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Grand Canyon University

01/22/19 – Put Your Strengths to Work – Find a Job that Fits

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Written by: Sherribeth Thompson

Keynote – Put Your Strengths to Work – Find a Job that Fits

About Stephanie Clergé, our keynote speaker.

Stephanie is a consultant, coach, trainer, and holds the title of Director of Training and Consulting at Kolbe Corp, an HR Consulting firm specializing in assessments and interventions that increase individual and collective performance. She holds an Industrial Engineering degree from Stanford University and an MBA from Babson College with a focus on corporate entrepreneurship and completed a Coaching Certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching. Stephanie has spent nearly 15 years managing teams and developing leaders at Intel Corporation.

Stephanie challenged us with a question we hear often, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”. Sometimes we feel we know the complete answer but end up experiencing burn out. Have you been in a position where you’ve felt absolutely de-energized? Does the thought of your current or past position bring knots to your stomach? It’s a great opportunity to dig and find a better way to experience your career.

Begin by getting to really know yourself, starting with a determined honesty in your reflection. What things do you do well? What’s your natural ability? What’s your unique flair? What gives you energy? You can be great at something, but does it give you energy? For instance, how does organizing your garage make you feel? Maybe you’re great at it, but while doing it are you receiving energy? On the other hand, what are you good at but don’t think of doing in your downtime? Maybe you’re great with spreadsheets, or documenting data but never consider that as one of the Top 10 fun things to do.

Why Strengths? The benefits of enhancing your strengths is higher performance, less stress, more engagement, more energy, more resiliency, more confidence. Employees who focus on their strengths are 6x more likely to be successful in their roles.

Strengths in 3 parts of mind:

1. Thinking: Your IQ, Skills, Reasoning, Knowledge, Experience, Education
2. Affective: Feelings, Desires, Motivation, Attitudes, Preferences, Values
3. Cognative: Doing, Mental Energy, Purposeful Actions, Problem Solving Approach

How do you naturally get things done? Here’s a great illustration:

1. Write your signature with your dominant hand.
2. Now write it with your other hand.

What did you notice about writing with the dominant hand? Probably not much because it was natural, easy, fast, and comfortable. Writing your signature with the non-dominant hand was probably awkward, slow, sloppy and took more time.

Look for your underlying patterns of thought. How do you find strengths? What’s easiest, energizing, and efficient for you? You can review your skills, grades and manager reviews. Or how do you feel when given projects and tasks? Are you motivated, interested? What are your preferences? How do your values affect your decisions?

Resources for finding out about you:

WhyInstitute.com
ViaCharacterInstitue.org

Think about a job you loved. What did you love, the environment, the people, the dynamics? What do you need from your manager? Does the industry matter?

Now that you’ve invested in defining your strengths, it’s time to develop your tools. What does your resume tell about you? Does your resume match what you said or what you’re applying for? What is your contribution (quantifiable)?

What ever happened to the Cover Letter?

Newsflash: if you’re not submitting a cover letter, you’re losing a significant opportunity. This is where you can really share what you want, why you want it, and stand out! It’s where you can captivate your audience and control your overall message. This is a great place to provide context, especially if needed for questionable areas such as long periods of unemployment.

LinkedIn

It is a recruiter’s lens. Many recruiters will not look any further if you do not have a LinkedIn profile. What are they looking for?

  • Companies you are following
  • Your profile, which should be at 100%
  • Clear, concise (not cheesy or needy) statements in your headline
  • Summary: Where you show a little personality; keep in mind it is still a professional forum

Obtain well written recommendations from the right people. If you are wanting to manage people, a friend’s recommendation that says you’re “an awesome person”, has nothing substantive in conveying to others what you want to do in your next management position. List contact mail and answer mail promptly. Follow and be active in groups relevant to your future position.

So your strategic path has reaped employer interest and now it’s interview time. Have your notepad loaded beforehand with your questions. This shows strengths in action. Be ready to share your contributions.

  • What are the growth opportunities?
  • What does the company need?
  • What would you say about your boss?
  • Have 5 to 10 questions prepared. This shows you have critical thinking ability. Ask strategic questions to get them to ask you about something you want to share.

In conclusion, it’s crucial to know your strengths and be ready to build upon them. Now you can take the next steps and soar!

Hiring Company

Infusionsoft
Dylan Citro, Technical Hiring Partner 
Susan Thomas, Hiring Manager

The Infusionsoft Mission is to help small businesses succeed. They are looking for employees that play well with others, leave their ego at the door and contribute in a team environment. Infusionsoft currently has ~60 openings, including positions in the following areas:  Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Accounting & Analytics, Sales, Customer Success, and Operations. Perks & Benefits include health and dental insurance, stock options, flexible time off, snacks, drinks and more!

Resources

Grand Canyon University
Mike Persson, Degree Path Planning Specialist

Mike emphasizes the importance of starting your education now. From there you can build on knowledge, maximize opportunities, and connect your knowledge to career opportunities. In the process, one gains multiple achievements.

Woz U
Josh Barnett, Business Development

Join the tech revolution! Woz U doesn’t offer a traditional coding boot camp, they offer training for the fastest growing fields in the country:  Java, JavaScript, .NET and Data Science. The Woz U Career Services team will assist in your job search upon graduation. Stay current and updated in the ever changing field of technology.

Closing

Sheila Coulam thanked everyone for coming and encouraged attendees to take advantage of professional photos to update LinkedIn profile pictures. She also thanked the volunteers for their support and requested attendees to complete a survey to help Career Connectors continue to improve the events. Sheila ended the session with a quote:

“Every experience in your life is being orchestrated to teach you something you need to know to move forward.”
– Brian Tracy

10/11/18 – Telling Your Story

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Written by: Connie Huber PHR SHRM-CP

Andrew Stanton, a filmmaker who co-wrote the “Toy Story” movies, says, “A great story comes from using what you know, capturing a truth from experiencing it and from expressing your values you feel deeply”. He suggests you allow the listener to make their own deduction about you from the story. That is, come out and say you’re collaborative, adaptable, or anything – you tell a story that convinces your listener you possess these traits. Stanton says a well-told tale grips, excites and engrosses.

Keynote

“Telling Your Story”– Cary Pfeffer

Even with the low unemployment rate, the job market is still a difficult one for job seekers. Cary shared with us how to make yourself stand out from fellow job seekers and how to leave a lasting impression with the interviewer. Cary reminded us it takes just a few moments to reveal a great deal about ourselves and an organization.

TELLING YOUR STORY EFFECTIVELY ONE-ON-ONE
Points to be effective include…..

  • What you know about the audience
  • Knowing your comfort zone
  • Being a good editor

SAY IT IN A SENTENCE
When you are asked to “tell us about yourself”, you need to….

  • Avoid mission “statement-itis” & avoid buzz words
  • Make sure there is a “people connection” to quickly gain the listener’s attention
  • Your message needs to be quickly understood and remembered

TELLING YOUR STORY EFFECTIVELY IN WRITING
Research has found that “most written communication is interpreted more negatively” than it is intended. Just like verbally sharing your story, you also need to know the audience and know your comfort zone; and be a good editor to share your story in writing.

KEY POINTS FOR SUCCESS

  • Consider how you want to start your message
  • Spend time on the subject line and greeting
  • Demonstrate your knowledge and need right away
  • Finish when possible in the email window
  • If needed include support material
  • Keep your introductory/cover letter to one page; reference a connection in your cover letter
  • Spend time on your story and make it unique
  • Make it meaningful and about the employer
  • Keep it brief!

FINAL NOTE
Consider the words you are using and whether they work for your story and if they connect with the employer.

TELLING YOUR STORY BEFORE AN AUDIENCE

  • Focus on what you are going to say as you begin your story; the goal is to capture the audience’s attention.
  • Less is more; get to your story early.
  • Consider how the audience hears you; remember your word choice, voice tone and body language.
  • Make the end of your message a memorable one; avoid making statements like “Guess this is the end!”
  • Think about how you will handle Q&A; allow the audience to think about the presentation before seeking questions.
  • Give thought to how you want to end the Q&A.

FINAL POINTS
The most overlooked skill in communication is listening.  Smile!

“Storytelling is about connecting with other people and helping people to see what you see”. – Michael Margolis

HIRING COMPANIES

Vixxo
Heather Kitsko, Talent Acquisition Manager

Vixxo is a technology driven asset and facilities management company that services clients such as Starbucks, Target and Michaels. There are 700 associates across the US and Canada. Vixxo has been an INC 500 Fastest Growing Private Company for 8 years straight. The company’s culture is a team of doers that create innovative solutions for their customers in a fast-paced environment. They believe that their employee diversity is their strength. Some open positions include: Data Architect; Decision Support Analyst; Director, Data Governance; Director, Reporting Strategy; HR Coordinator; Senior Accountant; Service Coordinator; Sr. Director, Supply Management; Talent Acquisition Coordinator; VP Project Management Officer. For more information, go to www.vixxo.com/careers.

Headfarmer
Jessica Corral, Partner

Headfarmer’s mission is “to serve our community and its families by helping professionals connect and grow”. There are several things that set Headfarmer apart from its competition, including their proactive approach to cultivate an exclusive network, build meaningful relationships, an extensive due diligence process and purpose driven approaches that will enhance lives and enrich organizations. The organization handles both direct hire and temporary solutions in the Accounting & Finance and Technology arenas. A sampling of Accounting & Finance opportunities include clerical & entry level accounting, staff/senior accountant/tax, Accounting Manager/Assistant Controller, Controller/ Director/C-level, audit, and corporate financial planning & analysis. Technology possibilities are Help Desk Support Technician, Architects & Developers, Business Intelligence, DevOps Engineers, IT Manager/Director/C-level, and Cyber Security. Go to their website for a complete listing.

Farmers
Surrie Atkins, Recruiter

Farmers, one of the largest and most respected insurance brands in the USA. It was founded in 1928 in Los Angeles. Farmers is a leading insurer of small and medium-sized businesses and operates a large Life-insurance company as well as a rapidly growing financial services company (Farmers Financial Solutions). Certified as a Great Place to work in 2017, the company fosters a casual work environment and community outreach programs. Open positions include Inbound Sales and Customer Service. For current job opportunities and to apply, visit their website.

RESOURCES

Goodwill of Central & Northern AZ
Tonia Oliver, Quality Assurance Analyst

Goodwill’s mission is “through the goodwill of others, Goodwill creates the pathway to a better future for all by helping those who desire self-sufficiency”. Goodwill’s long-term goal is to eliminate unemployment. The organization offers a number of Career Centers in the area. Onsite offerings include Career Advisors, employment support, mock-interviews/resume assistance, Goodwill Management System and numerous resources, and hiring events for hundreds of local hiring companies. Goodwill maintains numerous community partnerships with such organizations as Career Connectors, to better meet the needs of the job seeker. As partners, these organizations target the professional job seeker, provide awareness at events and ongoing support during job search. Go to Goodwill for employment events, talent sourcing and job boards

Grand Canyon University
Rob Loy, Head of Education of Non-Degree Technology Programs

In today’s job market, 58% of all new jobs are in STEM. Computing jobs are the #1 source of new wages in the United States. To help you get the necessary skills to compete in this job market, GCU is now pleased to be offering Immersive Java Boot Camp. The camp includes more than 600 hours of project-based collaborative instruction, accelerated path to employment, competitive pricing for an on-site experience, and transferable college credits.

CLOSING

De Anne Russell, Career Connectors Board Member, closed the meeting by thanking Highlands Church & the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Glendale on Thursday, October 18, 2018 & features Travis Hardin, as speaker for the topic “Your Focus Determines Your Expansion.” For additional information on this event & future events, please visit the Event Schedule.

10/04/18 – Myths and Advantages to Working with Staffing Agencies

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Written by Rachel Gersten

Staffing Panel Discussion

Jessica Pierce welcomed the group and explained the agenda, which was a bit different from a traditional meeting. Instead of one keynote speaker Career Connectors was fortunate to welcomed six staffing agency experts. There were two panel discussions:  the first panel discussed myths associated with staffing firms, and the second panel discussion reviewed the advantages of working with staffing firms.

1st Panel Discussion: Myths About Working with Staffing Firms

The group of experts included:

Joe Skrzymowski, Branch Manager for NESCO Resources
Donna Dietrich, Managing Partner for Tech Finders
Rich North, Account Manager for Aerotek

Question: What are the different types of staffing firms?

Answer: There are a number of staffing firms to choose from based on the type of industry and work the candidates are seeking.  Agencies have all types of employment options available for job seekers: direct hire, contract to hire, temp to hire.

Question: What is the conversion rate? How many clients do you help land jobs?

Answer: We don’t have stats on our conversion rates, however many times employees are hired for full time work. By partnering with a recruiter, you land the job.

Question: Why do you think people don’t trust staffing firms?

Answer: It’s like many other industries, such as used car dealerships. Generally speaking a used car salesperson doesn’t have the best reputation. These generalizations are based on bad experiences. Sometimes when you work with one staffing firm, you are never called back and the assumption is that all agencies work that way. Next time you speak with a staffing firm, interview the agency. Ask questions such as: How long have you been in the industry? What does the process look like? When will I be called back?

Question: If I use a staffing agency, will I make less money?

Answer: The pay rates are competitive with the market.

Question: Does the staffing agency only work for the company seeking employees?

Answer: If we don’t have the candidates, we don’t make any money. We need to work for both the employer and candidate.

Question: If a candidate wants to work for a specific company like Google, how do they find out the staffing firm that works with them?

Answer: Call and ask the staffing firms.

2nd Panel Discussion: Advantages to Working with Staffing Firms

The group of experts included:

LT Ladino-Bryson, Founder of vCandidates
Ashley Jenkins, Business Development Manager for Paladin Staffing
Nicholas Mazur, Executive Recruiter for APN Staffing

Question: Why work with a staffing firm?

Answer: A staffing firm provides you with insider information on everything they can including income information, process time involved and anything else they may know about the company. Additionally, recruiters are well connected and will be your biggest advocate.

Question: How to best prepare to work with staffing firms?

Answer:  Know what you want. Spend time thinking and researching what direction you want to pursue, but also have an open mind.

Question: Who pays you?

Answer: The company seeking employees pays the staffing agency. It is a free service for job seekers.

Question: What do you like about staffing?

Answer: It is a fast-paced environment, where we as recruiters get to help people on a daily basis to improve their lives.

Question: How are people most successful working with you?

Answer: Candidates that stay in touch regularly do very well.

Question: How do you help the job seeker prepare for a job placement?

Answer: We help by coaching on interviewing skills.

RESOURCES

Grand Canyon University
Rob Loy, Head of Education of Non-Degree Technology Programs

Grand Canyon University offers an in-depth boot camp for Java Programming. There are many perks that this curriculum offers to individuals such as; additional skills in the dynamic IT field, and a more competitive advantage in the job market. Entry level positions average $65,000 a year.

CLOSING

Jessica Pierce concluded the meeting by thanking our wonderful host Grand Canyon University for their support, our event sponsor LT Ladino-Bryson from vCandidates, as well as all our amazing panel, corporate sponsors and volunteers. Jessica went on to remind our guests to visit the Career Connectors website for additional information and support such as the complimentary DISC assessment and other helpful tools. The next meeting will be held on October 11th, 9 am at the Scottsdale location of Highlands Church – 9050 E Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale, AZ. Please remember to sign up online for our next meeting.

08/09/18 – From Transition to Triumph!: Mentally Regrouping in the Midst of Career Change

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Written by: Connie Huber, PHR SHRM-CP

Keynote

From Transition to Triumph! Mentally Regrouping in the Midst of Career Change
Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins

As we conduct our search to find our next opportunity, we will experience a roller-coaster of emotions. One day we will be coasting and have a “can do”/positive attitude and find our positive mindset results in good things coming our way. The following day we may be spiraling downward and filled with guilt and depression. No longer are we rewarded with the riches of success, but have few if any.

We may have an awesome resume, an “All Star” rating on LinkedIn and other social media platforms, but our mental attitude needs to be a positive one to be a success. As we shift to a positive mindset, our confidence level rises. Being confident is knowing what you’re good at, the value you provide, and acting in a way that conveys that to others. Bridgett enthusiastically shared her road to success in reframing your mental outlook.

  1. Make a statement of your worth, __AND__, BUT THEREFORE. An example is the following:
    STATEMENT OF WORTH
    “It’s hot outside and it is important to stay hydrated in this kind of weather.”
    __AND__
    “But conveniently getting a quality beverage made from the freshest of ingredients can be a challenge.”
    BUT
    “Therefore, I operate a lemonade stand that offers a refreshing homemade beverage with great service and a smile!”
    THEREFORE
  2. Get comfortable with displaying awesomeness! It is difficult for many of us to openly share how great we are to those who need to know. Don’t be shy in communicating your achievements and what a great professional you are. If you fail to do so, many will not know just how awesome you are.
  3. Do something that excites or scares you. Get out of your rut and tackle new endeavors! Ideas are returning to school, starting a blog, collaborating with someone on a project, selling a service or starting a business.
  4. Get MORE uncomfortable. Keep pushing yourself to try new things.
  5. Be ready with a response. You will be asked time and time again why you left your former employer. Think about what you are going to say to someone who asks this question. “The company closed its office/made some changes/did some reorganizing. I am actively looking and networking but am not ready to talk about my search at length. I appreciate your concern and will be sure to keep you updated.”
  6. Mark the past. Find a way to let go of your past. Look at the pros of what you encountered with your previous employer. If necessary, have a ritual of letting go of the past. Cortez burned his own ship! Letting go prevents you from being stuck.
  7. Respect the past (position, company, etc.). Friends, family or potential employers do not want to hear about your terrible experience with your former employer. The more you engage in the negative the longer you hold on to your past and ill feelings.
  8. Avoid burning bridges. You may want to march into your former boss’s office and give him/her a piece of your mind, but don’t do it. You never know who your former boss knows or those organizations that may share contacts that might open doors for you.
  9. Burn some bridges. Get rid of the negative mojo in your life. Take a moment and make 2 lists. 1. Who are the people, things, ideas you need to keep. 2. Those you need to toss.
  10. Use power words, not wimpy words. Remember power words are way more impactful than wimpy ones. A powerful vocabulary makes your awesomeness sparkle. Examples include establishing the stronger statement such as “I can do that” versus “I might be able to do that”; or “Let’s review this challenge;” instead of “Let’s review this problem.”
  11. Give great eye contact. Pretend there is an inverted triangle between the eyes of the person you are talking with. Focus your attention on their eyes first the left then the right. Avoid looking away from the individual.
  12. Avoid giving reasons for actions or decisions.
  13. Respond to criticism only when/if necessary.
  14. Don’t just talk about it; be about it. Demonstrate the commitment of your thoughts by showing action. Things do not have to be perfect before taking action.
  15. Make others feeling incredibly important. They should feel as though they are a VIP.

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill

HIRING COMPANIES

vCandidates
LT Ladino, CEO/CMO, Founder
vCandidates is a three-pronged solution for the staffing marketplace. The company’s focus is to buildup small to medium recruiting and staffing firms while giving candidates the ability to create the best presentation of themselves. The recruitment tools used expedite the search, screening and presentation process eliminating the use of costly job search boards. vCandidates is not another database but a marketplace of pre-screened candidates by the organization’s recruiting and HR team members. The company is a true subscription-based career ecosystem for candidates and active recruiting professionals. The cost for the service is $50 to sign up and $25 per month. For more information go to here.

Amazon
Elia Gal, TSC Solutions Team Lead

Amazon’s work environment has employees handling many sizes of packages, requires comfortable shoes, emphasizes safety, and earns the trust of customers by making promises and keeping them. Jobs allow employees to move around and feel comfortable while working in relaxed clothing. Employees must be able to lift up to 45 pounds, stand/walk for 4-10 hours a day and may be asked to drive powered industrial trucks. Benefits begin day one for full time employees and include medical, time off options, extra time opportunities and multiple shift options. It is important to know most of the available jobs are part time and focus in fulfilling the customer promise by moving small to medium packages, lifting, bending and standing for long period of times. Shifts are varied and can be 4-day work weeks, full or part time, and day or night; 5-day work weeks, full or part time, day or night; or flexible work week, days and night, part time. Current job postings can be found here, or you can begin the hiring process by texting PHXNOW.

Equality Health
Blanca Sandoval, Director of People and Culture

Equality Health is an Arizona based integrated, holistic healthcare delivery system focused on improving care delivery for under-served populations with culturally-sensitive programs that improve access, quality and patient trust. Through an integrated technology and services platform, a culturally competent network and a unique cultural care model, Equality Health helps managed care plans and health systems improve care for diverse populations while simultaneously making the transition to risk-based accountability. The company’s mission is to see health disparities disappear and working relentlessly to do its part.
Benefits include a variety of health plans and supporting programs as well as paid time off. Offerings include multiple PPO and high deductible medical plans, dental, vision, wellness incentives, employee assistance program, 15 paid days off in year one and paid leave benefits. Current opportunities include senior software developer, senior MySQL developer, credentialing specialist, production development specialist, behavioral health counselor, development operations analyst, physician, pain specialist, quality assurance analyst, call center representative, director, clinical quality improvement, behavioral health, medical assistant, network data coordinator, and business analyst. If interested, please visit Equality Health.

Allstate
Steve Morin, Senior Sourcing Consultant

Allstate was established in Chicago in 1931 and has been in business for 80 years. Allstate is #81 on the Fortune 100 list and has 70,000 employees in the US and Canada. The SW region is composed of AZ, OK, NV, NM and UT. Allstate is one of the most recognizable brands in America and has 47 products to help serve its customers’ needs.
Available positions in Tempe Regional Office include IT, Human Resources, Product, Claims, and Sales Management. Other opportunities are Financial Specialist, Agency Owner, and Licensed Sales Producers. The company is military friendly and offers free education to veterans and a bonus award of $500. In addition, Allstate has a $10,000 referral award. To learn more about careers visit Allstate’s website.

RESOURCES

Grand Canyon University
Kyle Richardson, University Counselor
In today’s job market, 58% of all new jobs are in STEM. Computing jobs are the #1 source of new wages in the United States. To help you get the necessary skills to compete in this job market, GCU is now pleased to be offering Immersive Java Boot Camp. The camp includes more than 600 hours of project-based collaborative instruction, accelerated path to employment, competitive pricing for an on-site experience, and transferrable college credits.

CLOSING

Kristy Bach, Board of Directors, Career Connectors, closed the meeting by thanking Grand Canyon University and the volunteers. The next Career Connectors meeting will be in Scottsdale on Thursday, August 16, 2018 and features Sean O’Neil, as speaker for the topic “Be Unforgettable.” For additional information on this event and future events, please visit the Event Schedule.

07/31/18 – Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out

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Get LinkedIn or get left outWritten by Cindy Nowack

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out
Ted Robison

Ted Robison, also known as “Mr. Link-Me-In,” has been coaching LinkedIn techniques for the past nine years at Career Connectors, church ministries, universities, colleges, companies and recruiting firms. 87% of job seekers will find a job through networking, and Ted provided many helpful techniques and tactics for making the most of your LinkedIn connections. You should be on LinkedIn for creating connectivity, raising your brand and visibility, and to be found.

While aiming for more than 500 connections on LinkedIn, you should also be engaging with professionals and online groups within LinkedIn. Ted says “connections are good, but relationships are golden.” There are more than 500 million subscribers on LinkedIn, where engaging with others is based on three degrees of separation. Ask for introductions when one of your first level connections is connected to a 2nd level that you would like to get to know. Offer to take that person to coffee or lunch to ask them about their company and its culture.

Within LinkedIn, you can maximize its benefits in the following ways:

  • Find jobs, people, groups, associations, and your target companies
  • Create your own unique URL – elevates you in Google searches
  • Understand the benefits of free vs. Premium accounts
  • Consider your privacy, contact levels and how you can be searched by others

Your profile page on LinkedIn is your personal brand and image promotion. Customize it!

  • Add keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) so you will be found
  • Your picture is a must
  • The headline should reflect your job title/industry/tagline
  • Your summary should include S.E.E.S. – skills (hard and soft), experience, expertise and style
    • Your style is what can differentiate you in your LinkedIn profile and in an interview
  • You should have 4-8 recommendations – 2 managers, 2 peers, 2 subordinates (if you are a manager), and 2 clients
  • Join 30-50 groups and associations to expand your visibility
  • Provide status updates, posts, blogs, articles – raises your brand and visibility

There is a hidden job market that accounts for 80% of the jobs. Create a list of 30-50 target companies. Use the Phoenix Business Journal Book of Lists and Reference USA to learn more about your target companies. You can then build relationships of the employees who work at these companies by reaching out to those 2nd and even 3rd level connections through your own LinkedIn network. Companies offer referral bonuses, so build your connections of employees at your target companies, and, when a job is available, your connection can refer you. It’s a win-win situation. If you’re hired, you have a new job and your connection receives a referral bonus.

Once you have an interview, you can continue to use LinkedIn to prepare. Research the company to know their products, services, competitors. Know the company’s culture and core values to determine if you would work well in that environment. Also, research your interviewers. Knowing their hobbies, work history, and common groups will help you connect in the interview. LinkedIn also has a new learning section to brush up on skills that may be needed in the role for which you are interviewing.

In summary, Mr. Link-Me-In provided a review of several action items to make the most of your LinkedIn account:

  • Build and strengthen your profile with key words
  • Meet people and increase your network
  • Create and search your target companies
  • Join associations and groups
  • Research the company and its employees in preparation for interviews
  • Talk to the hiring manager if possible. Take friends or colleagues out to lunch (ask about the company, and if they can pass your resume along to the hiring manager)
  • Know your value propositions – what differentiates you?
  • Network, network, network!

You don’t want to be left out in today’s job market, so be sure you are linked in on LinkedIn.

RESOURCES

vCandidates
LT Ladino, CEO/CMO/Founder

Technology advancements have hurt the hiring process and alienated qualified people. If you have worked with staffing firms but haven’t been thrilled with the results, vCandidates is launching a subscription-based platform in October connecting recruiters with candidates. The company will foster open communication, candidate engagement and organization, with platform key features beyond the popular job boards. The candidate can present themselves in their own voice. This new recruiting tool will combine technology with the human touch.

Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Rob Loy, Head of Non-Degreed Technology Programs

In the job market today, 58% of all new jobs are in STEM, and computing jobs are the #1 source of new wages in the United States. To help you get the necessary skills to compete in this job market, GCU offers an Immersive Java Bootcamp. In 16 weeks, the bootcamp is more than 600 hours of project-based collaborative instruction and your accelerated path to employment. The courses completed within the bootcamp are part of GCU’s existing, regionally accredited programs. These courses are transferrable to a GCU bachelor’s program, or eligible for transfer at the discretion of other regionally accredited U.S. institutions.

HIRING COMPANIES

Wells Fargo
Meghan Pringle, Recruiting Manager

Wells Fargo has more than 5,000 employees at the Queen Creek and Price location. There are 10 lines of business within the company, more than just bank locations. Current Arizona openings include:

  • Analytic consultant
  • Bankruptcy specialist
  • Business Initiatives Consultant
  • Implementation Consultant
  • Quality Assurance Analyst
  • And many more.

There are also Enterprise IT career opportunities in numerous IT disciplines. Go to www.wellsfargojobs.com for a complete list of available positions here in Arizona, and in other locations. If you don’t see what types of openings appeal to you, you can set up a job search agent online, which will notify you when an opening is available that matches your criteria.

Northwestern Mutual
Joe Morris, Managing Director

Northwestern Mutual began in 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company offers an array of financial products including mutual funds, disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance. In addition to a supportive team environment and a strong industry reputation, a 5 year mentoring program of new advisors is a valuable benefit for joining the company. Current opportunities at Northwest Mutual are:

  • Financial representative/advisor
  • Assistant financial representative

More information about these position plus other orporate career opportunities can be found at www.northwesternmutual.com/corporate-careers/.

Or reach out to the Director of Recruitment and Selection, Megan Wotton, on LinkedIn.

Allstate
Nate Smith, Senior Recruiting Consultant

There are more than 70,000 Allstate employees in North America, plus employees in Belfast and northern India. At the Tempe regional offices, Allstate is hiring for a number of positions including:

  • IT (4)
  • HR (2)
  • Product (1)
  • Claims (6)
  • Sales management (2)
  • Exclusive financial specialist

You also have the option of becoming an agency owner. Allstate has a 90% retention rate because as you grow your business, you build your success and own your equity. There are no royalty fees or franchise fees. A minimum of $100,000 spendable start up capital is required, but the advantages of being an Allstate agency owner are no inventory, repeat revenue, and competitive compensation in a high demand field. You can earn what you are worth, with a recognizable national brand backing you up. You can even begin without insurance experience or your license. Allstate will help prepare you for your new career.

Contact Nate Smith or visit www.allstate.com/careers for additional information.

CLOSING

Thank you to our premier and corporate partners for their continuing support. A special thank you as well to our host facility, Central Christian Church.

Our next event is Thursday, August 16 at Grand Canyon University when Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins will speak about “From Transition to Triumph: Mentally Regrouping in the Midst of Career Change.” Check the Career Connectors website for the topic and location of each week’s meeting and other resources for job seekers.