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Connecting professionals in career transition with hiring companies and quality resources

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get a new job fast

12/13/16 – How to Find a Great New Job in Half the Time

December 16, 2016 by Marty Allison

Dave ShermanWritten by Marty Allison

Opening

Jessica Pierce, Executive Director of Career Connectors

Jessica opened the event and let people know that due to accidents and delays on the freeways there would be more people attending the event who were running late.  She talked about an email that she received from someone who attended Career Connectors on Wednesday and based on a referral at that event, they are now employed!  Jessica also explained that the 2017 calendar of events has updated and in January there will be a presentation by a representative from LinkedIn Corporate.   Today’s keynote presentation will be recorded on Facebook Live on the Career Connectors Facebook page.  She noted that Dave Sherman does not sugar-coat things, because he has seen what works.

 

Keynote Speaker

Dave Sherman, Sales Trainer and Speaker

Dave went through his personal job history and joked that over the past four years he went from never being laid off or fired to having both of them happen to him.  While those experiences both stink, the situation does change.  Everyone who is in career transition will find a new job.  It is up to you WHEN that happens.  How badly do you want to be hired?  Crediting his mother for this advice, Dave noted that it is important to get out of your comfort zone.   He provided tips to help connect you with your next job at a faster rate.

 

Tip 1: GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE.

This promotes socialization.  Go to another location that has wifi and work from there.  This could be a coffee shop, bakery, library or anywhere that has internet that you can use for your career transition needs.  This routine “stops the voices” by getting you in a different environment.

 

Tip 2: HANG OUT WITH EMPLOYED PEOPLE.

While Career Connectors is an important resource, in order to get a job you want to go to places where people have jobs.  Maintain contact with people who are working.  Dave works at Mobile Mini and his company is hiring.  He loves his job and noted his willingness to help others who were seeking employment.

 

Tip 3: ATTEND MORE NETWORKING EVENTS.

The five weeks after Thanksgiving are the best time of the year for networking since there are social gatherings around the holidays.  Asking people about their holidays naturally opens up conversation.  Remember that even if you are not currently working, you still have a lot to offer.  Dave suggested attending two networking groups per week, with a breakfast meeting being a good way to start off your day.  Chambers of Commerce, Professional Associations, Business Groups and Networking Groups are all places that you can go for networking.  While in career transition, it is important to know what you are looking for.  Know not just job titles, but know three companies that you want to work for.

 

Tip 4: STOP LOOKING FOR A JOB.

Your focus while attending events should not be on finding a job, but on being likable to others.  Find some commonality with others instead of just telling them your resume and background.  Be genuine and be likable.  Be interested, not interesting.

 

Tip 5: WHO DO YOU KNOW?

The words “Who do you know” are the most important words.  Most people do want to help you as long as you don’t make it too difficult for them.  You need to more specifically know what you want so that other people are better equipped to help you reach that goal.  Networking is only effective if you know what you want.  Ask everyone!  Most people have been impacted by career transition, and if you know what you want… people are willing to help you.

 

Because he hopes that these tips get you to your employment goal, Dave closed out his presentation to an audience in career transition by saying “I hope I never see any of you ever again!”

 

Event Sponsor

Coder Camps, Jason Jones

Coder Camps is a sponsoring organization for Career Connectors.  Jason talked about the difference between Career Connectors and a typical job fair, commenting that job fairs don’t care for you the same as what he sees at Career Connectors.  Jason explained that web developers either stay relevant or job hunt.  98% of them work full time with only 2% experiencing unemployment.  Coder Camps help people stay relevant.  Once you complete your initial class, future classes are free.  Because coders typically need to look for new jobs every 2-3 years, Coder Camps has job placement assistance.  In January, classes in Java will roll out.

 

Hiring Companies

Transperfect   

Abir Sultana, Lead Recruiter

The language services industry is currently one of the fastest-growing markets.  Transperfect works with every major industry.  Over half of the market is in Europe, with the growing North American market being the second largest and growing.  In Tempe the company has expanded to a second building, with both centers near I-10 and Warner, so that they can meet the demand for language services.  Recently, they have expanded from having access to translate 170 languages to now 180 languages.  They do telephonic interpreting, but also handle needs such as subtitling movies into other languages.  In providing examples of the company, Abir noted that at this year’s Thanksgiving potluck, employees brought food representing different cultures to share with others.

 

Arizona Office Technologies

Octavio Duarte, Corporate Recruiter

Arizona Office Technologies is a local company that has been in business for about 30 years.  They are a Xerox company with a goal of optimizing other businesses.  They seek ways to increase efficiency and save costs, so it is important to understand the company culture of their clients.  Octavio described that AOT values giving back to this local community, which includes involvement in community programs such as Christmas Angels and Toys for Tots.  Benefits include that a President’s Club (for all employees, not just sales) will have a trip to Mexico in April.   They seek energetic individuals for business to business sales roles.  In addition to current openings, Octavio anticipates that there will be an upcoming position for a Sale Trainer.

 

Education Management Corp

Mark Pierce, Manager of Talent Acquisition

Mark let the audience know about his work history and how that impacted his wife Jessica and their family.  When previously without employment, Mark was resistant to taking a certain open job position based on his prior income history.  Given changes in the economy, seeing benefit to earning an income instead of no income, and possibly sleeping on the couch until employed… (that last one disputed by wife Jessica as never being a genuine threat), he decided to accept that position and the choice to do so helped him position himself for his current role.  Mark spoke about Education Management Corp (EDMC) having an online presence with the Art Institutes, Argosy, and South University.  He recruits for other positions primarily at Argosy, but offered to be a resource if the recruiter that needs to view your resume is assigned to those online campus positions.  Benefits of employment include 1 day off which can be used to help a non-profit organization.  Mark noted excellent education benefits and is personally using the tuition benefit to obtain a Master’s degree in Counseling.

 

Charles Schwab

Salma McHorney, Sourcing Advisor

Investors have historically had barriers of: High Costs, Lack of Choice, and Lack of Transparency.  “Own your Tomorrow” is tied to the culture at Charles Schwab as they seek to close the gap between the power of investing and their clients.  The company is based in San Francisco, but has several operating centers.  Phoenix is the largest employee base for those operating centers.  Salma discussed that types of employment are typically either “Client Facing” or “Support Role” positions.  Most of the hot jobs in the Phoenix area are looking for candidates who have 1-2 years of financial or customer service experience.

Resources

Canyon State Institute

Laura Eckles, Academic Advisor

As an Academic Advisor, Laura talks to people about their career paths and about ways to get on a fast track to their next career.  Laura discussed the WIOA grant, which is funding for training.  She noted other funding sources, such as TAA for individuals who had a job that was relocated overseas.  Canyon State Institute offers classes on a schedule of day, evening and online sessions.

 

Closing

Jessica Pierce closed the event with some announcements.  For those interested in the WIOA grant, there were three schools on site at the event which accept that funding.  The Facebook Live recording of today’s presentation by Dave Sherman is posted on the Career Connectors Facebook page.  There are additional resources on the Career Connectors website, including the Career Blog section where 15 career experts post different career advice 1-2 times per week.  The DISC assessment is a free resource too.  Jessica thanked those who volunteer for Career Connectors and noted that there were over 85 volunteers contributing this year.  Having an updated LinkedIn page will be important for anyone attending the January 18, 2017 session in Phoenix where a representative from LinkedIn corporate will be presenting.  That presentation will be more beneficial if you already have an established LinkedIn page.  Your successful career transition is in prayer!

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: Transperfect, Coder Camps, get a new job fast, arizona office technologies, Charles Schwab, Education Management Corporation, Job Transition, networking

3/2/16 – Crush the Pink Slip: Get Back to Work in 60 Days

March 6, 2016 by Connie Huber

Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

“THE PINK SLIP”

In the Chilly Willy cartoon, “little Televillian”, Mr. Stoop, tells Smedley that if he’s disturbed while reading show scripts, he would be forced to pink slip Smedley.  Unfortunately, Smedley doesn’t know the meaning of “pink slip”.  Mr. Stoop yells at him,  “It means…you will be fired!”

Unlike Smedley, many of us in today’s workforce are very familiar with receiving and knowing the ramifications of getting a “pink slip”.  Unfortunately it is a very common occurrence to get a “pink slip”.  Workers are losing their jobs due to layoffs, workforce reductions, reorganizations and terminations.

Needless to say, Brenda’s presentation on “Crush the Pink Slip: Get Back to Work in 60 Days” was a welcomed and well-received subject.

Keynote

Brenda Cunningham, @PushCareers

CRUSH THE PINK SLIP:  Get Back to Work in 60 Days

Brenda, like many of us has been the recipient of the cursed “Pink Slip”.  Brenda’s memory of the experience is still very much a part of her professional identity.  Whereas many workers are often paralyzed by the event, Brenda’s experience was a springboard for her to pursue a different career path.

WHY THE BOOK?

Brenda’s intent in writing her book, “Crush the Pink Slip:  Get Back to Work in 60 Days” and new profession was to encourage job seekers, provide a practical roadmap and help accelerate the professional’s transition.

SUCCESSFUL CAREER TRANSITION

Brenda noted job seekers seem to make the same errors in their job search.  In order to have a successful evolution, she recommends the following:

  1. Crystal clear goals.
  2. An effective game plan.
  3. Realistic expectations.

In addition to the above, Brenda encouraged us to PUSH!   PUSH meaning you need to do it and PUSHING being an action.

BRENDA’S FAVORITE DAYS

DAY 1:  READY, FIRE, AIM!  THE IMPORTANCE OF AIM

In executing your job search, you want to avoid saying, “I’m looking for a job.”  Doing so shares a vague idea of what position you are seeking.  Instead reframe the statement by indicating, “I am looking for a project management position”, for example. There are several criteria the job seeker needs to establish to have a positive outcome.  Those include desired industry, function, maximum commute time, ideal company size, target companies (5-20) and salary.

DAY 49:  STOP TWEAKING YOUR JOB SEARCH TO DEATH

Make a commitment to stick to your plan.  Rather than relying on spouses or friends to provide job search advice on such topics as your resume and strategy, reach out to a qualified resume writer and/or career strategist.

DAY 57:  DESPERATION IS NOT A PRETTY COLOR

Desperation does not lend to a positive presentation!  Brenda reminded the group that finding your desired position does take time.  And yes there will be times you will feel desperate!  To offset this feeling, Brenda encouraged us to understand that our transition will take time.  If it is helpful for you then determine how long it took others to find their new position.  Write it down noting it will take between 1 to 6 months.  Having unrealistic expectations will crush your confidence.  Interviewing and selection the right candidate is a timely process.  Practice and accept the mantra  ‘you will not settle for just any job when you are worthy of being fulfilled at work’.

BONUS ITEMS TO CONSIDER

  • LINKEDIN IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL! LinkedIn is the search tool of choice for the majority of recruiters.  Be active on LinkedIn by joining in on group discussions and posting items other members would find of interest.  Brenda reinforced that the job seeker needs to be different and stand out against their competition.  To be further effective on LinkedIn you need to be building your network and nurturing your relationships.
  • LEARN HOW TO FOLLOW UP: Effective follow up will further establish you as the ideal candidate.   A common rule of thumb from career professionals is wait about one week after applying and interviewing to inquire about a decision to hire or confirm receipt of your materials.  Thereafter, it is best to wait two weeks or heed what the hiring managers advise you to do.  In addition, it is important to do what you said you would do.
  • ASSESS YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS: Understand what reasonable salary expectations are for your line of work in 2016.
  • TALK TO YOUR SPOUSE/FAMILY/FRIENDS: Help them understand the situation.  Share some of the things they can do to help them better support you.
  • KNOW IF YOUR INDUSTRY IS CHANGING (AND KEEP UP): Brenda noted it is important to stay current what is going on in your industry.  Great resources for doing so are library databases, Onetonline.org, and professional publications and associations.
  • REFRAME NETWORKING: Many of us dread the thought of networking and quickly cast the activity aside.  Brenda suggests a lifestyle of networking.  Most people wait until they’ve lost a job.  Failing to establish a network may slow your efforts to return to the workforce.  Brenda highly recommends to start building your network now and keep developing it during your transition and throughout your career.  Networking is building a trusted relationship.  Begin a conversation by asking the other person a lot of questions.  Doing so will allow you to reconnect with the person again.  Networking is not always about you and what others can do for you, but rather what you can do for others and meet their needs.

In closing, we have a choice.  When you receive your pink slip you can either curl up in the corner or you can crush the pink slip and get to work in finding a new position.

HIRING COMPANIES

Arizona@Work, City of Phoenix

Waleed Alani, Employment Specialist

Waleed shared with the group the latest unemployment statistics.  There are currently approximately 70,000 available jobs in the Phoenix area.  Opportunities include retail, hotel management, project management and nurses.  Some of the top skills being requested are bilinqual, quality assurance, IT networking, quality control and IT networking project management.  A sampling of hiring employers include Banner Health, Honor Health, Pizza Hut, CVS Health, Dignity Health, United Healthcare, Bank of America, Well Fargo and Oracle.

Waleed enlightened us with the different skill development packages offered by the City of Phoenix.  Those include seminars available to the public; Level 1 Package-Skills Match the Job Market; and Level 2 Package-Research Pathways to Higher Wages. Seminars include:  Arizona Workforce Connection (AJC), How to Create a Winning Resume, Perfecting Your Interviewing Skills, Mock Interview Lab, Understanding LinkedIn, Leveraging LinkedIn, 21st Century Job Search Seminar, and Job Clubs.  Level 1 Package; Skills Match the Job Market is for 3 days and 3 hours.  The 3-day sessions are focused on ways to jumpstart your job search.  Topics discussed are Social Skills, Creating and Implementing a Job Search Plan, Interviewing, and Long Term Career Management.  The 3-hour session emphasizes Employability.  The Level 2 Package; Research Ways to Higher Wages is a 2 day seminar.  Attendees will obtain a better awareness of their career and personal skills along with a discussion of skill gaps and training options.  Waleed also provided the group the LinkedIn algorithm that employers utilize to search for people on LinkedIn.  For more details on the Skills Development Packages, reach out to Waleed at 602-255-4628 or waleed.alani@phoenix.gov.

State of Arizona

Jan Plank, HR Manager III

Jan noted the State of Arizona employs approximately 35,000 employees in over 100 agencies, boards and commissions.  In 2016, 25% of the state’s workers will be retirement eligible.  The average age of the employees is 47.  The state is currently going undergoing a transformation by evaluating its business processes and improving them to be more effective and streamlined.  In addition to the traditional benefits, the state also offers 11% match into retirement after vesting, exceptionally low health care premiums and training opportunities.  A sampling of current positions includes Financial Reporting Accountant, Senior Auditor, Administrative Services Officer, Applications Developer, HR Manager II, Accounts Payable Specialist, Special Collections Librarian, Contract Compliance Supervisor, Behavioral Health Coordinator, Administrative Assistant III and Special Projects Coordinator.  If interested, review the open positions on line and apply online.  Jan noted it is important to differentiate yourself when applying.

Manpower

Jo Bryant, Recruiter

With more than 60 years experience, Manpower has established itself as a world leader in innovative workforce solutions, workforce solutions, connecting human potential to the ambition of business.  Manpower serves both large and small organizations across all industry sectors through four main brands and offerings; ManpowerGroup Solutions, Experis, Manpower and Right Management.  The organization operates a worldwide network of offices in over 80 countries and territories.  Manpower partners with clients to accelerate their businesses by providing people and services that includes recruitment and assessment, training and development, workforce consulting, outsourcing and career management.  Gone are the days where Manpower specialized in supplying light industrial help.  The Manpower culture has a great team of people with a common vision and goal, unlimited growth potential, and a company that cares what its employees want and asks for their input.

The company is one of the few staffing organizations offering benefits for contract positions.  Benefits include medical and dental, short term disability, holidays, 401K, shopping discount and recognition program.  Some of the current positions include Bilingual Spanish Youth Coordinator, Donor Outreach Coordinator-PT, Bilingual Customer Service Agents-PT, Document Processors, Data Entry, Production/Warehouse, Packing/Kitting/General Labor, Season Shipping/Packing and Sorting, and Administrative /Clerical roles.  To apply go to the Manpower website; create an account and attach your resume; and contact the office after registering.

Charles Schwab

Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Manager

Schwab sees the world through their clients’ eyes.  Schwab serves investors, advisors and employers.    Charles Schwab highlights include $2.54 trillion in client assets, Fortune 500 Company with annual revenues of $6.05 billion, 325 branch offices in 45 states and 3 countries.  The organization is headquartered in San Francisco, has approximately 15,400 full time employees and is the recipient of 15 awards in 2015 for its employee-friendly workplace.

Schwab has about 60+ positions currently in Phoenix a few “hot” jobs are Broker Trainee, Estate Services Professional, and Relationship Specialist.  Phoenix is the home of one of Schwab’s largest call centers.  Those positions in high demand are Relationship Specialists and IT roles.  Shannon encouraged attendees to complete an application online.  Schwab initially reviews those candidates who have completed applications before sourcing other candidates.   Create your online profile and upload your resume at tiny.cc/careerconnectors .

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Roger Brudbacher, Director of Continuing Education

Dynamic Worldwide will prepare you with an edge in this competitive job market.

DWWTC offers programs and certificates in professional development, cyber security programs, advanced cyber security programs and information technology.  DWWTC was awarded the 2015 Juniper Platinum Education Partner of the Year for its award winning instruction. The facilities are state of the art and maintain a low student to instructor ratio.  Instruction is available on multiple platforms.  DWWTC is licensed by the State Board for Private Postsecondary Education; certified through Workforce Connection; and approved for Grant Programs. For more information, please visit the website.

Closing

Sandi Ashton, Vice President, Career Connectors Board of Directors, closed the meeting by thanking North Phoenix Baptist Church and the volunteers.  The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Scottsdale on Thursday, March 10, 2016 and features Kevin Dumcum as speaker for the topic “Activate Your Job Search”. For additional information on this event and future events, please visit the website.

 

 

Filed Under: Event Recaps Tagged With: brenda cunningham, push careers, get a new job fast, Arizona at Work, Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants, Charles Schwab, Manpower, State of Arizona

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Networking helps, especially when you do not directly know anyone at a target company. I have attended 4 of your meetings and at one of them a company representative and recruiter presented. I was already familiar with this company, but she also said some other things in the presentation that made me take notice and created more interest on my part. I spoke with the recruiter at your event and she followed up the next week and from there I went on several phone interviews and on site interview t… Read more
Todd S.
I would like to share that I landed a contract position for 6 months with possible conversion to a permanent position on the team after those contract periods complete. I work on a team as an Instructional Designer and the team is virtual, which means I am able to work from home 100% of the time! I am very excited for the future of my career! I wanted to share that I sadly won’t be seeing you at Career Connector events for the next 6 months at the very least, and we’ll see how my performance … Read more
Bill T.
After a company layoff thrust me into the job market, Career Connectors was exactly what I needed to develop my networking skills. Networking is a job in itself, and the skills I learned helped me to land a temporary position just three months later that is now permanent. I believe in the Career Connectors mission and continue to volunteer as a way of expressing my appreciation for their support during a very tough time…thank you Career Connectors!
Diane N.
Career Connectors offered me a one-stop-shopping capability for all of the coaching, resources and connections I needed to perfect my job searching skills.  The package of services, and support I found while attending these workshops over the past 7 months was unique to, and more productive than any other networking venues I attended. I am thrilled to share that I’ve landed with B/E Aerospace in Tucson.  I recommend to all Job Seekers to find out what works for you, and exploit it for best r… Read more
Aidan F.
Career Connectors has given me the courage to move forward and the mindset to move out of this moment. I have gained encouragement, opportunity, and a stronger skill-set in each meeting I have attended. This interaction has given me the vision to see my God given talents, the realization of how much I still have to offer, and the ability to put value in my career, instead of only seeing value by a job.
Anonymous
Thank you for all you do! I’ve been nine loooong months looking for a full-time position and Career Connectors was a real life-line. I was pretty discouraged by the time I found your organization on-line and first visited. The speaker provided some great information but most importantly, encouragement and hope. The panel discussion on resumes was incredibly helpful! Last month I had the opportunity to sit with Brenda and she suggested I really pare back all but the last 10 years of experience an… Read more
Robin C.
When I was laid off last year from the company I’d worked with for over 14 years, I actually found I had an even BIGGER job ahead of me. With an outdated resume, no interview skills, and a huge feeling of displacement, I went searching for help. Career Connectors was my savior. The program and its’ leaders were instrumental in rebuilding my confidence, providing the necessary tools and resources, and ultimately responsible for my landing a great position with a company that was featured at o… Read more
Lynn S.
I wanted to take the time to write you to express my sincerest gratitude for all that you and those who work with you do for so many of us!I lost my job due to our medical office being closed. Your company came highly recommended by an HR person who worked with us as employees to help give us a hand up to become employed again through a very generous program provided by my employer. I am employed again in a job that I really love. It came with wonderful, kind, encouraging management and coworker… Read more
Ann Marie H.
A good friend told me of her success using Career Connectors networking.  She landed an interview and later, a job in her field, after attending one networking event.  So, when it was my turn, I had to check it out. I was starting to get the blues about being unemployed but the speaker lifted me out of the dumps and put my life back in perspective. So many people were there to help and offer support!   Just by networking that day, I was given a job lead that has led to two interviews and a… Read more
Mary B.
I just want to thank you and compliment you and your organization, all the people involved, for providing this free service to the people in the Phoenix area. Last August found me in the unforeseen, unplanned position of being without a job. This circumstance, anytime but especially being a single mom, is very unsettling, sometimes downright frightening and anxiety inducing. I began attending many of your weekly meetings through November, when a job opened for me. I found solace and guidance at … Read more
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