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What Employers Look For On A Resume: 12 Hiring Managers Share Their Tips

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There is a lot of information swirling around the internet about resume creation. But why not go straight to the source? After all, if anyone knows what makes an effective resume, it’s the people doing the hiring. In this article, 12 business leaders from varying industries share exactly what they look for in candidate resumes. 

So if you’ve ever wondered how to make your resume stand out, read below.

Make Your Resume Results-Driven

The first thing I look for on a resume is how well it’s creatively put together; the overall design. The way the resume is designed speaks largely for the type of person they are. The second thing I look for is how the bullet points are written under each job. If someone is vague or cliche, I rarely consider them. I’m a results-driven individual, I like to see passion, results, and leadership in the bullet points–don’t just tell me you influenced the company’s overall revenue. Tell me how you did it and what the metrics were. A candidate that can show me real results gets an interview every time.

Janelle Amos, Marketing Manager

Nail the Interview

I actually am not a fan of the resume. I will briefly look to make sure they at least have the basic competencies, but I find my candidates in the interview. Passion and curiosity are the two biggest traits I seek. I figure if they have those, any deficiencies (within reason) will be overcome. I would rather have someone that will spend a weekend YouTubing things to learn than someone that is complacent with three degrees.

Eric Rutin, Rutin Marketing

Show How You’ve Advanced Your Skills

Regardless of employer or position, I really look for what you’ve contributed and how you’ve advanced your skills. A great example of this would be our marketing coordinator. A recent grad who worked at FedEx managing event shipments, we hired him on to manage our trade show coordinator. On top of that, we knew that he had a passion for web development and design outside of his job. Seeing passions and applicable skills being developed on his own time, we knew he would be an amazing fit. 

Megan Chiamos, Cannabis ERP Software 

Keep It Accurate and Concise

Organization is essential to organizations. Make sure that everything presented on your resume is accurate and concise. Resumes must fit all on one page, one side. Too much information, sends a message of disorganization. Employers want their employees to represent the values of the company. We hire on energy and attitude more than experience and aptitude. One resume tip is to have business owners, that you trust, review your resume and provide constructive feedback. 

Dr. Levi Nelson DC, Scottsdale Chiropractor

Include Numbers and Timelines

Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds looking at a resume, so you’ve got 6 seconds to impress. The worst thing you can do is load your resume with menial, vague accomplishments. Edit, edit, edit. Distill your resume down to one page that highlights specific, meaningful wins. Include numbers and timelines. Bonus points if you can make it look pretty. Once you feel like your resume is complete, flip it upside down and see if it looks readable. If you find that it’s still too blocky and dense, edit it again then pass it on to a few friends to edit as well. This is your moment to brag about yourself, just make sure it’s delivered in a palpable way.

Emily Bosak, SEO Marketing Company

Customize for Each Application

Have they customized their cover letter and resume for our company? We receive a lot of response to our career opportunities with candidates who are sending their resumes to as many companies as possible. Sometimes, you can even tell when a candidate resume comes in with a file name of, “JONATHAN-GENERAL-RESUME.” The resumes that stand out are ones that have been customized to our company (“JONATHAN-GENERATED-RESUME”). When candidates take the time to look at our company, we will take the time to evaluate their resume.

Jonathan Cohen, Industrial Recycling Services

Have a Good Elevator Pitch

Resumes can catch my attention if they can summarize their expertise in the first few sentences with a good elevator pitch. I look for people that make lateral moves, spent time in the military, and volunteer as indicators of the desire to be of service to their community. It is essential that people are dynamic and can demonstrate that they are open to learning.  Working for different companies can be an indicator of adaptability.

Erica Scott, Civilian Connections

Make Sure Your Resume Matches Basic Qualifications in the Job Description

There was a time when companies would look for transferable skills or someone who was “ready next”. To successfully make it past the initial computer “screen” it is important that your resume maps to all of the basic qualifications listed in the job description.  Hence, in this time of heavy competition, you want to first ensure that you meet the basic qualifications.  After that, list your achievements against your responsibilities and quantify them wherever possible.

Kelly Chapman, Kegelbell

Keep it Straightforward, Concise, and Thoughtful

When I look at a resume I look for brevity and I look for results. When a candidate takes the time to craft a resume that is straightforward, concise, and thoughtful — it shows! It shows they can speak to the most important aspects of their work and it shows they value the hiring manager’s time.  I also look for quantitative results. Show me your success in numbers or in major accomplishments. I want to know by what percent you increased blog traffic at your last job, or how much money you added to the pipeline, or how much you improved the open rate of your email campaigns. Make your resume one page and really pack it full of the successes your hiring manager likely wants to replicate. And of course, be honest.

Marisa Krystian, Content Marketing Manager

Include Clear Outcomes

You cannot argue with results. I look for clear outcomes over a vague indicator of participation. The single biggest tip I could give someone is to make it crystal clear that you not only have the skill set that a company is looking for but you know how to transfer that knowledge into real value to that organization. It is one thing to say that you “know JavaScript” it is another thing to say that you “increased performance by 32% using component driven architecture in a JavaScript application.”

Lukas Ruebbelke, BrieBug

Include a Relevant Cover Letter

When screening candidates, the first thing I look for is a cover letter that highlights their skills or accomplishments that relate to the role they are applying for. It shows that they took a few minutes to read the description and look at the company website. In the past we’ve even asked applicants to provide their favorite YouTube video to see if they read the whole job posting.

Michael Ashbaugh, Coplex

Tell a Helpful Story

Great resumes tell a helpful story showing me a candidate has solved the exact problems I need him or her to have solved in order to help me. This isn’t done with buzzwords, but with clarity on specific actions taken and (measured) results achieved. Job seekers should take the time to tell the hiring manager just the relevant story or stories to get a call back – or otherwise just don’t bother.

Yuri Kruman, HR, Talent & Systems

10/15/15 — Get the Job Fast

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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.

9/10/15 — Think Like a Hiring Manager and Land the Job

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

For anyone who has ever faced a challenging job search, Roosevelt’s words probably take on new meaning. Something about a sudden or unwanted job search forces most people to call on emotional strength they never knew they had.

It sure helps along the way to know we’re not alone, though, and that others have overcome challenging career roadblocks. I’ve heard so many people through Career Connectors willing to share their career journeys, and it’s beyond encouraging to know there is a light at the end of that proverbial job-search tunnel. Our keynote speaker today gave valuable practical tactics for the job search, but just as important, she included inspirational examples.

Keynote

“Why can’t they just be nice and get back to me?” Many people faced with a job hunt these days have probably at least whispered these words. Jessica Pierce, Founder and Executive Director of Career Connectors, was talking recently with many people who said they needed help in landing interviews.

Jessica used the example of Anthony, who’d confessed to her he’d been putting in many hours on job boards, sending out hundreds of resumes, but he just wasn’t hearing anything back. Jessica suggested he reframe his brain. You can’t just send out resumes all day long. You have to get out of your house, have coffee, she told him. Network with people. Jessica had asked him, “Is what you’re doing working?” It was not, but that was about to change. Anthony told Jessica “I’ll trust you.”

Armed with Jessica’s advice that you can’t stop with the job boards, sending out hundreds of resumes, you must network and use LinkedIn, Anthony started getting out and meeting people. Fast forward a short time later and Anthony received multiple interviews, followed soon by three job offers– beyond what he ever though he could wish for. He found his job through someone who knew someone through LinkedIn.

Jessica asked how many attendees had hired employees and many in the group raised their hands. She said, “You know, then, about the recruiting cycle.”  Most employers don’t have the resources or the time and patience to go through the lengthy process. One exception is the State of Arizona that literally looks at each resume. However, that’s also why, even if you make the resume cut, it may be months rather than weeks before you hear back from someone. It takes time, money, and human resources to tackle hundreds of resumes. One woman Jessica knew had already taken another job by the time she heard back.

To think like a hiring manager, keep in mind competence is only part of the picture. Competence plus Character plus Chemistry equals a Cultural Match. Hiring managers are in a hurry to hire good people who are a match for the company.

Competence

  • Knowledge/Training
  • Experiences/Accomplishments
  • Skills/Expertise

Character

  • Document your traits by completing the DISC assessment
  • Use action words and research the company, highlighting your similar traits–including your values and behaviors.

Chemistry

Begin with a proper handshake. Then before the interview, research the employer, know your resume, and prepare and review interview notes. During the interview, dress to impress. Arrive 5-10 minutes early. Engage with everyone. After the interview, send a thank you note. Email is OK, but a personal note in the mail is better. Then connect on LinkedIn or other social media if you haven’t already. Always remember that people want to work with people they like.

NOTE: A whopping 55% of recruiters have reconsidered a candidate based on their social profile. And 61% of those re-considerations were negative. It’s not surprising, then, if hiring managers and recruiters look for easier and safer options. And, they don’t begin their process with the job boards.

When Jessica was looking to hire her Director of Programs recently, she started asking people she knew, telling them she absolutely had to have someone dependable, but if she posted it, she’d get hundreds of resumes. As she asked around, Sheila Coulam‘s name kept coming up, and that’s who she ultimately hired.

How Hiring Managers Find Employees

  1. Internal Resource (known)
  2. Prior work Relationship (known)
  3. Referred Resource (known-one off)
  4. Through Employee (known—one off)
  5. Want Ads

Where recruiters find the best candidates

  • Social Networks – 73%
  • Referrals – 63%
  • Corporate career site – 60%
  • Direct sourcing – 57%
  • Career site – 51%

Social networks recruiters use

  1. LinkedIn 94%
  2. Facebook 66%
  3. Twitter 52%
  4. Google 21%
  5. RSS (Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) Feed 20%
  6. You Tube 15%

Employers are starting to put more money into social networks, primarily LinkedIn. “You’ve got to be on LinkedIn,” Jessica says. Google search your name. Whatever you can see, the public probably sees (She’s in the process of looking at her teenage son’s social media profile because he’ll soon be applying for scholarships, and she knows the importance of an appropriate online presence.).

Job boards are still important, but you can’t let that alone be your source for finding a job. You must connect with people through relationships and social media as well. As far as the job boards, the number one is Indeed.com. It’s a crawler, meaning that Indeed.com scours other websites for jobs. Jobing.com is our local job board and a partner with Career Connectors. Career Builder and Simply Hired are two more possibilities.

In the beginning at Intel, Jessica tells us she was making $18 an hour, so she loved those referral bonuses and practically made a second career out of those $1000 referral bonuses. There are solid reasons for those referral bonuses. Statistics show that a person who is referred usually stays longer on the job. People like to work with people they like. “So be likable!” Jessica says.

So it’s ultimately what you do AFTER you apply that really counts.

Once you apply, find someone at that company and connect on LinkedIn or find someone who can introduce you to someone who works at the company you’re targeting. Recruiters are engaging with potential candidates through social media. It’s all about how you stand out compared with the other 200 people who are applying.

Vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world. ~Loren Eisley

When Jessica read the above quote, she admitted she’s by nature a non-planner but stressed its importance. At one point she gave everyone a few minutes to share with each other — an intended job action from their list — to do by the end of this week. Then she reminded everyone that there’s an 80 percent chance you’ll follow through with an action if you tell someone about it. It’s a commitment thing.

History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats. ~B.C. Forbes.

Jessica knows what it’s like to suffer job loss.  The quote above, taken from a book by her friend Jerry Jerome*, comforted her during tough times.

She’d started her own staffing company in 2007 after being laid off from Intel, along with 10,000 other people. But then in 2009, she closed the doors to her staffing company due to the economic downturn at the very same time her husband was laid off from his corporate recruiting position. She launched Career Connectors despite her husband thinking she was crazy when she started volunteering to help people with their resumes even before she got another job. With an infant, and children ages two and ten, they finally sold their home and rented a house. But the week of Christmas 2009 they found a notice on the door of their rental– giving them ten days to find a new place to live.

Jessica is here to tell you that there is hope on the other side of extreme job loss. She knows because she’s been there. And back.

*Jerry Jerome donated his book, Instant Inspiration, for everyone in attendance, and books were handed out at the conclusion of Jessica’s presentation. The quotes Jessica used in her presentation she found in Jerry’s book. The quote I selected to open the blog came from his book as well.

Hiring Companies

City of Phoenix Workforce Connections

Kathy Thiessen, Senior Workforce Project Manager

The City of Phoenix Workforce Connections offers job seekers skills development, employment talent marketing and business services. Clients receive these services free, including help with online job bank registration, setting up email accounts, use of computers and equipment, referrals to community resources, public workshops, on-site events and job fairs, and youth services. Through assessment and conversations, the one-stop sites help job seekers identify transferable skills, determine your interests and work values, help with soft skills training, basic computer training and more.

Grants are available under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) with the goal of employment, transitioning back to the workforce as quickly as possible. The WIOA updated the 1998 Act and is the first legislative reform in 15 years, passed by a wide bipartisan majority in the Congress. SOAR is a program including personal and career awareness, soft skills for success in the workplace, and social media networking via LinkedIn. Its purpose is to strengthen Arizona’s economy by developing the workforce and matching employers with job seekers.

WIOA Services

  • Assess your  transferable skills, strengths, and areas needing improvement
  • Match skills/background to occupation/career.
  • Determine if training/certification is needed to increase your marketability.

Three One-Stop Career Centers are located in the Valley.

Among resources available at the One-Stop Centers include practice interviews and analyzing video tapes of yourself in order to be better prepared to market yourself for a job.

To check on exact locations and services available, visit their website.

Taser

Shelby Hagan, Recruiting Coordinator

Taser products in Scottsdale, with locations in Seattle and recently Amsterdam, include smart weapons (Tasers, electrical weapons), body-worn cameras and evidence solutions. The company prides itself on being innovative, including continually asking employees for their ideas. Taser’s culture includes the attitude that what you do matters and the importance of continual learning. Benefits include medical insurance, 401K, unlimited PTO, 12 weeks maternity leave, six weeks paternity leave and more. A variety of jobs are available and the list changes continually. “We have something for everyone,” they say. For more information about the company, or to apply, visit their website.

Aetna

Le Nguyen, Director, Recruiting Operations and Dani Sykes, Senior Recruiter

Aetna, a health care insurance provider, employs 50,000 people. In January of 2015 its CEO announced two important initiatives including increased pay for its minimum base hourly wage for its U.S. employees. The second initiative is the launch of an enhanced medical benefits program in 2016 to lower the out-of-pocket health care expenses for some of its U.S. employees.  The company is considered a leader in flex scheduling, including work schedules or telecommuting from home. Other benefits of Aetna include Paid Time Off (PTO)—three and one-half weeks vacation to start– six percent 401K match, annual bonuses and more. Currently, Aetna is in the process of acquiring Humana. Opportunities for careers include accounting, finance, human resources, customers support, marketing, sales and more. For the most current list of positions or to apply, visit their website.

Verizon Wireless

Darrin Ruof, HR Recruiter

Verizon Wireless is a national wireless provider, a technology leader with fast connections. Lots of phone support is available to its customers. Verizon cares about the community including one of their projects called Hopeline, a program which help victims of domestic violence. Benefits of working at Verizon include the opportunity to advance, health benefits starting on the first day of employment, and tuition assistance, up to $8000 per year. They have openings now including their call center, with jobs starting at an hourly rate, but most employees earn sales commissions starting at $1300 on up. For further information about positions, or to apply, go to their website or reach out through social media.

Education Management Corporation (EDMC)

Kelly Moncada, Talent Acquisition Specialist

Education Management Corporation is one of the largest and most diverse providers of proprietary post-secondary education in the United States. The corporation includes five schools:  The Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown Mackie College, South University, and Western State College of Law. Their top value and top priority involves providing education that builds careers.  Opportunities for advancement abound and 96% of the admissions management team members are promoted from within. The company expanded from 100 employees to over 3000 in five years. Among other benefits, the company provides employees tuition benefits to any of their schools after only 90 days on the job, as well as paid time off, 401K and 401K Roth participation, life and health insurance, and more. For more information on open positions, or to apply, visit their website.

Closing

Sheila Coulam, Director of Programs at Career Connectors, closed the meeting, thanking Highlands Church for providing the beautiful facility for hosting the monthly events. She reminded everyone of the free DISC assessment available through the website.  Also, concluding the formal part of the event, attendees were all welcome to talk to hiring managers or get help with free professional head shots, resume writing and LinkedIn assistance.

Career Connectors next meets Tuesday, September 22, 2015, 9:00 AM, in Gilbert, featuring keynote speaker Carl Forkner: Social Media: Your Job Search Secret Weapon. Next up will be Wednesday, October 7, 2015, 9:00 AM, in Phoenix. Keynote speaker Ted Robison will speak on the topic of Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out. The next Scottsdale event will be Thursday, October 15, 215, 9:00 AM in Scottsdale, featuring keynote Dave Sherman on the topic of Get the Job Fast – How to Find a Great New Job in Half the Time.

For more information including specific locations and registration, click here.

05/14/15 — Getting Hired by the Best

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

When Al Gore lost the Presidential election, the fictional Stuart Smalley (character played by Al Franken on Saturday Night Live) insisted Gore, sitting in front of the mirror, say, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.” Stuart assumed, and rightly so, that Gore’s self-esteem may have taken a hit after his very public career setback.

Psychologists tell us that job loss is right up there with traumas including the death of a loved one or being involved in a car accident. So it’s not surprising that individuals in career transition after a job loss might need some extra care, some coaching, and ongoing words of encouragement. And ideally, some practical tips!

Keynote

Kevin Dumcum, Employment Specialist, knows what it’s like to be suddenly unemployed. Until 2009, jobs always came to him. Since that job loss, Kevin discovered he really loves helping people who need assistance on their journey to employment.  Kevin gave job searchers at Scottsdale Career Connectors some very practical advice to help them with their job search.

Kevin’s Ten Lessons to Get to Yes

Lesson 1: Recognize that job loss is traumatic.  It’s not easy. It’s dramatic. It’s traumatic.

Lesson 2: Understand how companies think. Bottom line for the vast majority is profit. They don’t exist to give you a job.

Lesson 3: Control your own career path. During your journey, go after better opportunities whenever they arise.  Remember that no company can guarantee your job and that you don’t owe them your soul.

Lesson 4: Take care of yourself. During your job search, you’re not on vacation! Establish a routine of getting up each morning and get dressed for the job search instead of watching reruns of Game of Thrones. But, make sure to do activities that rejuvenate you. For Kevin, hiking and reading the Bible became constants in his life.

Lesson 5: Decide what you really want. Assessments are available, some for free, that can help you take advantage of this time in your life.  If you have not recently been doing work you really love, then this might be just the incentive to go after a career that better suits you.

  • To tap into what you really like, Kevin highly recommends the book What Color is Your Parachute. Originally written in 1972, it’s been rewritten each year. But find any edition at the public library.  Only the stats have changed, but the basic book is still the same. Section one includes exercises that lead you to your strengths. Section two tells you who would hire you to do the thing you love and are good at. Kevin proudly mentions he learned from his test results that he’s like Gandhi and Michelle Pfeiffer!
  • Take the DISC Assessment free  on the Career Connectors Website.
  • The Myers Briggs Test is good. You can buy it and hire a coach to assist you in interpreting it. Or find the simulator online and take it for free.

Lesson 6: Try everything.  Kevin means you should register on all the job boards (indeed.com, snagajob, jobbing.com, SimplyHired, and careerbuilder.com), use social media (but you must go out to networking events), attend job fairs, and take advantage of BestCompaniesAZ.

Lesson 7: Find the job. Kevin recommends several ways to tackle the job search including Maricopa Workforce Connections One Stop, Employer hiring events and Goodwill, among others.

Lesson 8:  Volunteer.  Remember that there are always people who “need a hand up.” Plus, often you can volunteer in your area of expertise and gain experience while you job hunt. Volunteering shows employers that you haven’t forgotten how to show up. Consider Volunteermatch.org or Handsonphoenix.org for example. Or Career Connectors!

Lesson 9: Expect Rejection. After one too many rejections, Kevin decided he should try to network himself. He was spending more time volunteering in this area than job hunting. He asked himself: Who would hire me to do this…employment help. During this time he happily discovered Career Connectors, too.

Paraphrasing lines from one of the Rocky movies, Kevin reminded attendees, “Life is about how you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Lesson 10: Celebrate small victories because all you need is ONE!

When Kevin flashes a picture from the popular movie Rocky on the screen, I’m already in Walter Mitty form reliving that final exhilarating scene from the original movie.

BestCompaniesAZ

Denise Gredler, Founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ, was on hand to talk about the unique model of the company.   The company was founded on these goals:

  • To identify the best companies
  • To promote the best
  • To connect the best

Among many other activities, BestCompaniesAz holds quarterly events for job seekers  with a focus on the military (January), women (April), diversity (August 27), and millennials (October).

Denise highly recommends Lee Vikre’s podcast on top interviewing tips. She also shares the following ways to get hired by the one of the best companies. 

Top Companies Hiring Criteria (in order of importance)

  1. Culture Fit
  2. Interpersonal Skills
  3. Basic Job Skills
  4. Team Player
  5. Technical Skills
  6. Personality
  7. Leadership Skills
  8. Prior experience in industry
  9. Educational Background (undergraduate)
  10. Diversity
  11. Professional Certification
  12. Prior  experience outside industry
  13. Educational Background (advanced)

All four hiring companies represented at the Scottsdale meeting today have recently won top company awards.

Hiring Companies

USAA

Sayra Nevarez, Talent Acquisition Manager

USAA, a financial services organization founded by military officers, serves their members who include the U.S. military and their families. A Fortune 200 company, USAA takes their core values as seriously as they did in 1922 when the company was founded. Benefits include full benefits from the first day of hire, paid time off, wellness program and newly expanded state-of-the-art gym, and a facility on I-17 and Happy Valley Road that includes a health services clinic with doctor on site, onsite cafeteria, a child development center for children five and under and more.  A number of jobs are open including customer service and sales in banking and insurance. To learn more about USAA or apply for a current open position, visit their website.

Orion Health

Heather Kitsko, Recruitment Business Partner

Orion Health is an award-winning leader in the health software industry with offices in the United States and Australia and headquartered in New Zealand. The company’s Scottsdale site is a 100% open office, all cubes, along with 12-13 conference rooms. Benefits of working at Orion Health include 100% medical and dental coverage for the employee and the whole family, paid holidays, sick days and discounts at Apple, AT & T and Verizon. Current openings include engineering and IT positions; more can be viewed online. For more information about the company and to apply, visit their website.

ClearCall Solutions

Jordyn Davis, Director of Talent Acquisition

ClearCall Solutions is a national leader in direct response marketing and sales, specializing in business-to-consumer acquisitions for Fortune 500 companies.  The company has received awards including Best Company to Watch. As one of Chandler’s largest employers, they’ve been named one of Chandler’s top 100 companies, moving up the ranking from 67th last year to 46th in 2014. The company provides opportunities for advancement, leadership training, and recognition.  Many job openings are available including sales representatives, IT business analyst, process analyst and more and can be viewed online. Visit their website to learn even more about the company and to apply.

Charles Schwab

Erika Villicana, Talent Sourcing Advisor

Charles Schwab, founded 41 years ago, continues its original mission to bring Wall Street to Main Street, committed to always see things through the client’s eyes. The company strives to provide financial services at low cost, using the consultation approach—really listening to clients.  A Fortune 500 company, Charles Schwab is located in 45 states and 3 countries.  The company has won 13 different awards in 2013 and 2014. Currently 100 jobs are available including Broker Training, Client Reporting Specialist and Relationship Specialist. For more information about the company and to apply, go to their website.

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training

Rodger Brubacher, Director of Continuing Education

Dynamic Worldwide Training is a certification-preparation school, licensed by the state, which offers training and certifications in Microsoft Office, Project Management Institute, and Medical Front Office, to name just a few. All classrooms offer state-of-the-art equipment, including dual monitors.  Located in Tempe off the 60, the school offers several platforms for delivering instruction which include instructor-led, corporate on-site, virtual, or hybrid (a combination of methods). The school has a low student-to-teacher ratio and offers interview coaching. For more information on classes or available funding, visit their website.

Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the meeting, reminding all new visitors about the free DISC assessment available to them. Breakout sessions include the opportunity to speak to hiring companies,receive free business portraits, and resume or LinkedIn coaching and other educational opportunities.

The next meeting of Career Connectors will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 9 AM in Gilbert, featuring keynote speaker Jim Paisley’s presentation: The Successful Interview.

Then on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, 9:00 AM, Phoenix keynote speaker Sandi Ashton will speak about DISCover Your Unique Value. Bring your printout of your DISC assessment!

The next Scottsdale meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2015, 9:00 AM features keynote speaker Michael Seaver speaking on Developing and Living Your Personal Brand.

For more information on upcoming topics, hiring companies and directions, click here.

Parting Thought

Words of wisdom in a short video from Wayne Dyer  re-emphasizes Kevin’s point about taking advantage of career transition to possibly reinvent yourself. It’s called  How God tells you it’s time to change. Click here to view.

 

02/12/15 — DISCovering Your Unique Value

by

Written by Susan Lamphiear

“Just the Facts, Ma’am” was really never spoken by the fictional character Joe Friday in the TV show Dragnet, even though the phrase has been attributed to him. But apparently these same words could well have been uttered by a job interviewer whose DISC assessment results showed their dominant behavior as D for Dominance. Someone who ranks high in these Dominance behaviors is likely looking for direct answers to specific questions, so you’re better off not dragging your story out. Get to the point.

The DISC Assessment, keynote topic today, can help you identify your primary communication and behavior style, leading to more successful relationships, impacting your personal life as well as career success. In job transition, adapting to other people’s styles may improve interview outcomes, leading to that job of your dreams.

Keynote Speaker

It was a turning point for Sandi Ashton and her husband when they both took the DISC assessment a few years ago. Though the assessment is often used for career planning, the DISC can be a real eye opener in any type of relationship (and really what it was originally intended to be used for).  Sandi, a dominant D, wanted “just the facts”,  but  her husband tended to give her way too many details. Enter the DISC assessment which allowed each of them to learn to adapt to each other’s predominant style of communication and behavior. In fact, they both laughed when they looked at each other after they saw their results of the assessment.

Keynote speaker Sandi Ashton wanted to give those of us in job transition specific ways to use the results of our own DISC assessment as a way to build our own resumes, and to adapt in interviews, by recognizing dominant styles in others simply by careful observation.

Vice-President of Career Connectors Board of Directors and President of her own company, Optimizing Excellence, Sandi emphasizes she wants to help people understand their unique value to an organization as they tackle career transition.

Research suggests that the most effective people are those who understand themselves, including both strengths and weaknesses, in order to adapt to their environment, and this certainly includes the job hunt. That’s where the DISC Assessment comes in. (You can take the DISC Assessment FREE through Career Connectors website. Click here.)

Sandi, a leadership coach, and DISC certified trainer, explains that the DISC assessment measures only behavior. We don’t always see the essence of a person; we can’t see into their soul. But, a lot can be learned from knowing what our own strengths are and then being able to recognize strengths of others during our interactions.

While the DISC Assessment measures your natural inclinations, another important use for the DISC is adapting at times to the other person’s communication style. It’s possible, with practice, to more quickly recognize the other person’s communication style early in a discussion.

Recognizing Behavioral Styles Quickly

  • Dominance — This person may launch into the conversation without saying hello.
  • Influence — Usually this type of individual is an entertainer, personable, and holds long conversations.
  • Steadiness — Often this person asks how you are and seems to genuinely care. This type of individual tries to stay in touch and remembers things about your past.
  • Compliance — Emails from this person are usually short, to clarify a point, often sent with attachments as support data.

Tips for Using 4 DISC Behavioral Styles in a Job Interview

  1. Dominance – The person with this prevailing style wants to see results. If you’re interviewed by someone with this style, be direct and give specific examples with results achieved.
  2. Influence –  With a focus on people, this interviewer should be allowed to talk. You ask about the company and mention mutual connections. This person is often looking for “an experience.”
  3. Steadiness – This individual needs security and wants a logical explanation of things. Give facts slowly, in a logical way. Listen carefully and answer their questions.
  4. Compliance – Usually this personality style requires the bottom line. Remember when interviewing with this person to answer questions with details and don’t talk personally. In an interview, answer questions with details.

Sandi emphasized  our unique value matters.  “You’re all a gift — you can bring balance to an organization. We all need each other.” The DISC can help remind us of our unique self. Being aware of our own strengths and thus our own value to a company is incredibly important in our job search. Use results of the DISC assessment to formulate your resume and to present yourself in interviews.

Remember research hints that the most effective people are well aware of both their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to pick a job that utilizes their strengths while learning to adapt to other people’s communication and behavioral styles. That way you can find the position which best utilizes your strengths and you help an organization meet their ultimate goals. Style when we adapt is a win-win situation,  both personally and professionally, Sandi says

Hiring Companies

AppointmentPlus

Jennifer Rojas, Human Resource & Recruiting Manager

AppointmentPlus is a cloud-based scheduling company that allows businesses to get rid of their appointment books. Founded in 2001 and located in Scottsdale, the company features online scheduling available 24/7. Their core values include workplace balance.  The company features a number of benefits to employees including 4% 401K match after 90 days, tuition development, company charity events, 100% health insurance for the employee, and a snow cone machine on site every Friday. Open positions include sales development, graphic design, product analyst and copywriting. To see a more complete job listing and apply, visit their website.

Paladin

Dana Johnson, Account Manager

Paladin helps connect talented individuals in marketing, creative communications, and digital professions throughout the country, including Phoenix. Positions range from contracts, contract to hire, to salaried positions. A few of the positions they offer are graphic designer, copywriter, web analyst, marketing coordinator and project manager. In their hiring process, they generally schedule a 10-15 minute phone call to determine what you’re looking for. They need good talent so their next step is to meet potential job candidates in person. The company has been in the Phoenix area for over two years but has been in business for 25 years. To learn more about their job listings and to apply, visit their website.

Charles Schwab

Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Manager

Charles Schwab will soon celebrate 42 years in the financial services industry. Founded with the idea of bringing Wall Street to Main Street, the company tries to see everything through their clients’ eyes. With headquarters located in San Francisco (on Main Street!), it’s actually Phoenix that has the largest employee base at close to 4000. Lots of opportunity exists in Phoenix for individuals ranging from new grads to retirees.  Entry positions include broker trainee, client services, and relationship specialists. Right now there are 100 openings in Phoenix.  The company has earned numerous awards as a top company. For more details on job openings and to apply, visit their website.

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Rodger Brubacher

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants, located in Tempe, offers anyone in job transition an opportunity to receive training in nationally recognized certified areas ranging from project management to Microsoft to medical front office to Six Sigma and more.  Many students qualify for 100% funding of these courses. Flexible scheduling allows students to continue the courses even when they are offered a job during their training. For more information about classes and funding, contact them through their website.

Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the morning by reminding everyone of the breakout sessions where they can receive professional headshots for their LinkedIn profile, assistance with resumes, and the opportunity to speak with representative from hiring companies. She also reminded everyone they can take the DISC assessment free (click here)  because of their affiliation with Career Connectors.

The next meeting of Career Connectors takes place in Gilbert on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, 9:00 A.M. featuring the keynote address Secrets Recruiters Don’t Want You to Know by Absolutely Abby.

Featured speaker at the next Phoenix meeting will be Nykky McCarley, speaking March 4, 2015, on LinkedIn Like an All-Star.

A reminder the next Scottsdale event of Career Connectors is moved to March 19, 2015,  instead of the second Thursday of the month. Jack Milligan will talk about Salary Negotiation – Make More Money.

For details and registration for these Career Connectors events  in the Valley, visit the event section of the website.