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06/17/20 – Your 2020 Career: Thrive Rather than Survive

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Written by Sheri Kerr

Keynote

Abby Kohut, Your 2020 Career: Thrive Rather Than Survive

Abby Kohut

Abby is the president of Staffing Symphony LLC, corporate recruiter, and motivation speaker. Abby’s mission is to help 1 million job seekers by providing resources, guidance, inspirational words and wisdom. Abby traveled the United States to help job seekers and now continues to support job seekers from her home using virtual media.

Job Seekers can Thrive Rather Than Survive:

Abby has resources available to anyone and everyone by simply emailing her at join@absolutelyabby.com. An email will be sent back that contains resource guides, cover letter templates, and tips to help in your job search.

Abby encourages the audience to identify things you can control and areas you cannot control.
She reminds everyone they CAN CONTROL: My positive attitude, How I follow CDC recommendations, My social distancing, My kindness and grace, Limiting my social distances, Finding Fun Things to do at home, Turning off the news.
What you CANNOT control: How others react, how long this will last, if others follow social distances, the action of others, predicting what others might do, the amount of toilet paper at the store, and other’s motives.

Abby provides key words when looking for a job using searches engines by using the “ “ each time. The key words to use include: “Currently hiring”, “Hiring Now”, “Not on hold”, “Filling immediately”, “immediate need”, next she advised to update and refresh your resume on ZipRecruiter each Sunday. Then the recruiters will have your resume in their inbox on Monday morning for recruiting posts.

MANAGING CHANGE

  1. KEY Phrases to assist:
    What NOT to say: “I have no income” but creditors and others possibly will help if you phrase it: “I have NO income due to CoronaVirus”
  2. Cover Letters – Always use a cover letter even if the employer/application does not ask for one. The Cover letter is an excellent tool to explain YOUR Story to the recruiter.
  3. Write a Brilliant Cover Letter (remember to email Abby and get her cover letter templates)
  4. Again never submit a resume without a cover letter.

VIDEO INTERVIEWS
The Video Interview is the trend companies are doing more today due to the low cost and accessibility to everyone.

Tips on Video Interviews:

  1. Sit in a well lit room as you do not want shadows on your face
  2. Share information with the recruiter like the reason why you are sitting in a car to have the interview by letting the recruiter know that you’re in the car because of 1 1/2 year old baby would make noise during the interview
  3. Distractions – make sure you have a quiet space to conduct the interview
  4. Do not drink during an interview, but during a virtual workshop that is fine
  5. Test everything before the interview
  6. Virtual backgrounds are nice, but recruiters have a mixed view of them – 50% say they are cool and the other 50% do not like them.
  7. Color of the company – wear the company’s logo color during the interview. It makes a good impression to the interviewers. Example: Target wear Red or Walmart wear Blue
  8. Put your resume on the screen instead of looking down at it
  9. During the interview, look into the camera and do not look at the interviewees
  10. Keep your gestures at top or in the camera view or they will not be visible
  11. Shut cell phone off
  12. Turn off ceil Fan
  13. Remember to wear pants or in other words be fully dressed for video interviews
  14. Create goals and reward yourself after you a have achieved them

PAY IT FORWARD

  1. Connect with people who can help each other
  2. Be a good listener
  3. Post positive messages or funny quotes
  4. LinkedIn recommendations
  5. Watch the Movie ‘“Pay it Forward”
  6. Find ways to Pay it Forward and help others

CREATIVE WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE
● Become a coach of a subject matter
● Consult in an area of expertise
● Write a book

CHANGING CAREERS
Changing careers can occur at any age
For example, Julia Childs, Walt Disney, and Grandma Moses

LAUGH AT YOURSELF AND INVEST IN HEARING OTHER PEOPLE’S STORIES

Abby loves people that overcome obstacles and she is producing a show called “SharkTank-PersisentPreneurs.com and invites you to join on Thursday night at 5pm AZ Time on her website, www.AbsolutelyAbby.com/show

ABBY’S TOP TEN LIST:

  1. I’m alive
  2. I’m healthy
  3. I have supportive family
  4. I have wonderful friends
  5. I have an awesome business partner
  6. I have meals to eat
  7. I have a place to live
  8. I own a car
  9. I love watching animals
  10. I get to recreate my career if I want to

Finally, create your own top ten list!

CLOSING THOUGHTS/OPINIONS:
● Everyone’s stress level is high – be forgiving
● Network like crazy using Zoom
● Take a class, learn a language, reconnect with friends
● Only watch or listen to the news for 30 mins a day
● Shower, shave, walk, exercise, meditate, etc.
● Help your fellow neighbor – watch Pay It Forward
● We will get through this…TOGETHER

HIRING COMPANIES

HonorHealth

Robin Ersland, Talent Acquisition Marketing Specialist


LinkedIn and Facebook – Follow in both social media area as they post job and hiring events there. HonorHealth is a non-profit, local healthcare organization known for community service and outstanding medical quality. HonorHealth encompasses five acute care hospitals with over 12,000 employees and 4,500 volunteers, the HonorHealth Medical Group, clinical research, medical education, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, an Accountable Care Organization, a foundation, and extensive community services.
Mission: To improve the health and well-being of those we serve.
Vision: To be the partner of choice as we transform healthcare for our communities.

Values – ICARE
Innovation
Collaboration
Accountability
Respect
Empathy

Large healthcare organization in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Mission Statement and Values are mirrored in each employee and they desire future employees that believe in the same Mission and Values. HonorHealth has a robust benefits package. They currently have approximately 300 open positions. They offer virtual hiring events that can be found on HonorHealth’s website.

State Farm
Danielle Trubac, Talent Brand Specialist

State Farm has offices located in Bloomington, IL, Phoenix, AZ, Richardson, TX, and Atlanta, GA

Mission Statement
To help people manage the risks of everyday life
Recover from the unexpected,
& Realize their dreams.
State Farm offers a robust compensation package with time off, competitive pay, health and welfare, planning & retirement, tuition aide, training, and work/life balance.
We are looking for candidates who have:
● A focus on customer service
● Strong communication skills
● Technical skills to handle multiple computer applications while helping customers on the phone
● Ability to achieve results and maintain quality in a fast-paced environment
● Thrives on accountability to your team, your work and your schedule
● Accounting, Financial, and Banking
● Administrative Support
● Claims and Investigation
● Customer Service
● Facilities Management
● Human Resources and Training
● Legal, Compliance, and Risk Management
● Marketing, Design, and Communications
● Research and Data Analytics
● Sales Support
● Technology and UX
● Underwriting
● Actuarial
They are hiring for entry level employees and believe in promoting within the company first before hiring someone outside of the company.
HOW TO APPLY:
● Create a profile
● Filter positions by category, state or employment type
● Full time, part time and internship opportunities
● Positions provide overview of duties & requirements
● Click “Apply Now”
● Option to join “Talent Neighborhood”
● https://findjobs.statefarm.com/

9/5/19 – Instant Likeability

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Written by Gary Matsuda

You want the job. You need to get the sale. You need to get stuff done and there is so much to do. Who cares about being liked?

Not so fast!

Despite how much we rely on technology to communicate and be productive, deep down we still want to know that others are listening to our needs and value us as people, not projects. Being likeable helps us connect with others by answering some subconscious questions: Do we have something in common? Are we on the same side? Is it possible for us to get along?

Your brain makes ‘friend or foe’ instant judgments on people we meet for the first time. So, unless you are in a profession where you need to appear intimidating, use the pointers below to make yourself more approachable and appear as someone who can be trusted.

Keynote

Enter Dave Sherman, expert on mixing, mingling and schmoozing, who has 3 best-selling books on networking and sales. For a long time, others thought Dave was likeable just because his dad was that way. But that wasn’t entirely true, he had to learn lessons along the way about connecting with people. He says if we’re not born with it, we don’t have to give up and resign ourselves to be lifelong wallflowers. We all can learn to be likeable – here are his tried and true words of advice:

Tip #1. Put on a smile.
This is the first thing you should do when you arrive at an event. It takes little effort and costs you nothing! Studies have found that those who smile are thought to be warm, friendly, approachable and smart. People will be more likely to respond to you. Let it be natural, show it in your eyes, and you will appear more authentic. Do it early, do it often.

Tip #2. Ask questions.
This suggestion applies whether you are outgoing or an introvert. To get a conversation going and get others to talk, come prepared with questions and you’ll be more comfortable approaching strangers. The other person may have been looking to start a connection so you’ll both overcome nervousness this way. Ask them about how, what, why and when – maybe you can learn something about them.

As they are answering take note of the next tip.

Tip #3. Pay attention.
Listen to their answers and try to find commonality. The mind processes thoughts five times faster than we speak, so be aware of your thoughts while in conversation and resist the temptation to interrupt.

Tip #4. Let them talk.
Try to do less talking about yourself and keep your attention on learning about opportunities. We have the tendency to believe what is going on in our heads is more important, so again fight the temptation to interrupt.

Think of your worst date (or dates). You can probably think of a time when the other person talked about themselves the whole time. You don’t want the other person to do all the talking either! Neither side should dominate the conversation. It’s also OK to end a conversation when it has run its course. Find a break in the exchange and you might say:

“It was a pleasure to meet you, but I would like to meet someone now”

“I’m going to take a restroom break”

“How about those Crab Rangoons, excuse me I’ve got to get some!”

Tip #5. Practice Servant leadership:
Zig Ziglar said, “You will get anything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” And how would you know what others want? (Hint, see tips #2, #3 and #4).

Dave has thought about you. No, not you personally but as a community. At one time you may have been irritated by fake Facebook scam ads. Dave started a scam stoppers website to help others who had the same frustration. He was paid nothing for his work, but he created this because he wanted to help improve the culture of the web. There was no personal gain for him except for the knowledge and satisfaction that he was making a difference, especially when one of those ads got pulled!

Tip #6. Show some personality.
Humanize yourself. In this overused, over hyped digital world, there is a tendency to relax our social skills. During face to face interaction, be intentional and show personal authenticity. You are not your resume. Or your cover letter. Or your LinkedIn profile. Let the real you show, be genuine. If you are more comfortable with books, be proud of that. That can be a good topic for discussion too, ”What have you been reading lately”.

Tip #7. Remember the Golden Rule.
The Golden Rule applies not only when the situation is going well, but it’s especially relevant when things don’t go your way. The job search is tough and one of the worst feelings is having an application rejected. Don’t let it get to you personally and corrupt your attitude. Be prepared to act graciously when things go wrong – even when you have followed all the suggestions here. The next tip should help you look on the positive side.

Tip #8. Use humor…carefully.
Don’t worry if you don’t think you are funny. If you try too hard, it will seem like, well. . . you’re trying to hard. For most of us humor doesn’t come naturally but it too can be practiced and learned. At the very least, always look at the positive side of a situation or conversation. You’ll want to be someone who can add something of value, not find fault.

We’re nervous at networking events because we don’t know what to expect, our defenses are up, yet we’re there to talk to people! No wonder we’re stressed! Humor enables us to relax, let our guard down and allows our brain to be more willing to accept new information. So relax, make a joke, break the ice – people will tend to be more open and possibly share more about themselves. So, laugh a little, learn a lot.

Tip #9. Treat everyone with the same level of kindness.
Dave’s dad was always known to treat everyone with kindness. This includes people who seem to have no decision-making power. However, in sales or a job search, the gatekeeper can be the most important person who can open doors for you – think of them as the first decision maker.

Do this and you’ll build a habit, a good reputation and you’ll feel better too.

Tip #10. Build commonality.
Investigate and research to find personal information. If you’re sitting at someone’s desk, notice personal items, photos of kids, pets, sports and comment on them.

If you have the chance to prepare for a meeting, do your research to find out what you may have in common, such as sports, kids, schools, hobbies, or places.

In person is a great way to use questions, to find out what they do, about their likes, what motivates them and what they do when they are not working.

Anyone can be more likeable if they understand the importance behind it and put effort into improving their first impressions. Learn to be instantly likeable and you’ll open yourself up to opportunities and become known as someone who is easy to work with. What’s not to like about that?

Hiring Companies

Honor Health

Jo Bryant, Executive Search Strategist

Looking for a career where you are cared for while you care for others? Consider Honor Health who are on a mission to improve the health and well-being of those they serve. They do this by supporting the HONOR in you. They strive to maintain a unique relationship with each employee, listening to feedback that help with decisions that make a direct impact.

Career Opportunities

  • Patient Care Tech
  • RNs and Therapists
  • Food Services
  • Social workers and Care Managers
  • Registration/Schedulers
  • Customer Navigation Coordinators
  • Financial Services
  • Security Services
  • Logistics/Supply Chain Services

Resources

Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation

Brittany Holmes, Workforce Development Manager

Financial Industry Training (F.I.T.)

  • Looking for a rewarding new career?
  • Willing to complete a short training program to get there?
  • Have customer service skills, passion for helping others and a desire to learn and grow?

Then get F.I.T. for a new career!

Whether you are working in hospitality, customer service, education, or just want a change, a career in Financial Services is possible. No degree? No experience? No problem! Financial services firms are looking for talented customer focused individuals. You can enroll in F.I.T. with in-person, hybrid and online study options!

Closing

Jessica Pierce, CEO and Founder of Career Connectors, closed the event by thanking GCU for hosting the event and thanking the volunteers, sponsors and partners who make the Career Connectors events possible. Attendees were encouraged to network and take advantage of the many available resources.

Upcoming event details are available on the Events Page.

06/20/19 – Tackling the Job Search Obstacle Course: Age, Race, Gender

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

Keynote

Brenda Cunningham

“Be excellent” advises keynote speaker Brenda Cunningham, speaking to a room full of job seekers looking to regain their spot in the workplace due to either layoffs or career change. Being excellent – it’s the best all-around antidote to any possibility of discrimination whether motivated by race, gender and sexual orientation, age, or educational background.

Sure, discrimination exists in 2019, Brenda admits, adding, “And it’s illegal.” Bottom line is this: “Why would you want to work for someone who’s going to discriminate against you?” As a young child she was no stranger to discrimination and was actively called the “N word” in fourth grade.

Fast forward to Brenda and her children having fun at the pool. The towel manager came to her twice (she was reading a book while her kids were playing) saying they were getting complaints from members and asked them to keep it down. “We’re members, too,” Brenda said. She noticed other people were loud but no one called them out. After all, it was a swimming pool. “Aren’t people supposed to have fun?” Of course, she said, sometimes the right thing to do is to speak up in the face of discrimination.

Brenda is Black and she is a woman. She also holds a degree in electrical engineering with nine years of experience. As an engineer she was the only person of color at her company. Brenda lists all the things that help define her, explaining she’s married to a 400+ pound man with dreadlocks, has natural hair, is a Christian, is over 40, and has no degree in career management, though she has certifications in the field.

So what? All of these things that describe her, or any of us, can become our obstacles. STOP! Don’t let any of these descriptors hold you back. Instead, let your abilities and excellence, your “awesomeness,” define you.

If something is holding you back in your career search, maybe it’s not about your race, gender/sexual orientation, education or age? Instead, could it be about a lack of connecting with your audience?

To better navigate today’s job search, update your resume, get relevant experience if you don’t have it, and be creative in the search through active and consistent networking with real live people, not just job boards.

Words of Wisdom from Brenda

  • Today’s job search is different and harder than it used to be or has to be.
  • Application tracking systems are a fact of life. Learn to live with it by understanding how it works. For example, if you’ve completed at least a semester of coursework in your chosen field, add it to your resume, because the tracking system will pick it up.
  • If you don’t have relevant experience, obtain it through free training, certifications, or invest in yourself and get the education you need. Volunteer somewhere to keep current in your chosen field, whether it’s your same field or a new one. VOLUNTEERING creates relevant experience and IT COUNTS! Stay relevant!
  • Brenda’s philosophy: Experience trumps formal education.
  • When you add a college course or certification to your resume, it demonstrates your ability to learn at that level.
  • Focus on how awesome you are, not what you lack. If your resume does not reflect how awesome you are, fix it by going out and obtaining the necessary credentials, and then adding these certifications, courses, or volunteer experience to your resume.

Tips for Handling AGE on Your Resume (or In Person)

  • Leave off college graduation date. It’s not necessary.
  • LinkedIn recruiting does not see age–it’s blacked out. So assume the employer can’t see it and don’t give away information that’s not requested.
  • Avoid the words or phrases that might hint or give away your age such as “retired” or “seasoned” or “35 years of experience.”
  • Participate in social media (which employers often check) but Brenda threatens, “I’d better not see you talking about the good old days on social media!”
  • Use energetic language on your resume and in your interview. Do not speak disparagingly about technology, for example!
  • Help show potential employers your willingness to learn and grow–that you still have “fuel in the tank.”
  • Learn how to explain the impact you’ve had in the workplace. Be specific. On your resume and in person.

Remember we are each complex individuals, making the workforce stronger because of the diversity we bring. Brenda gives the example of the much criticized error the Red Cross made in design of their swimming safety poster in 2016. “Somebody should have caught that,” Brenda said. “But it’s funny, so look it up.” She cites it as a cautionary tale of the importance of diversity, which can shine light on an issue or a project from multiple points of view and could have probably avoided the embarrassing pool safety poster error.

Hiring Companies

Modis

Michelle Grinberg, Regional Solutions Consultant

Modis is an IT and engineering staffing company – part of Adecco Staffing, who partners with Career Connectors. Started in 1986, the company has maintained a presence throughout the United States with offices in Canada, Europe and South America.

The company places candidates in a range of positions from information technology to director positions, including the aerospace industry. Info tech is their primary focus, though. Big in the industry right now are JAVA, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.

Candidates registering with Modis are assigned a recruiter who follows them throughout their career path. Part of the process includes tech and accounting evaluations and professional reference checks.

Once you’ve registered with Modis as an employee, you’re eligible for their 300 free courses in their learning enter, ranging from leadership to software development. You’re also eligible for benefits, payroll deductions, vacation holiday pay, and retention and referral bonuses.

No employee ever pays a fee for these services. Open positions include System Administrator, JAVA Developer Sr, Entry-level Tech Support, and Network Engineer.

To learn more about Modis, visit their website.

Honor Health

Robin Ersland, Recruitment Partnership Manager

Honor Health is a hospital system with three hospitals in Scottsdale, two in Phoenix, and medical offices throughout the Valley, known for community service and outstanding medical quality. The system employs 11,000, staffs 4,500 volunteers , and includes over 70 primary and specialty care practices and more.

The hospital system offers generous perks, including a variety of healthcare benefits to both FT and PT employees; plus a robust PTO program, fitness facility, tuition assistance, 403(b) retirement plan and 529 college savings plan. They also offer continuing education assistance, child care centers and in-home sick child care, paid time off for vacation, personal, sick and holidays; short term and long-term disability; discounted bus passes, fitness facilities, pet insurance, legal plans; and much more. For more information visit their benefits section of their website.

Positions available include an ongoing need for nurses plus registration and scheduling. Featured careers this week include Patient Care Technicians, RNs and Therapists, Food services, Social Workers and Care Managers, Customer Navigation Coordinators, Financial Services, Security Services, and Logistics/Supply Chain Services. Visit their website for more information.

USAA

Courtney Fuller, Director, Bank Underwriting

Everything at USAA starts with their mission. Their mission is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services. In doing so, USAA seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community.

USAA prides itself on its diversity and inclusion. Also, because military members are their primary focus, at least 30% of new hires are veterans or military spouses.

USAA offers comprehensive financial services, including banking, investments, property and life insurance, and financial advice. In Phoenix, USAA is located at Happy Valley Rd. and I-17. Jobs include customer service, insurance, banking, and IT software developers.

Perks and benefits include PTO (accrued by years of service); maternity and paternity leave; two volunteer days per year; wellness program including a fitness center, energy/relax zones, healthy points program; 401K match (up to 8%); bonus potential; and education assistance – all available on day one.

Apply online at their website.

Resources and Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce reminded attendees they are eligible to take the DISC assessment online free at the Career Connectors website.

Thank You to Highlands Church for hosting today’s event!

Check out these relevant TED talks on diversity, unconscious bias, and excellence.

What Baby Boomers Can Learn from Millennials at Work–And Vice Versa-Chip Conley

3 design principles to help us overcome everyday bias-Thaniya Keereepart

Looking for a job? Highlight your ability, not your experience-Jason Shen

We all have implicit biases. So what do we do about it?-Dushaw Hockett

It’s About Time We Challenge Our Unconscious Biases-Juliette Powell

Unconscious bias: Stereotypical hiring practices-Gail Tolstoi-Miller

Dare to Be Extraordinary-Dr. Christine Riordan

02/22/18 – Activate Your Job Search

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Activate Your Job SearchWritten by Miriam Spinner

I know how it feels. I was there not knowing how to job hunt after an extended time in the workforce. And, it isn’t fun. This time might seem incredibly difficult. But, believe me, in the long run, you will remember this transition period as a lightening rod in your career path. I knew one thing: if I my job strategies were the same as in the early 2000, this journey will last a long time.

So what is different?

Keynote Speaker

Kevin Dumcum told us how to re-think how we search for our next opportunity with “Ten Lessons”.

Lesson I – Recognize that job loss is traumatic

It seems like a normal day – in the beginning. You get the call from HR, and you start to feel your heart pump real hard. Research shows that losing your job has similar traumatic ranking as the death of a loved one. You will likely move through a series of emotions – doubt, fear, anger, shame, sadness and finally empowerment. Kevin tells us we will have good days, and not-so-good days.

Take time to process your emotions so you can move forward and inject positive energy in your job search.

Lesson II – Understand how companies think

Companies don’t exist to provide employment. They exist to create profit for their shareholders, right? Companies are affected by the economy such as a technology disruption or mergers. They can’t guarantee job security, so don’t take it personally.

Separate your self-worth from your company’s collateral damage of cutting costs. You define you, not the company!

Lesson III – Control your own career path

It is your choice to protect yourself with re-tooling your skills, or seizing a new career path. When you lose your job you are tempted to grab on to the next opportunity, and ignore the warning signs. Give yourself permission to hold out for a good fit if you can, and try consulting, a bridge job or even a side hussle.

Don’t jump from the frying pan into the fire.

Lesson IV – Take care of yourself

You sleep until 9:00 am day 1 after you received your pink slip, and you open up the computer to apply for jobs. Go for a hike instead. Discover what calms you. Embrace the hobbies that you love.

You need to recharge – but with the right balance of work and play.

Lesson V – Decide what you really want

Kevin tells us that when he was laid off he reviewed the job boards and applied for jobs he thought he could do – an office manager, maybe an HR role (I can do that!). But when he hit submit, he knew it wasn’t a good fit.

You have been given a gift to think about your career, and to course correct. Think about your values and challenge yourself – What do I really want to do?

Honor where you are now, and take the opportunity to determine your purpose.

Check out these resources to help you:

✓What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles
✓Self-directed exercises – visual representation of what you want to do
✓Strengths Finder – identifies top 5 strengths; $15.00 assessment; 45 minutes.
✓Myer Briggs – identifies your personality type; 3 versions
✓DISC – free option with Career Connectors
✓ONetOnline.org – government site; tells you what is required to be successful
✓CareerOneStop.org – provides hiring trends in your area and average salary
✓Phoenix Business Journal – list of companies by number of partners, sales, and more.
✓BestCompaniesAZ.com – compiles an engagement survey for local companies.
✓Arizona@Work – government owned; resume writing workshops; interview skills
✓Goodwill – private; 18 career centers
✓Library – multiple resources at no cost

Lesson VII – Find all the jobs

Is clicking “apply” over and over helping you reach your job searching goals?
Check out the resources below for better job search strategies:

✓AZJobConnection.gov – state wide; apply for jobs directly on the company site
✓Job Boards – Indeed; Careerbuilder; Dice; Simply Hired; Snagajob
✓LinkedIn Jobs – Recruiters post positions on LinkedIn first!
✓Social Media – If you are not on it perception could be that you are hiding something, or you don’t know how to use it. Use it wisely!
✓Google – enter “jobs” and a list will pop up!; Use the Chrome browser
✓Facebook – enter “jobs”
✓ Job Fairs – Tips: 1 )Ensure you ask “How do you see me fitting into to your organization?” 2) Get to know recruiters – they know each other! 3) Know yourself and the problem you want to solve

Hidden Job Market

Some positions are never posted. Maybe someone put their notice in recently, or the organizations want to keep the position private.

Find your target companies that you know and like.

Networking

Networking is an important part of your job search strategy. But, attending happy hours or just showing up will not help you when you are not clear on what you want.

Kevin provided 3 surefire resources for networking.

✓Networkingphoenix.com – has an amazing calendar of events. Some are fee based vs. member associations.
✓Belong to a professional industry association. As them “Can I attend if I volunteer”?
Let them now you are in a job transition. How about volunteering at the registration desk
(easy way to meet people!)
✓Facebook events – professional groups and social groups. Find something you enjoy.

Lesson VIII – Volunteer

Kevin suggests it is good for the soul. It can help you gain skills, and you can put on your resume, secure a letter of recommendation, and even introductions.

Lesson IX – Expect rejection

Kevin’s story

Kevin found a contact on LinkedIn that reported to the hiring manager of a market research organization that he had an interest. He secures the first interview, and kills it!
But the scope of the worked changed, and they wanted someone at the VP level. After 2 minutes, the opportunity evaporated – poof!

His backup plan was to work in an area that he had experience – a call center. He was thinking “ I just need to have my foot in the door”. There were no openings.

Kevin recharges himself through quiet time. He forced himself to network (uncomfort zone for sure), and volunteered to help present marketing events for job seekers. He also volunteered for homeless shelters to help people secure jobs. He looked up nonprofits, and was engaged with Career Connectors in the beginning of the launch. At the end of the event, Jessica Pierce shared with the group a list of job openings. When Kevin heard Goodwill, it registered. He contacted them and was hired!

Lesson X – Success breeds success

“Get hit and keep moving forward!” Rocky

Hiring Companies

Department of Economic Security
Nancy Stanford, HRA Recruiting Manager

DES has multiple divisions, and the top 5 active are 1) Aging and Adult Services 2) Benefits and Medical 3) Child Support Services 4) Development Disabilities, and 5) Employment Services, Job Training, Disabled Veterans . There are 2700 team members, and $4 billion is invested annually. The culture is about helping people, so they look for candidates that care about humans.

Quick Tips

 Know your Job ID
 Know the close date
 Know your contact name, number and email, and follow-up.
 Use key words in the beginning of your resume

Contact Nancy at AZStateJobs.gov, and for open positions. Currently this includes Paralegal, Budget Analyst, System Testing Analyst, Mainframe Applications Engineer, Payroll Supervisor, Special Investigator, QA Analyst and many more.

HonorHealth
Robin Ersland, Talent Acquisition Sourcer

HonorHealth is a nonprofit and has deep community based programs. They employ 12,000 workers. They are affiliated with Desert Mission and NOAH services. Employees are passionate caregivers, and they value a top patience experience. HonorHealth has stellar health care benefits, including onsite childcare services.

There are currently 500 job openings including Applications Analyst, Chief Information Security Officer, Case Manager, CT Technician, Surgical Technician, Behavioral Health Counselor and more. Go to www.honorhealthjobs.com for more detail.

Resources

Department of Economic Security/Unemployment Insurance
Jim Sorenson, UI Client Advocate Manager

Every state has their own legislative rules and laws. States outside of Arizona may pay more unemployment compensation. If you worked outside of AZ, you may want to apply for unemployment in a different state. If you received severance, unemployment compensation eligibility starts the week post the last week you receive severance. For example, if you received severance for 6 weeks, you are eligible at week 7. Benefits are up to 26 weeks in a 52 week period.

Check out the WIA program for eligibility.

Do you have more questions? Click here for more detail.

Thank you, Jim for singing your original song entitled “What are You Waiting For”

WOZ U
Scott Caruso, Admissions Advisor

Inspired by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, WOZ U specializes in technology and career-based programs designed to get people into the workforce quickly and affordably. Led by higher education experts, students will learn the skills necessary to take flight within the technology industry and receive a certificate of completion upon graduation.

WozU teaches Java, JavaScript, .Net, Ruby as well as Data Science and Cyber Security. To learn more, attend one of their upcoming Byte Clubs or Demo Days– or visit the website.

Closing

Sheila Coulam, Director of Operations for Career Connectors, reminded us to download portraits, and for no-cost resources check out the event recap and career advice blogs.

The next Career Connector event is on Tuesday, February 27 in Gilbert, AZ. Keynote speaker Cary Pfeffer will speak on “Telling Your Story”.

8/11/16 – Why Know Your Why

by

Written by: Chris Layfield

Opening

Kirsten Hall, Career Connectors Board of Directors,  stood in for Jessica today with opening and closing comments:

· Get connected to the weekly email, check the event recap, and join the LinkedIn Group Discussion

· Consider volunteering

· Take the DISC assessment and pick up the Phoenix Business Journal book of lists – they’re free!

Keynote

Cristi McMurdie

What would it be like if you were so aligned between your heart and your head that you could communicate who you are so clearly in your first interview that you didn’t need to go through your experience in detail later?

Cristi McMurdie says that just about everyone knows WHAT they do, some people know HOW they do it, but very few know WHY they do it. WHY we do things is our “Sub-Operating System” – it’s how we are hardwired, what we believe, what we are compulsive about, and what makes us special. WHY we do things lives deep in the part of the brain that was formed early in life and which gives us our most inherent survival/success formula.

When we are aligned between WHY, HOW, and WHAT we do either personally or in business, we have passion that resonates out to our families, our employers, our peers, and our customers. When we understand our WHY, we can be agents in creating that alignment over time.

Based on work done by Simon Sinek (look up his TED talk or his book Start with Why) and subsequently by Dr. Gary Sanchez, there are 9 potential WHY’s:

· To contribute or to make an impact

· To build trusting relationships

· To make sense out of things

· To find a better way and share it

· To do things the right way

· To think differently and challenge

· To seek mastery

· To create clarity

· To simplify

One member of the audience said that several of the WHY’s looked familiar. Cristi pointed out that we only have one; she suggested that what happens over time is that we learn HOW’s which may look similar to a WHY, but are really just tactics to support our one WHY.

Hiring Companies

THE HARTFORD

Amy Witte, Senior Recruiter

The Hartford is a company that has been in business for 200 years. They are growing their presence in the valley with a new office at the 101 and Raintree in Scottsdale. The organization has a ‘promote from within’ approach to development, and they are looking for people with a ‘get a foot in the door’ attitude. Benefits apply the 1st day on the job and new associates are paid during training.

Get set up on www.thehartford.com/careers; don’t forget to take the assessment, and apply there for immediate consideration.

Currently Open Positions

· Bilingual Customer Service Positions (offering hiring bonus and stipend)

· Customer Service Consultants

· Workers Compensation

· Associate Claims Representative

 

HOMEBELL

Kristiana Laugen, Recruiter/Country Manager and Jennifer Rojas, Head of Human Resources, USA

Homebell is a start-up company with a mission to shake up the home improvement industry by bringing transparency to the process of selecting and pricing home improvement jobs. Based in Europe, the company is in the process of expanding its business in the U.S. and its employment in the valley. They have a temporary office in North Scottsdale, and they are actively looking at mid-town/downtown space. The company has an entrepreneurial culture with the associated opportunities to take ownership, to make a difference, and to grow careers.

Currently Open Positions highlighted

· Inside Sales – Team Lead

· Customer Service – Team Lead

· Inside Sales Representative

· Customer Service Representative

While the highlighted positions are customer service, keep an eye out for technology and accounting positions that support customer service as the company is in a dynamic phase of growth. Apply for positions by visiting the jobs page here.

KFORCE

Bobby Arnott and Andrew Ferris, Talent Representatives

Kforce is a staffing firm looking for finance, accounting, and technology professionals to match with the needs of the thousands of client firms it works with.

In the Phoenix market, Kforce provides specialized skills for both large established organizations as well as for start-ups.

Bobby Arrott and Andrew Ferris are Talent Representatives who represented Kforce at Career Connectors. They are particularly focused on technology and engineering skill sets in the areas of:

· Functional-Project Management/Analysis

· Application Architecture/Development

· Enterprise Data Management

· Infrastructure, Security, & Support

· Embedded Software

· Test Engineers

· Business Ops

· Electrical Engineering

· Mechanical Engineering Manufacturing

Get set up on their site.

HONOR HEALTH

Dan Stowell, Senior Sourcing Strategist

HonorHealth was created in 2015 through the merger of John C. Lincoln Health Network and Scottsdale Healthcare. HonorHealth is among the top 10 employers in the state with more than 10,000 employees with a mission to improve the health and well-being of those they serve.

Highlighted positions include: technology support for the new electronic medical records system (Application analysts, Help desk technicians, systems administrators, IT administrators, and IT security analysts) as well as nursing, allied health, and administrative support.

Set up a profile at www.honorhealth.com/jobs, and the agent will notify you as new opportunities open that align with your interests.

CANYON STATE INSTITUTE

Steve Caparelli, Director

Canyon State Institute offers in-demand career-based certifications. Certifications are funded through government grants and are available in the areas of:

· Microsoft Office

· Comp TIA

· Cisco Certified Network Administrator

· Medical Support Specialist

· PMI Project Management Professional

· SHRM Human Resources

· Process Improvement (e.g. Scrum, Six Sigma)

· Digital Marketing Specialist

Steve Caparelli represented Canyon State Institute at the Career Connectors event. What sets CSI apart? Small classes (maximum 6 for most programs), career advisors on staff, and the ability to audit the next set of classes while studying to pass national exams.

Look them up at canyonstateedu.com.