Career Connectors

Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

Career Connectors eUpdate
Subscribe Here

encouragement

9/15/16 – Crush the Pink Slip: Get Back to Work in 60 Days

by

Written by Susan Lamphiear

As we recently commemorated the 15th year anniversary of 9-11, most of us remember where we were September 11, 2001, because it was a life-changing event. The whole nation, possibly much of the world, reflected on that day, and all that has happened since, as we try to make sense of it.

Most people have experienced at least one personal 9-11 in their lives, and probably more than one.  It’s that moment when life changes as we once knew it. It could technically even be a happy moment like a marriage or the birth of a baby or a child going off to college. An alarm or wakeup call that time marches on and tomorrow is promised to no one. Or it can be a shocking life event like illness or a death of a loved one, an accident or natural disaster,  the change or end of a relationship,  or,  JOB LOSS — forever altering our own world.

A mammoth event, national or personal, though difficult, can lead to growth and positive changes or insights. It makes me think of that song,  “There’s Got to Be a Morning After….if we can hold on through the night.”

Keynote

Best day of Brenda Cunningham’s life happened in January, 2009. But how can that be, you say, since that was the month Brenda was laid off from her high-paying, well-respected career as an electrical engineer? She didn’t realize at the time it was the best day of her life. That came after a little couch surfing and contemplation. At the time her two kids were under age five.

Once she reflected and realized she’d been working so hard she didn’t have time to live, the next thought was, “Crap. I don’t have a job. I love my babies but love ‘em after three o’clock.”

When Brenda was laid off she admits her confidence took an immediate and severe hit. Millions of dollars had crossed her hands in business deals. She was busy on conference calls day and night. But she realized after the layoff she’d been going through the motions. She was always working, conference calling on her blue tooth, even as she picked up her kids from daycare. Life was passing her by.

Her husband would come home that first month of her layoff and say, “What’s going on?” as he looked around at the chaotic scene. “And where’s dinner?”

Then one day, “It was like the hand of God pulled me off the couch and said, ‘Get to work!’”

Since that ominous day in 2009, Brenda, among many other things, has written a book, CRUSH the Pink Slip: Get Back to Work in 60 Days which stresses three important points she wanted to share with other job hunters. Have a goal, a game plan, and a realistic time table.

Brenda’s Takeaway Wisdom for the Job Hunter

  • You need to do more than the average job seeker. Be willing to get uncomfortable, including networking.
  • Face the fact there are certain things it takes (for most people) to get a job in this day and age.
  • Update your resume. Remember that layoffs are no surprise. They’ve been a reality for some time now.
  • Work on your resume remembering there are many opinions about resumes floating around out there. Be selective about whose advice you take. Her best advice is to tailor your resume to fit the job you want.
  • Use LinkedIn! It’s no longer optional! Remember it was never intended to be a quick job search tool. It’s a long term strategy. (Be sure to include a professional head shot, not a selfie!)
  • Keep yourself in good health. She goes to the gym. Early. Remember what Kobe Bryant says at his speaking engagements: “I’m here because of 4 AM.” Be willing to put in the work to get a job and to be healthy doing it.
  • Know what you are looking for! If someone says to her, “I just need a job” her response might be, “I heard QT is hiring.” With all due respect to QT, she says most people don’t mean just any job. Be willing and able to articulate that. “I want a position in IT working for…..” Be as specific as you can. Name the industry at least, better yet, the company. More than likely most people at least want something more specific such as Project Management, IT network security, or Customer service manager.
  • When you network, follow up. Don’t expect someone to remember you if you haven’t seen or contacted them for five years. She references a cousin who only calls when she needs money. Guess how often Brenda takes her calls these days?

Brenda urges us to remember Napoleon Hill’s words from his book — Think and Grow Rich: “There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants and a burning desire to possess it.”  Be able to explain what you’re looking for and then be willing to put in the hard work your personal career goal probably requires and deserves.

Hiring Companies

Health Net

Bonnie Taylor, Sr. Staffing Consultant

Health Net, after being acquired by Centene in 2016, is now one of the largest providers of Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and other government-sponsored and commercial programs in the country in addition to being the number four Fastest Growing Company (Forbes 2015). The company takes pride in operating locally. Benefits include medical, dental and vision; short and long-term disability for employees working at least 30 hours; life insurance; financial plans like 401K, Paid Time Off and more. Bonnie states that no one ever says they can’t work for the company because of their benefits! Career opportunities available with the company include Behavioral Health, Analysts, Clinical and Nursing, IT and more. A tip for locating jobs in Arizona — type “Arizona” in the key word search.  For a complete list of careers, visit their website or contact Bonnie Taylor.

Northwestern Mutual

Jessica Bowles, Director of Recruitment and Selection

Northwestern Mutual has been around for 160 years, with offices today in all 50 states. Known as the Policyowners’ Company, their products include mutual funds, disability insurance, annuities and life insurance. The company prides itself on being an industry leader with high ratings from all four major agencies. Supportive team environment and capable, encouraging leadership are among their hallmarks. Opportunities currently available at Northwestern Mutual in Phoenix include Marketing Assistant, Financial Representative/Advisor and Assistant Financial Representative. For more information or to apply, visit their website.

Career Evolutions

Christian Kaijser, Managing Director

Career Evolutions, a Hiring Company, offers support throughout the full employment lifecycle in functional areas of Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Technology, and Direct-Hire & Consulting.

Advice from Christian

Christian reminded us that it’s all about attitude (80%) and aptitude (20%). Employers are looking for people with desire and passion for the job and people who are tech savvy. To stand out, today’s candidate should possess appropriate appearance, intellect and presentation.

He urges everyone to use social media including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Blogs to brand yourself and to stand out. He admits that the job search sucks, that some careers and locations are hot, some not. Administrative and Finance are hot areas right now. Going to Houston may not be so “hot” right now for the job hunter.

  1. Start the job search immediately.
  2. Treat the search like a job.
  3. Be open to interim positions, freelancing or consulting.
  4. Don’t panic, be patient, but don’t be overly picky.
  5. Stay fit.
  6. Network.
  7. Have a dynamic, relevant and error-free document portfolio.
  8. Manage your personal and professional brand.
  9. Do your homework; stay fresh and engaged.
  10. Don’t prematurely talk salary, vacations, and schedules.

If you’re worried about age discrimination, take time to get current. He explains his own metamorphosis from 1995 to present day — where he’s evolved from yesterday’s a little overweight and out of fashion guy to today’s with-it businessman with spiky blond hair and a leaner silhouette.

For more information on the company, visit their site.

TJX

Susana Romero, HR Recruiter

TJX is the leading off-price apparel and home fashion retailer in the U.S. Brands include such stores as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods. “Off-price” indicates brand names, fashion, price and quality. Typical benefits as an employee include direct deposit, associate discount, holidays/sick time/ bereavement leave, Medical/Vision/Dental insurance, and much more. Current home office positions in Phoenix include Fulltime positions of Distribution Center Supervisor, Finance Supervisor, Merchandise Controller, and Loss Prevention Specialist. For more information or to apply, visit their website.

Resources

New Horizons Learning Center

Zack Hiscock, VP Learning and Development

New Horizons Learning Center is the world’s largest independent IT Training Company “turning ambitions into marketable skills.” Their goal is to empower people to success through training. Most programs they offer end with a certification which can help students differentiate themselves from the competition. Certifications include Microsoft Office, Cisco, IT Programs, Office Management or Healthcare Records Management and more. The training center helps students find just the right program to suit each person including experience, job market, salary requirements, funding, and flexibility of training needs. Courses are offered using a variety of methods including traditional instructor-led, online LIVE learning, and online ANYTIME learning. Tools include hands-on labs, reference materials, practice exams, learning guides, course ware, and exam preparation. Job placement assistance is also available at this State-of-the-Art facility. Funding is also available. Contact them for a free consultation, or visit their website for more information on classes and funding.

Closing

Executive Director Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the meeting, thanking volunteers and the host site, Highlands Church. Attendees were reminded to take advantage of the free DISC assessment available to Career Connectors’ members. During breakout sessions, everyone was invited to participate in the free resources available including talking directly to hiring managers, getting professional head shots taken, consulting with professional resume writers, and networking with other attendees.

The next meeting of Career Connectors will be held Tuesday, September 27, 2016, in Gilbert, starting at 9:00 AM. and featuring keynote address by Pamela Heward –The Work Before the Work: Box Free Breakthroughs for a New Career and Mind.

The next Scottsdale event will be Thursday, October 13, 2016, at 9:00 AM. Keynote address, The Key to Improving Your Job Search, will be presented by Greg Harnyak.

For an ongoing list of events and details about time, address, and program, click here.

 

 

 

6/9/16 – Up Yours! Up Your Power, Up Your Performance, Up Your Personal Pitch!

by

Career Connectors Up Yours eventWritten by Susan Lamphiear

What do superstars Taylor Swift and Michael Jordan have in common? Well, for starters, they’ve both gone on record as not wanting to be average. And most people would agree they rank as top achievers in their fields. Taylor says, “I’m intimidated by the fear of being average.” And Michael echoes that same refrain — “All I know is that I never wanted to be average.”

After seeing the cover of our guest speaker’s book, Average is an Addiction, I’ve been thinking about the phenomenon and googling the topic of “average.” The experts seem to agree that high achievers have particular attributes besides talent and intelligence that make them excel.

Keynote

Deborah Dubree, our keynote speaker, has a lot to say about being average, in her book,  and in her presentation today. Deborah appears anything but average. But years ago, she started out with low expectations for herself. Armed with a high school diploma, she took a job as a receptionist but after six months was bored to tears.  Urged to apply for an upcoming promotion with the construction division of the company (come over to the dark side, they said), and knowing nothing about accounting, or construction for that matter, Deborah applied, interviewed for a position that appeared to require both, and was hired. The rest, as they say, is history.

Deborah has learned so much over the years about success. She wrote a whole book about being average after she observed  many truly talented and educated people somehow fell just short of success, often when they were teetering on the brink of a breakthrough. She wondered why.

Deborah began her career as a receptionist, but gradually through research on herself, and research on success, came to be known as an expert. She received numerous certifications, educated herself in the science of the brain, and finally pursued her role coaching NFL players and others who wanted to stand out from the crowd.

People fundamentally make three mistakes, Deborah says.

  • They wonder why what they’re doing isn’t enough. But have they stayed focused, identified who they are and taken meaningful action? Have they learned their strengths and tapped into how to reach “the zone,” that often illusive peak performance high?
  • They complain, “But I’m not average.” But everyone has areas where they’re average. It’s just not possible to be average in your chosen field if you’re going to be successful, though.
  • They settle for False focus. For example, in the job search, if you focus only on resume, LinkedIn profile, business attire, professional photo and research, those are comfortable and don’t necessarily lead to that great job. While these areas are important, the bulk of your time is better spent in riskier areas like attending events, making phone calls, engaging in impromptu conversation, doing interviews, and making follow-up calls.

You have to know what you believe, and if your beliefs are justified, and then stay focused.

Lots of people out there are talented, Deborah reminds us. But the thing key that makes the difference is  successful people handle stressful situations well and manage their emotions. They also take meaningful action because they have a plan.

Deborah’s challenge to everyone in attendance: Go out there and do ONE THING that scares you. When you’ve taken risks and succeeded, despite fear, then you’ll wonder, “If I can do this, what else can I do?”

When Deborah first entered her career as a coach, someone suggested she first talk to high school athletes. But she said, “No, I want to work with NFL players.” Sometimes you’ve gotta take a LEAP, she stresses. “Sometimes just a slight pivot” at the right time can take your career higher than you’d ever imagined.

More Tips from Deborah (but only if you want to be a high achiever)

Tame and Train your BEAST

B Beliefs impact our behavior. Make sure you know what your beliefs are, including beliefs about yourself.

E Emotion All decisions are based on emotions. So be able to manage your emotions and therefore mange stress.

A Acute Awareness—This includes being aware of yourself and others.

S Self Identify Who are you?

T Talk and Walk  Body language and verbal language are equally important.

The 7 Cs of Excellence

  1. Choice
  2. Consciousness
  3. Change
  4. Courage
  5. Confidence
  6. Commitment
  7. Consistency

Hiring Companies

International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE)

Jason Brambier, Corporate Recruiter

International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE), a global travel and leisure organization, provides cruise and vacation fulfillment services. Headquartered in Scottsdale, the company has been awarded Best Places to Work 2013 and 2014 by The Phoenix  Business Journal and the Spirit of Enterprise Innovator Award by the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business.  The culture there is casual and offers numerous perks including onsite wellness clinic, onsite massage therapists, free onsite Fitness Center and so much more. Employing both inbound and outbound sales for all vacation travel, other non-sales positions currently open include software engineers, member marketing, graphic designer, help desk analyst, and creative director. For a complete list of positions and to apply, visit their website.

TEKsystems

Nick Bielinski, Technical Recruiter

TEKsystems specializes in staffing for technical positions but they can point non-tech job seekers in the right direction since they are part of the family of Allegis, the largest private talent firm in the world. TEKsystems offers the largest global network of credentialed IT professionals. Recruiters in the company, dedicated to specific skills sets, also actively engage with the community so they share market knowledge with job seekers including who is hiring and who’s experiencing hiring freezes. Positions available through the company include project managers, business analysts, network engineers, QA engineers and more. For more information on their staffing services or to submit your resume, visit their website.

Charles Schwab

Curtis Crawford, Sr.Talent Adviser

Charles Schwab believes in the power of investing for everyone.  The company services investors, advisors and employers. Headquartered in San Francisco, Schwab employs 15,400 full-time employees and has received 15 awards in 2015 for their employee-friendly workplace. Opportunities in Phoenix include the broker training program, relationship specialist, and estate services professional operations. The culture of the company is strength-based and offers everyday wellness, employee resource groups and employee development programs. To apply, visit their website, submit your resume, and answer qualifying questions. After those steps, a recruiter will review your resume and qualifying questions and contact you if there’s a strong match.

Resources

New Horizons Learning Center

Zack Hiscock, VP Learning & Development

New Horizons Learning Center is one of several State-of-the-Art Training Facilities which teams with Career Connectors to offer training to adults upgrading their skills or adults seeking to gain competitive skills in their job search. Located in Phoenix near the airport, the school offers three modalities for training including traditional, instructor-led classroom training, online LIVE learning, and online ANYTIME learning. They offer a six-month free retake policy on all classes and boast four brand new classrooms and a virtual lab. Classes include information technology, office management, healthcare records, PMP, and Six Sigma, to name a few. After classes are completed, the school also helps students find a job. For more information on classes or funding, visit their website.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director for Career Connectors, thanked attendees, hiring companies, volunteers, and host for the event, Highlands Church.  She announced that after the break, informal breakout sessions would give participants an opportunity to meet hiring managers, receive free professional head shot photos, and talk to experts about resume writing and LinkedIn.

The next Career Connectors event will be held in two weeks due to the calendar this time.

  • The very next event will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at 9:00 AM in Gilbert.
  • The next Phoenix event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 6, 201, at 9:00 AM.
  • The very next Scottsdale event will be held Thursday, July 14, 2016, at 9:00 AM and will feature keynote speaker Kevin Dumcum on the topic “LinkedIn’s Power of Connection.”

For detailed information or to register for any or all events, click here.

 

 

5/12/16 – The Optimist’s Advantage

by

Written by Susan Lamphiear

Making meaning out of life’s problems and tragedies brings to mind John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted.  Walsh certainly didn’t set out to be known for helping find missing children and prosecuting the perpetrators, but it happened because he was forced into a club no one would ever want to join—parent of a murdered child.

I recently found myself watching a show where both John Walsh and his adult son, Callahan, were being interviewed, and realized his son participates in his parents’ life mission — to help families of missing and exploited children.

While, hopefully, none of us will ever face in a whole  lifetime, the pain of this family’s loss of a child in such a violent way, we all face problems and heartbreaks of our own in the course of living.  It’s just life. What has amazed me over the years is the positive energy often generated from what started out as a negative event. I’ve been in awe.

Our speaker today calls on all of us to channel optimism as we face life in all its beauty and its heartaches, whether it is job loss or one of the other of life’s surprises or detours.

Keynote

Kirk Wilkinson, world-renowned for his expertise in leadership and personal development, but no stranger to life’s ups and downs, remains an optimist in the face of the early trauma of abandonment by his mother. Kirk has faced job loss and two bouts with cancer, too.

Kirk emphasizes that research indicates people who can somehow learn to be optimistic find more happiness, thrive, and even live longer!

 Kirk’s Tips  for Gaining the Advantages of the Optimist in Your Career  (and the rest of life)

  • Give yourself more credit. He wants us to take the word “failure” out of our dictionary. Famous for his delightful popcorn, Orville Redenbacher failed many times according to some standards. Or, did he just find countless strains of popcorn that didn’t work? Research indicates that only 10% of our happiness depends on circumstances. A whopping 40% is programming.  If your family was negative, you’re more apt to have that tendency. And 50% lies in circumstances we can control.
  • Dream big.  Don’t settle for less—just handle your dreams differently. Ask small questions, solve small problems, take small steps.  For example, in the job hunt, consider the following actions. 1. Get up in the a.m. 2. Take time to define the job—in 30 words or less. 3. Spend a shorter time each day on the job search—do other things—take a walk or tend to other things which define you as a human being.  Remember, you are not your job! Kirk has found that between jobs he’s managed to really enjoy life. Really.
  • Eliminate the Drama. Learn to underreact. If you “freak out,”  people may not  tell you the truth. If you freak out, you also don’t think as clearly—for example—his son’s car broke down on the roadside just as Kirk was getting ready to get his precious, vital amount of needed sleep—so he decided to underreact…and he suddenly remembered he had roadside assistance. He didn’t need to get dressed and drive to rescue his son after all.
  • Re-tell the stories you tell yourself. Everything happens for a REASON—BUT YOU get to choose the reason—YOU get to tell the story so that you are hero of your own story—so you don’t have to be a victim. Tell your story in a way that makes meaning of your challenges or tragedies.

When he was eight years old, his Mother abandoned him and his siblings without warning.  What could an eight-year-old possibly have done to have made his mother leave the family?—the answer—NOTHING—he wasn’t responsible.  So in the  retelling of his story—he avoids being the victim. Don’t let painful things that happen to you take away your optimism, either,  like it did in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,  where people were so caught up in winning the golden  ticket, they not only stopped savoring the chocolate, they even stopped eating it!

Remember, you can retell your story if you find just ONE positive thing. Because after all, who doesn’t want to be happier and live longer? All you have to do is be optimistic in the face of life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Hiring Companies

Paychex

Andrea Olson and Essence Royal, Recruiters

Paychex has grown to over 13,000 employees in 100+ locations, providing a wide range of services including HR outsourcing, workers’ compensation, and Health and Benefits.  With over 600,00 clients, the company is the proud recipient of many awards.  These include being listed as one of “100 Best Companies to Work For” from Fortune, and “100 Best Places to Work in IT” from Computerworld.  With these accolades and an impressive array of benefits, Paychex offers some exciting opportunities ranging from Senior Management and Information Technology to Corporate Marketing, Sales and Customer Service/Operations.  The company website offers insight into the company’s culture, values, open positions, and even advice on interviewing with Paychex.

VincentBenjamin

Michelle Rogers, Practice Lead

VincentBenjamin is a fast growing staffing firm specializing in IT, Accounting and Finance contract and permanent placements.  Michelle shared some great tips for anyone wanting to present themselves professionally: use a professional email address and leave out any photos on your resume.  76% of resumes are discarded for an unprofessional email address! She also advised us to scan our own social media presence, since recruiters will too.

VincentBenjamin focuses on all levels of positions including CIOs, CFOs, Customer Service for clients, as well as internal sales and recruiter openings.  More detail can be found online.

State Farm

DeAnne Prigmore, Recruiter

DeAnne shared State Farm’s mission of helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.  State Farm is in the process of building the Marina Heights facility, which will sit on approximately 20 acres and feature retail and restaurant space and a 10-acre lakeside plaza.  Immediate openings include Data Scientist, Infra Analyst, Software Developer, Security Analyst, Bank Supervisor, Loan Processor, Customer Service and Sales Reps, Claim Associate, and Nurse Reviewer-Medical Resource.  Read more about their Phoenix operations here.

Resources

Rohn Financial Strategies, Inc.

Thomas Rohn and Jamey Pugh

Thomas Rohn and Jamey Pugh offered suggestions for managing financial stress during career transition.  Tom quoted renowned sport psychologist Michael Gervais, most well known for his work with the Seattle Seahawks.  According to Gervasis, his approach emphasizes the root causes of an athlete’s anxiety.  By learning to control their anxieties, the athlete can be in the present moment and that increases their ability to perform at the highest levels.

Jamey presented five tips for calming that financial “lion” in the room, as Gervais refers to anxiety.

  • Have a spending plan. Take a look at expenses you can eliminate or reduce, such as health clubs, cable TV and kids’ activities.
  • Inventory your resources. Take stock of your assets, cash, funds and liabilities.
  • Watch your debt (credit cards). It’s probably a good idea to pay cash and put the credit cards away for the time being.
  • Protect yourself from loss. Don’t cancel insurance but consider cutting back wherever you can.
  • Develop plan “B” in case the job search extends longer than you’d thought.

Rohn Financial Strategies offers a one-hour consultation, budget forms, 401(k) rollovers and financial planning. Reach them through their website.

Canyon State Institute

Sheri Carparelli, President and CEO

Canyon State Institute offers only high-demand certifications based on labor market projections.  Classes are small (limited to 6 people for most programs) and short term (4-16 weeks).  Graduates are encouraged to audit the next set of classes while studying to pass the national exam, and are offered job placement assistance.  The Career Advisor’s employment director has over 30 years of staffing services experience in Phoenix.

Programs offered include Microsoft Office, Medical Support Specialist, Information Technology, Project Management, Human Resources, and Process Improvement.  Funding is available through WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), Veterans programs, DES Vocational Rehabilitation, TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), and educational line of credit.  For additional information or to schedule a tour, contact Sheri or visit the website.

Closing

Jessica thanked everyone for attending today’s event, as well as our host facility, Highlands Church.

 

 

4/14/16 – Identifying the Best Career for You

by

By Susan Lamphiear

Can’t decide what  you want and you’re a job seeker? You’re not alone, the experts say.  But this is a huge mistake when it comes to the job search and pretty much anything we do in life. How will you know when you arrive if you don’t know where you’re going? How many times have we heard that old adage? That’s because it’s so true, as our keynote speaker stressed today. Start by asking yourself what you want, what strengths match, and what you’re passionate about as you set out to find the work you love — your Dream Job.

Keynote

Looking back, from the time she was a young child in middle school, Keynote Speaker Lisa Phalen, certified coach and HR consultant,  recognizes  she was very good at helping people even then. Kids would call to her from lunch or ask to speak to her privately about their lives and their problems. It was a common thread. In high school, friends came to her continuously, asking for help—she would listen, ask questions and then her friends found solutions—she was coaching before she knew what it was.

Her parents moved around a lot, including Lisa’s senior year in high school. In preparation to attend college, she was asked by Arizona State University (ASU), since they’d moved to Arizona by then, what her major was, and when she didn’t know,  they asked her,” What attracts you?”  And for some unknown reason she blurted out, “HR.” While she liked all segments of HR, she always loved the coaching part. It was part of that lifelong feeling that people came to her for help. And she liked it.

Even though she waited to pursue her dream of a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, she has used her core strength of helping people throughout her career.These days she is finally pursuing her degree in Oranizational Psychology.

Is it any wonder, then, that she wanted to encourage us to refine our job search to take advantage of what we love doing, not just what we’re good at. So many times we default into a career because we’re told we excel in an area. Lisa gives us permission and encouragement to realize our strengths but to make sure to factor in what we’re passionate about.

The focus of her presentation today included the steps to identify and find the best job for you — that Dream Job.

Finding Your DREAM Job

Determine what your dream job really is

Research – job sites and job descriptions

Expertise —  build your expertise in your field of interest

Associations –join professional organizations

Mark your target (company)

Identifying a Career Match

  • Assessments
  • Know your bottom line
  • Funnel
  • Follow your heart
  • Assessment

Assessments

  • Career inventories – Strong Career Inventory, O-net Interest Profiler
  • Temperament Assessments – MBTI, DISC, True Colors, Kiersey*, Big Five Personality*, NERIS Explorer*
  • Strengths Assessments – Vaues Inventory*, Strengthsfinder, StandOut
  • Additional Assessments – TKI, Emotional Intelligence*, VARK Learning Style*

The Career Match Formula

  • Insights from assessments – What are your strengths?
  • Bottom line – Consider things like salary, benefits, travel, and culture.
  • Marketplace – What’s actually available in your area?

Know your Bottom Line

  • Consider things like salary, benefits, career development opportunities, flexibility, culture, work tools and resources.
  • Consider what you don’t want such as travel requirements, weekend or on call work, or excessive commutes

    The Career Match Funnel

  • No conditions
  • Qualifications
  • Work-life-balance
  • Location
  • Uniqueness

After you go through this process, step back and take stock and identify the best career for you which ideally will take into account your strengths and passions. Follow your heart.

Hiring Companies

SiteLock

Kathleen Klein, Corporate Recruiter

SiteLock, a website security company founded in 2008, and privately held by Unitedweb, has grown quickly  from 50 employees in 2014 to 200 employees today. A 24/7 business with international customers, it’s the number one provider of website security solutions; they protect about 10 million customers globally. Their mission? To protect every site on the Internet. Headquartered in Scottsdale, they have offices in Boston, MA and Jacksonville, FL. Products include malware detection, malware alert and removal tool, and credit card protection tools and more. Awards include fastest growing technology company in Arizona by the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 List and “Best Places to Work” by The Phoenix Business Journal. Company benefits include full medical, dental and vision, 15 days of PTO and 7 paid Holidays, company-paid life insurance, company-paid short and long term disability coverage, and free food—catered lunches every Friday. To gather more information or to apply, visit their website for opportunities including inside sales rep, technical support agent, and website security.

Adecco USA

Michelle Grinberg, Regional Account Director

Adecco USA, largest staffing company in the world, has presence in 60 countries and a 50-year history. Formerly clerical, Adecco USA now handles clerical and so much more including customer service, creative and marketing professionals, accounting and finance, light industrial, engineering and technology, IT, and medical and science. The company staffs for Fortune 500s along with medium and small local business clients and include temporary, temporary-to-hire, direct placement, master vendor, and more. Since 2005, Adecco has placed over 5,400 engineering and IT professionals with 264 companies in the Phoenix market. Each potential employee is assigned a recruiter. Other benefits include medical, 401K, short-term and long-term disability, and free online skills training. Training classes include management, leadership and IT. Currently located in Mesa, they are merging with Modis and will also have a location in Scottsdale or the Biltmore area. To apply, visit their website.

Revana/Teletech

Mary Ann Lopez, Recruiter

Revana/Teletech, a recognized leader, is a business process and sourcing company, employing over 1500 in their Tempe and Phoenix locations.  Some of their clients include  AT&T, Facebook, FedEx, Google, IBM, Oracle, Toshiba and Xerox. They need Inbound and Outbound Sales Associates, Sales Managers, Digital Account Executives (Google), Sr. Specialist,  Quality Assurance, Marketing-Statistician, and Data Analyst. The company offers opportunities to get a foot in the door and develop your career. They’ve won awards and recognition including the 2009 Stevie Award for Sales and Customer Service. Some of the benefits of working for the company include paid training, competitive base salary with commissions, career advancement, flexible work schedules medical and dental benefits after 30 days and more. The environment is casual. To apply, visit their website or stop by–in person– Mon – Fri between 9-3 p.m. and complete the entire employment process.

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Rodger Brubacher, Director of Continuing Education

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants offers certification programs for career and professional development including Project Management, Six Sigma, Medical Front Office Administrative Assistant & Billing/Coding Specialist, Microsoft Office Specialist, and Digital Marketing with Social Media. Also available are Cybersecurity Programs and Certifications. For the 12th straight year the school has received the Juniper Platinum Education Partner of the Year in the Americas. Classes are kept small at a ratio of six students to one instructor. The school has onsite state of the art facilities, with over 95% of their students passing the certification exams on the first sitting. Funding is available, so feel free to contact the school or go to their website for more information or to enroll.

Closing

Sandi Ashton, Vice President of the Board of Directors for Career Connectors, closed the formal part of the meeting before adjourning to breakout sessions. She reminded everyone in attendance at Career Connectors they are eligible to take– for free– the DISC assessment. During the breakouts attendees may obtain free professional head shots, coaching in LinkedIn, resume preparation guidance, and conversations with hiring companies. She thanked volunteers for their service and Highlands Church for providing the beautiful facility.

Next event for Career Connectors will be held in Gilbert on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 9 AM. How to Work a Job Fair will be presented by keynote speaker Andy Ridley.

The Phoenix event will be held Wednesday, May 4, 2016, 9 AM and features the topic Get Hired by the Best—Advancing your Career with a Best Company featuring Jessica Pierce, Career Connectors Executive Director and Denise Gredler, President and Founder of BestCompaniesAZ.  This event will a panel feature discussion with 8 hiring companies: Charles Schwab, USAA, DISH, Synchrony Financial, Freedom Financial Network, Dignity Health, Arizona Federal  Credit Union and Vanguard.

Then the next Scottsdale event will be Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 9 AM in Scottsdale featuring keynote speaker Kirk Wilkinson speaking on the topic The Optimist’s Advantage.

For more details including exact locations, click here.

Parting Thoughts

Towards further inspiration, check out Scott Dinsmore’s TED talk–How to find the work you love. Just in case you missed the first mention. Yes. It’s that inspiring.

“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you beome most truly alive.”

~ Oprah Winfrey

10/15/15 — Get the Job Fast

by

Written by Susan Lamphiear

If your heart starts pounding in the middle of the night, say, three a.m., could be you hear a burglar, or you drank too much caffeine. Or maybe you’re looking for a job! After hearing our keynote speaker, I’m recalling a famous quote that for a while, in my twenties and before the Internet, I thought maybe I’d coined the line. (I must have been experiencing some twenty-something angst.) It was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lines going something like this: “In the dark night of the soul, it’s always three o’clock in the morning.”

I hated to start the blog with such a dreary thought,  but something our keynote speaker said made me think of the quote. Confident, competent, funny, outgoing, even our famous Dave wakes up breathless sometimes, panicky, in the middle of the night when he’s contemplating his own career search. So, it must be a common, though disturbing, phenomenon.

Keynote

Get the Job Fast — How to Find a Great New Job in Half the Time

Entrepreneur and small business owner for a couple of decades, Dave Sherman now wants to help job searchers more than ever before because he’s been both fired and laid off in recent years and now he really “gets it” in a way he didn’t before.

“Being fired or laid off sucks!” says Dave.

Prior to recent times, Dave’s only brush with being fired was in 1975 from The Red Barn, what he refers to as a “terrible restaurant.”

Referencing that proverbial career path , Dave said his path has been more like a mine field, a tar pit or a forest fire.

Still, his continuing advice throughout his presentation is to stop complaining, whining and moaning. Instead, take action, he says. This doesn’t mean Dave doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night in a panic. Actually, he’s very specific to say he often wakes up about 4 a.m. thinking, “What’s wrong with me? What did I do?”

Still, Dave has some very specific tips about the job hunt. After asking those of us in attendance how many would rather be somewhere else today, he dives into his tips, pausing a couple of times to complain he needs more time as he tries to catch Jessica’s eye from the back. “No?” He says he asks for more time than 45 minutes each time he speaks, but it’s not happening.

After singing praises to Career Connectors and other networking adventures, Dave admits, “Looking for a job online sucks. It feels like you’re throwing your resume into a black hole.”

Dave’s 5 Tips for Finding and Landing a Job in Half the Time!

  • Get out of the house!  It helps you maintain a routine and forces you to socialize so you don’t lose your habits and skills when you get a job. It also stops those voices in your head like he’s experienced from 4-4:30 a.m. when he starts to hyperventilate. The voices hide in your house, so you’ve got to get dressed up and get out every single day.

But where should you go? Anywhere there’s Wi-Fi, says Dave. Paradise Bakery, for example, but he learned there’s Wi-Fi at a dog park and even at his gas station! He personally loves going to hotel lobbies where they have comfortable chairs and air conditioning set at a comfortable 68 degrees.

  • Hang out with employed people who have more connections and are more likely to be open to helping you.
  • Start attending more networking events including Chambers of Commerce, associations, business groups, networking groups and career transition groups. Show up early, bring plenty of business cards, know what you want, and ask for help.
  • Stop looking for a job. Instead, work on your likability and commonality factors. To be more likable — smile, be genuine (Dave said he’s the same person presenting as he is talking one-on-one), and be interested not interesting — Meaning—Ask questions and then LISTEN. To establish commonality, talk about hometowns, hobbies, schools, family, friends and favorites (like sports teams).
  • Four of the most important words EVER: WHO do you know? Ask everyone, be specific, ask this all the time, and don’t give up.

If you’re feeling weird about all this networking, feeling you have nothing to offer, Dave asks you to consider this: When you were employed, were you only your job? Unless the answer is yes, then you’ve plenty to talk about besides jobs. Feeling weird about going to Chamber events (Dave tells us most of these allow you to go to two events free), remember that 85% of the people you’ll find there are there for networking.

Whenever you think of a reason why you can’t possibly follow Dave’s tried and tested tips, Dave wants you to ask yourself, “How badly do you want it?”

Hiring Companies

Freedom Financial

Linda Luman, VP of Human Resources

Freedom Financial, launched in 2002, provides financial services and education to consumers to help them resolve their debt and achieve financial freedom they never dreamed possible. They offer the normal benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401K, life and LT disability, plus everyone gets the four-hour afternoon of their birthday off. Also, employees receive vacation, paid holidays, employee discounts and paid time off for volunteer activities. Available positions include telecom engineer, PMO manager, network administrator, inside sales agents and bilingual customer service agents. To learn more about the company or to apply, visit their website.

Tech Finders

Kristy Bach, VP of Branch Operations

Tech Finders is committed to matching exceptional tech talent with the right company culture. They provide resume tips, interview preparation and guidance through questions and throughout the entire job search process. Job seekers receive access to unlisted job opportunities. Opportunities include project managers, front end developers, java developers, .net developers, security engineer, IT manager, and IT sales.  At the executive level, opportunities exist for recruiting coordinator, HR manager, HRIS analyst, HR business partner, VP President-Talent Acquisition, and recruiter. Go to their website for more information on the company and to apply.

T-Mobile

David Schief, Retail Store Manager

T-Mobile, a mobile phone service provider, prides itself on freeing the customer, driving growth and delivering “awesome.” The energy of their retail stores is bright and bold, featuring neon magenta that frames their counters. Current career positions in their retail include retail sales associates, store operations associates, retails associate managers and retail store manager. The company offers paid training, tailored to your learning style, plus hands-on experience. Benefits include, among others, medical, dental, vision, matching 401K, discounts on T-Mobile Service and BTO (Baby time off). For more information or to apply, visit their website.

Resources

Finances During Career Transition

Thomas Rohn and Jamey Pugh

Thomas Rohn and Jamey Pugh were here to lend support and information about dealing with financial issues while in job transition. Psychologists know that the biggest fear in job loss is money. Tom told about a friend who had been in the same company for 20 years. When asked what his thoughts were, his friend said he wondered what he would tell friends and family.

Jamey Pugh joined Career Connectors as a volunteer and then less than 12 months later her husband lost his job. She realized then that his job was to look for a job. She recommends the following tips based on what she learned personally, during the time before her husband’s return to work, which actually took a little longer than they had imagined.

  • Have a spending plan. Start with spending less.
  • Inventory your resources. File for unemployment. List your sources of income. Consider a part-time job while you search.
  • Watch your debt, including credit cards.
  • Protect yourself from loss. Avoid canceling health insurance or at least have some sort of coverage during this tough time.
  • Develop plan “B” in case the job search takes longer than you’d planned.

Take advantage of a free one-hour consultation from Rohn Financial. This can be done on the phone to maintain your privacy.

Canyon State Institute

Sheri Carparelli

Canyon State Institute offers national certification programs including PMI Project Management, ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt, SHRM CP/SCP in Human Resources, Microsoft Office Specialist and several others.  Certifications help you stay competitive and define your knowledge base, making you more marketable. All certifications offered by Canyon State are high demand, based on labor market projections. The school features small, short-term, instructor-led classes, and career development. For more information on classes or funding sources, visit their website.

Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the meeting. She thanked volunteers and Highlands Church for providing the beautiful facility, and then announced breakout sessions. Attendees were invited to take the DISC assessment free, and then to participate in conversations with hiring managers and to consult with experts on resume writing and LinkedIn, and to take advantage of free professional head shots.

The next Career Connectors event takes place in Gilbert Tuesday, October 27, 2015, 9:00 AM featuring keynote speaker Pamela Hewerd on The Work before the Work: Box Free Breakthroughs for a new Career and Mind.

Then Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 9:00 AM in Phoenix, join the group in Phoenix with presenter Kindra Hal speaking on The Power of  Strategic Storytelling.

The next Scottsdale meeting will be held Thursday, November 12, 2015, 9:00 AM in Scottsdale and features Gloria Petersen speaking on The Power of You.

For more information about dates, directions and registration, click here.