for its great culture based upon the goals to have fun, enjoy the work and like the people you work with. The Leadership Team invites you to “make this a career for you”. Check out their job openings at www.optimataxrelief.com.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Founder/CEO of Career Connectors, took the stage to thank everyone for taking the next step in finding a new career. She recognized the many hiring companies, sponsors and partners including Brighton College. Every seeker was encouraged to network with other seekers, build more LinkedIn connections, take a free DISC assessment and have a professional portrait taken by a photography volunteer at the event. Professional resume writers, LinkedIn experts and Career Coaches are also available at the event to perfect your search tools.
Thank you to Central Christian Church for hosting the event and the 90 volunteers that serve Career Connectors around the Valley.

02/26/19 – Courageous Leadership, Outrageous Growth

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Written by Nicole Langston

Keynote

Loretta Love Huff
Known and appreciated by thousands of engaged and sometimes exhausted Executives and entrepreneurs as the dream leader for business. Loretta Love Huff helps people and teams exceed their dreams. Loretta guides her clients to unleash their inner fear, influence and integrity to produce results that otherwise would not have been attained. Loretta has made several appearances on the local Fox 10 morning new show, many radio stations across the country, featured in many business publications like NY times, AZ Republic, Wall Street journal, Black Enterprise, Phoenix Business Journal, Arizona Women and Working Mothers magazine. She is the author of two books, which you will see up here; Leadership without Limits Inspiring the Best in Yourself, your people and your Organization, plus also 6 Keys for Dissolving Disputes when “Off their heads! Won’t work (find this and more on her website). She is also the creator of Sleep, Leap, Reap the bamboo approach to courageous leadership and outrageous growth, a consulting process that generates new revenue sources, improves productivity and increases profit margins for professional service firms and service based businesses.
Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Executive in Leadership roles at Fortune 500 Companies such as DreamWorks, Apple, Sega of America (SEGA), Bank of America, Sears and Kraft Foods (Kraft Heinz Company). She holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.
Loretta stands ready to shine a light on your path to higher productivity and profits. We are honored to have her here today. Please help me welcome Loretta Love Huff.
Courageous Leadership, Outrageous Growth: Loretta Love Huff, went up
She looks forward to talking to each of us at the end of this session and learning more about you. Helping you exhibit your talent and skills as you move through the employment process and working with companies, so you can accomplish all the great goals that you set.
Why would you want to bother to reinvent yourself? If you’re in transition right now, you are probably thinking I need to reinvent, I need to do something new, I need to find a new job. There is an example of someone who left a company and started a business and started earning a lot more money and feeling freer, because she was her own boss. There are a lot of upsides to it.
There are reinventions that are happening all around the world. You have probably noticed some. When you are thinking of reinvented yourself it can fell kind of scary, feels like you are walking on the edge of the world you have never known. It is a bit terrifying at times, but there are upsides to doing that. It is possible you will discover courage that you maybe never thought you had. You will feel empowered, freer, more confident and capable of doing things.
What we are going to talk about today are:

Why reinvent yourself

Talk about the three essential elements that you need that will support you in that reinvention process

Four As for change

Critical components of courageous leadership and outrageous growth

Some real life reinvention stories along the way to make it real and not just theoretical
Growing up Loretta was very nervous, shy and timid as a kid. She would rather read then play with others.
First job at Sears often in staff meetings, she would have a good idea and she would analyze in her mind. By time she got an idea outlined internally, someone else would say it. She always sensed she was intended for bigger things. She had to face her fears, step out of her shell or she would not progress as she hoped.
At Sears, they had a tradition where someone would give a speech and presentation when someone was leaving. One of her other fellow team members, was a guy who could present without any preparation. It was one of her staff who had been there forever, so she had to plan what she was going to deliver. She was nervous and scared, she had to overcome her mindset. She practiced and prepared. She delivered it and many told her what a great job she did.
Transformation = freedom
My Vision and what she is aiming for: we all have our own unique gifts to share. Companies that honor and embrace those gifts have happy and productive workplaces.
How do you make a transition from feeling like you are out on a hammock? It is about expressing your leadership skills and building confidence.
Personal mastery:

3 essential elements

4 A’s for change

The Optimal foundation
Essential Element #1 – the right mindset
Bar theory at work – your beliefs make you take actions, that produce results
Fundamental beliefs:
“We all have more options then we generally see and have more control then we tend to take.” – Loretta Love Huff
In your mind, you are trapped by your fears and beliefs, so you may not take the chances that you need to take to have the life you want to have.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave (wo)men is not (s)he who does not feel afraid, but (s)he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
Essential Element #2 – the right roadmap
The As 4 change are:

Aspire – have a goal that you aspire to

Assess – where are you on the path for that

Act – taking action
Reinvention is easier then you think.
“Bold action may be less a matter of big moves and more the culmination of a series of swiftly executed small steps, each minimizing risk.” – Liz Wiseman, Rookie Smarts

Account(able) – having someone to hold you accountable is key.
Essential Element #3 – the Optimal Foundation
The DEAR dynamic ™: A basic or dynamic force, especially one that motivates, affects development, or stability.
Desire – what do you desire?
Emotion – feelings, think that will make you happy, so that you can make better decision.
Allow – Let’s make something happen!
Result – sometimes you need to create the environment to help you get results.
In order to influence others, avoid the fatal flaw of assuming people are just like you and are taking action for the same reasons you do. It is helpful to recognize behavior styles, such as these:
The Directors: usually in control, in charge and may be scary. They accept challenges, are strong willed and impatient, but take quick action.
The Critics: cautious, analytical, concerned, fear of making mistakes. They are orderly, quality conscious and plan ahead.
The idol: people oriented, optimistic, recognition needed, expressive, outgoing, enthusiastic, and energizing.
The Supporting Role: stable, predictable, deliberate, work in background, diplomatic, consistent, google listener, and sympathetic.
** Reflect the personality or traits so you can appeal to them and their needs.
Influencing the Director
Goal: results and control
Fear: losing control, being taken advantage of
Buying basis: What hiring you does for him/her
Selling strategy: Highlight potential results
The benefit to him/her …. position to them as how it will help them? What will provide them a benefit?
Influencing the Idol
Goal: people environment, recognition
Fear: rejection, loss of approval
Buying Basis: who has hired you
Selling Strategy: concepts appeal to others
The benefit to him/her ….
Influencing the Supporting Actor
Goal: security, stability
Fear: sudden change, losing security
Buying Basis: How hiring you will stabilize his/her world
Selling Strategy: “support” provided by concept (for you)
The benefit to him/her …..
Influencing the Critic
Goal: accuracy, order
Fear: criticism of performance, lack of standards
Buying Basis: Why hiring you is a logical investment for him/her
Selling Strategy: “Track record” of the concept. Give them information to help them decide
The benefit to him/her …..
6 Skills that Create Credibility, Connection and Trust
i. Communication
Some companies promote the “Mushroom Management” theory. This is where you are kept in the dark and given a load of manure.
Keep people informed by explaining policies and decisions by providing accurate feedback. Be candid about one’s own problems and limitations. Tell the truth.
ii. Support – how can you be more available and approachable?
Provide more support to help people with advice, coaching and support for teams and clients.
iii. Respect – what can you do? How can you admire someone? Actively listen to the ideas and concerns of others. Delegate to develop your staff.
iv. Fairness – be objective and impartial. Be quick to give credit and recognition to those who deserve it.
Fair DOES NOT = Same
v. Predictable and reliable – be consistent in daily affairs. Keep both expressed and implied promises. When you are these, then you can support others.
vi. Competence – enhance your credibility by demonstrating good business sense, technical ability, and professionalism.
Be the proactive problem solving partner. What do I need to learn? How can I improve (the company, function, leader etc)?
Brand management of your career
• What do you want to be known for?
• Diversification and transfer of knowledge
• Stay abreast of the knowledge
• Ask, what does this mean for us?
• What new potential risks are arising?
• Are we keeping up with technology?
• Who else needs to know this?
Business management stewardship – translate insights from projects to recommendations for others to follow.
Partnership: driving business values
• Understand the business and its strategic plan
• Stay abreast of new internal initiatives, processes and technologies
• Communicate potential risks (in business terms)
• Help improve efficiencies
• Establish key metrics for a high performing X function
Reinvention/Transformation – transform …. go beyond the change
You want to be an agent of change
“You could be our spiritual leader” BUT she was petrified. It was the start of another reinvention.
Change or Die vs. Die or Change
Think of something YOU did, made you feel great when you KNEW you were a hero.
Fundamental belief; “we all have more options then we generally see and more control then we tend to take.” – Loretta Love Huff
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. When we feel confident and believe in ourselves, then we take more chances to take actions.
IE: Many celebrities talk about how they knew they were supposed to take action.
A free conflict resolution tool for “Saving the Heads” for you included! Go to Get CC Talk and put in your basic information to download the slides and your gift today!
Winners for the drawing … three winners got to choose from her 2 books or the Talent assessment, which is different than a DISC assessment. (The results give you suggestions of what jobs would be good options for you to consider.)
As Loretta mentioned, you can take a FREE DISC Resource from us anytime.

HIRING COMPANIES
Medtronic Pam Goux, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Pam has been with Medtronic for over 17 years now, starting 2001. She has worked for a few companies but can’t think of being anywhere else.
Medtronic started in a garage back in 1949 for pacemakers. Back then, the electricity went out a lot and when it did it would impact (take down) anyone on one of those. They needed to come up with one that could be battery operated instead. The first implantable was in 1959. Technology has evolved as have their devices since.
The therapies and solutions Medtronic provides improve lives. The offer therapies and solutions across our four business groups.
Medtronic believes: people are the expertise to achieve their mission. Medtronic is driven by their Mission statement – which was created in 1960 and has never changed. They have received many workplace accolades annually. They offer comprehensive benefits – everything that everyone would want to offer.
Their global presence: helping people in 350+ locations. They have 78 manufacturing plants one of which is here in Tempe. Roles available visit Medtronic Careers. Opportunities include Clinical Specialist, Manufacturing Engineer, Sales Representative, Equipment Engineer, Process Engineer, Assembler and more.
Even though the jobs may list one location, they are welcoming to remote and virtual jobs regardless. Feel free to apply anyway if something fits you.

Dexcom, Kristy Gephart Talent Acquisition
Dexcom has been around for over 20 years, HQ in San Diego CA. In 2015 they launched the G5 device, which really pushed them in the marketplace. It was a game changer for the Type 1 and 2 Diabetes. The device can be on the arms or legs, then needle inserts in body and sends readings every 5 minutes. It can be sent to your smartphone. It is great technology and it doesn’t require the needle pricks either. Helps to better monitor levels.

Leaders realized that they needed another location to grow the business. They landed here in Mesa. Opened here in March of 2017 with only 7 people. They had to get everything ready for FDA to come in and inspect. Then got green light and began manufacturing. 2018 was crazy for them for positive growth and lots of change. They have a wonderful team and accomplished a lot. Last year they also launched the G6 device too. They are now a 24×7 monitoring. They had about 10 events last year and brought in about 500+ people.

Lots of growth in manufacturing, plus in the support and operations too. 2019 they have planned to bring in manufacturing the G6 here to Mesa. Has been in San Diego prior. Will refine their processes more. January 2020 will be launching another green room.

Submit your resume online at Dexcom Careers for positions such as QA Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Manufacturing Supervisor, Cost Accountant, Process Analyst, Microbiologist, or Mechanical Engineer.

WillisTowers Watson Mary Ann Lopez, Tempe Service Center Recruiting Lead

WillisTowers is the leading global brokering company. They are basically a finance brokerage, working with many Fortune 5000 companies. They do a lot with insurance and healthcare too. They are working with Individual Marketplace heavily at present.
Why work for them? Core Values -> client focus – integrity – respect – excellence – teamwork
Really hiring for: Benefit Advisor Role to Apply
Will train for this role, see the requirements provided. It really needs strong communication skills. They will need to get licensed, but the company will pay for this. They will also pay for the continuing education (CE) credits for the licenses needed.
View all roles at Willis Towers Watson Careers, such as Director of Operations, Business Support Specialist, QA Specialist, Client Service Specialist, Technical Product Owner, Benefit Advisor, Software Test Engineer, Scrum Master, User Experience Designer and more!
UPCOMING EVENTS
2019 VetTalks Business Networking & Career Event
Vet Talks is a big event that is coming up on Thursday, March 7, 2019. It will be hosted onsite at University of Phoenix 4035 S. Riverpoint Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85040. See Miltary AZ . Due to Vet Talks we will not be doing an event next week.
BestCompaniesAZ is proud to present our 5th Annual Veteran Business Networking and Career Event in conjunction with Birdies for the Brave™, Career Connectors and ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center. This event brings together Arizona’s award-winning, military-friendly companies with veteran business professionals. This free, public event kicks off with registration and networking from 4-4:30 pm; VetTalks Presentations & Networking from 4:30-5:30 pm; continued networking with veteran employee resource groups and talent acquisition professionals from 5:30-7 pm.
Stories of achievement and career success will be shared by executives and employees from top veteran friendly employers including “Vet Talks” by:
• ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center
• Charles Schwab
• Freedom Financial Network
• GoDaddy
• USAA

Following two Event Schedule: North Scottsdale and then back here at Gilbert
HOST
Jessica thanked Central Christian Church in Gilbert, our host facility, and gave a big shout out all our volunteers.
THANK YOU for coming!

1/24/17 – Taking Your Job Search by Storm

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Abby KohutWritten by Michelle Soracco

Keynote Speaker

Abby Kohut, @Absolutely_Abby

Absolutely fabulous Absolutely Abby is on a mission to help 1 million job seekers get back to work.  She used to drive in her RV, but now flies and speaks pro bono at job support groups all over the country.  Her Career Wake Up calls have inspired me and countless others to keep job hunting, and how to avoid common pitfalls.  Today’s presentation is 9 ways to “Take Your Job Search By Storm”:

  1. Be Perceptive: #1 job search fact – There are very few facts about the job search.  For example, there are no authorities on how many pages your resume can be; Abby’s resume is 3 pages long.  Do what works for you and your industry.
  2. Be Prepared: Using Linkedin, Facebook, Google, and your network, research the company and the people you’re interviewing with.  Bring up any similarities to build rapport.  Personalize your answer as to why you want to work at the company.  People who have personal reasons for working at a particular company tend to stay longer.  Prepare for behavioral questions using 10 positive and negative stories, memorizing one word for each story to help you.  Memorize your answers to the top 12 HR questions to get past recruiters.  See Abby’s book “Top 12 Interview Questions” for help with these questions.
  3. Be Prudent:  Complaining is contagious.  Don’t complain about anything (weather, Trump, sports teams, religion, politics, job/boss,resume- anything!) unless only your pets can hear you!  Fake it ’til you make it, if necessary.  Abby shared funny, real-life typos.  My favorite: “Seeking a salary commiserate (instead of commensurate) with my experience.”
  4. Be Persistent:  Set goals you can reach; e.g. meet one new person at Career Connectors today.  Don’t stop your job search because you have an offer; keep searching just in case something happens, like funding gets pulled before you start (this is real—it’s happened to me).  Leave your house—get out and network.  Career Connectors is a good start, but don’t stop there.  Apply for the job if you are 65% qualified.  Hiring managers feel like they can be picky since it’s an employer’s market, but they usually hire someone who’s the best cultural fit, not the most qualified.
  5. Be Picturesque:  LinkedIn profiles with professional photos get 14x more views than those without, so that cute photo of you and your dog won’t work unless you’re a vet or a dog trainer.  Abby shared some funny profile photos, all of which were actually used on LinkedIn.  Pro tip: wear a swatch of the company’s color in a visible location when you go for the interview.
  6. Be Predominant:  Recruiters still use job boards, such as Monster, Career Builder and Indeed.  Refresh your resume once a week on Sunday, and let the recruiters find you.
  7. Be Pliable:  Become a coach by deciding what kind of coach you are, and looking for clients.  Write a book.  It can be self-published, be a children’s book, or be a blank gag book called “Everything Men Know About Women,” which bought product placement at Barnes and Noble and sold like hotcakes.
  8. Be Pleased:  You may not have a job right now, but be grateful for the many things that you do have.  After Hurricane Sandy, many people were without food, water and shelter.  Make a list of 10 things you’re grateful for, read it in the morning and at night before bed.  This will help reduce the effects of the job search emotional roller coaster.
  9. Be Patient:  We’re ALL going to land; the only questions are when and where.  Keep that in mind and keep going!

Hiring Companies

Dexcom

Dawn Ridz, Sr Technical Recruiter, @Dexcom

Dexcom manufactures a bluetooth-enabled continuous glucose monitoring system.  Its employees are passionate about helping people with diabetes.  The FDA has just approved their device that requires only 2 finger sticks a day; it has also been approved for Medicare.  They are hiring right now for customer ops (inside sales) and technical support, for a 4-1-2017 start date.

Clique Hiring Solutions

LT Ladino Bryson, Sr. Managing Partner, @LTLadino

Clique is passionate about finding the right fit for both their client companies and job seeking clients.  They are a placement firm with clients like Tesla and Disney.  At the moment, they are looking for a Credit Representative (collections) which will pay $40K plus benefits.  There is a $500 referral fee to the person who refers whoever gets hired.  Clique believes in paying for referrals.

State Farm

DeAnne Prigmore, Recruiter, @StateFarm

State Farm is family-oriented place to work with great benefits.  Part-time employees get full time benefits.  State Farm still has pensions, which start after 1 year and vest at 5 years.  Their new Marina Link facility will be a learning and networking center for both State Farm employees and the public.  There is a career fair on Thursday, January 26th at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe from 9am – 2pm.  They are looking for IT people with Java experience, as well as people bilingual in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese.

 

Closing

Sheila thanked all of the volunteers and partners for helping making this event a success.  Join the Career Connectors LinkedIn group–Sheila’s mission is to make it into the top 10 LinkedIn groups in Phoenix (we are very close!).

All military and veterans, including spouses, are invited to the free Military Career Event on February 22 10am-1pm at North Phoenix Baptist Church Conference Center in Phoenix, AZ, for a free networking and hiring event.

Abby Kohut’s topic on February 1 in North Phoenix is “Exposing the Hidden Job Market.”  Register here.