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04/22/21 – How to Use LinkedIn in 15 Minutes Per Day

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Written By Susan Lamphiear

Brenda Cunningham LinkedIn in 15 minutes per day

LinkedIn remains the go-to source for job recruiters who are searching to fill a variety of positions. However, it’s not enough to simply post your profile on LinkedIn. That’s just the start. Career Connectors’ keynote speaker recently offered specific tips for making better use of LinkedIn as a must-have resource.

Keynote

Author of Crush the Pink Slip: Get Back to Work in 60 Days, Brenda Cunningham today is a career and job search expert. After working nine and a half years in corporate America as an engineer, she successfully transitioned into her current role helping individuals communicate their value to potential employers.

Brenda knows the importance of LinkedIn for today’s job seeker, including anyone who is transitioning into another field. You MUST have a presence on LinkedIn today. Period.

“All of us can have access to the people and possibilities that LinkedIn brings,” Brenda said when she spoke to the online audience of Career Connectors. She reminded everyone who’s still not convinced– “LinkedIn is NOT just for CEOs and VPs and super-duper decision makers” though she assumes at the outset everyone has already accepted on some level LinkedIn’s importance.

THE CASE FOR LINKEDIN

  • Building your professional network/connections!
  • Job board availability
  • Getting found by recruiters
  • Professional development
  • Salary research
  • Expectations by corporate America
  • Powerful search tool
  • Employer research/interviewer research
  • Showcasing your expertise
  • Staying connected with your professional colleagues!

Brenda emphasizes the case for LinkedIn STARTS with connection and ENDS with STAYING connected.

Once you’re on LinkedIn, what next?

Brenda was in corporate America long enough to see whole departments eliminated! That alone is a compelling reason to build and maintain your network on LinkedIn. Recruiters use LinkedIn as their number one source of specific job needs, so, hey, stop hiding out! Make your presence known on LinkedIn. Don’t be the world’s best kept secret!

Tips for making best use of your 15 minutes per day on LinkedIn

  • Spend five minutes scanning your news feed. “Like” things pertinent to your brand. What do you want people to know about you? Demonstrate this by “liking” articles others post. Or post an article yourself you’ve carefully selected because it shows who you are and what you value. If you’re in IT, for example, post or like or give a response to someone else’s post that targets your field of interest. Brand yourself by what you post. Like, share, post and comment on what supports YOUR image. Be in support of that THING you want to be known for. Brenda transitioned into her new career path primarily by establishing herself as a career manager on LinkedIn.
  • Spend four minutes searching and inviting. Search for companies you’re interested in. You can invite key people into your network after researching and customizing your request. Think of this as a long game strategy. And remember you have to EARN the right to ask directly for help. Instead, reach out and become known by sharing information. Build relationships before you even think of asking anything of your contacts. ALWAYS personalize your invitations to connect. For example, remind them how you met or when you heard them speak.
  • Spend two minutes saying “Hello.” If you see an opportunity for someone or if you see an article you think they’d enjoy or appreciate, reach out. Keep in touch by sending personalized messages. Ask for favors ONLY after you’ve established a relationship with them.
  • Spend four minutes on groups. Research and post information and respond to information you find there. Use groups as an interactive way to communicate. Ask questions and respond to questions. Share information and post articles pertinent to the group. Start by joining Career Connectors Group on LinkedIn!

Set Yourself Up for Success!

  • Photo–Make sure you have a professional, quality photo on your LinkedIn profile.
  • Include a meaningful headline.
  • Be sure yours is a content-rich profile. Remember to use key words.
  • BEWARE. Use Ready to Work Badge feature with care. It can result in discrimination.
  • Use Spellcheck AND proofread. They are NOT the same thing.
  • Ask for strong (and specific) recommendations. If someone is writing you a recommendation, request a particular area or areas you’d like emphasized. Ask them to be specific.

Remember what Brenda advises. LinkedIn is all about establishing, then nurturing professional relationships. Building relationships happens over time, not overnight. “LinkedIn is NOT MAGIC. Put in the work to reap what you sow.”

Hiring Companies

Terros Health

Heather Cepek, Recruiter

Terros Health, offering integrated health care, was founded in 1969 in one small building in Phoenix to help individuals with addiction issues. A nonprofit, Terros has continued to grow and expand over the past 50 years.

Besides locations throughout Maricopa County, Terros offers recovery for individuals through a mobile crisis unit. A recent grant as of February, 2021, allows for expansion of Terros’s services throughout Arizona.

Inspiring changes for life, Terros focuses on the whole person. Terros has helped over 65,000 individuals.

Terros offers a number of benefits to employees including great work/life balance, continued growth opportunities, no 90-day waiting period for benefits, continued training, and an Honor Scholarship Program for individuals working on a master’s degree. Health benefits include medical, dental and vision via Blue Cross/Blue Shield with choices from 10 different plans. A generous PTO program, employees receive four weeks PTO in their first year.

A number of positions are available including clinicians, assessment clinicians, recovery coaches, and care coordinators. Clinicians throughout Arizona require an MA in Behavioral Health. For more information, or to apply, visit their website.

Willscot Mobile Mini

Jordanne Ringwald, Director, Talent Acquisition

Willscot Mobile Mini in 2020 completed a merger, joining forces to bring together the leaders in modular space and portable storage and tank solutions. With one call, one order, one delivery and one bill, customers get everything they want for their site: buildings, storage, fixtures, furnishings, services, everything.

The merged company has recommitted to the following values:

  • Dedicated to Health & Safety
  • Committed to Inclusion and Diversity
  • Driven to Excellence
  • Being Trustworthy & Reliable
  • Devoted to their Customers
  • Being Community Focused

Their company culture rewards excellence, integrity, and innovation. More than 4,000 employees strong, they are always looking for new talent to add to their team.

“Willscot/Mobil Mini’s Core Values continue to guide us towards not only achieving our true potential, but also creating a work environment which is inclusive and allows every person to thrive.” Brad Schultz, CEO

Headquartered in Phoenix, the following open roles are available: Customer Success Specialist, Sales Representative, Sales Trainee, Sr. Accountant, Transportation Coordinator, Collections Specialist, SAP Analyst, Corporate Recruiter, Service Desk Analyst, Transportation Coordinator, Sr. Product Manager, Inside Sales Supervisor, and Payroll Coordinator. Open roles at one of their 275 offices include the following: Inside Sales, Branch Managers, Production Supervisors, Territory Sales Managers, Drivers, and Yard Workers. This is just a snapshot of the roles available. With the merger, the company is creating lots of new positions.

Willscot Mobile Mini offers all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package.

Follow the company on LinkedIn. Even if you don’t see a job fit, feel free to connect with Jordanne Ringwald and let her know if you apply. The company is growing so fast, a job for you may be “in the works” even as you reach out.

Go to their website for more information or to apply.

Liberty Mutual Insurance

John Walters, Senior Marketing Director

Liberty Mutual Insurance since 1912 has grown into the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer. They employ 50,000 people in 30 countries and on five continents. A Fortune 100 company, Liberty has seen steady growth.

The company has been recognized with numerous awards including Top Fifty Employers for 2021 by Equal Opportunity Magazine.

John dispels the myth the insurance industry is limited to call center and sales positions. If you’re launching a career, he urges you to consider this industry. “Tell me a background that doesn’t fit into the insurance industry,” he says. So many opportunities exist. “We need all kinds of backgrounds.” The opportunity to start and grow and advance in the industry is tremendous. The insurance industry also gives the chance to help people in times of trouble.

You need to apply to Liberty Insurance IF the following describe you:

  • Drive and enthusiasm
  • Experience in business development or network marketing
  • Strong communication skills
  • Ability to effectively multi-task
  • Confidence, flexibility and reliability
  • Goal oriented

The company offers all employees the opportunity to give back by providing a volunteer day each year. One of John’s favorite charities is Feed My Starving Children where he’s helped prepare food packages. Also the company will match fifty cents to every dollar an employee donates to a charity.

Liberty has created several groups within the company for employees to find a home within a home including a recently added group for employees who are also caregivers.

The company believes if they take care of employees, they, in turn, will take care of clients. Very goal oriented, Liberty wants employees to grow both professionally and personally. Toward that goal the company offers tuition reimbursement and community service.

While John is a hiring manager for sales, connect with him and he will get you to the right people regardless of your position of interest.

Visit their website for more information about the company– or positions available– or to apply.

WealthWave

Jason Wiseman, Senior Marketing Director

WealthWave, through its network of financial leaders, strives to shake up the financial industry. Their goal? To create a financially literate world. Made up of independent business owners, WealthWave professionals seek to educate the masses and make investing and financial success easier for regular families all over the world.

Concerned because he wanted to know more about financial planning and retirement, Jason Wiseman talked with his wife about their need to educate themselves for their own financial health. At one point he turned to his CPA and said, “What does it take to do what you do?”

After several years in corporate America, when Jason transitioned into his current role at WealthWave, it helped him ease into the field by working part-time–which is basically unheard of in the industry. Keep in mind, plenty of opportunities exist in this industry because many people are retiring, outpacing the numbers of career individuals needed.

Before he made the career transition, Jason and his family were doing fine income-wise, but he thought, like a lot of people, they needed more guidance regarding financial health–including retirement plans. A shocking 62% of people over the age of 55 are more afraid of outliving their money than of dying! WealthWave wants to educate people and help them navigate the world of finance so they might have more peace of mind, including when it comes to retirement.

WealthWave is different by design, seeking to assist the vast numbers of people who do not have millions to invest. The company has been featured recently on local news and 139 TV shows.

Opportunities in this industry abound, plus layoffs just don’t happen. Also, when the pandemic hit, WealthWave had already gone digital. They were ready.

Why Choose WealthWave?

  • Turnkey Solution
  • Licensed Profession
  • Ownership
  • Digital Marketing/Media
  • Start Part-time
  • No Lay Offs or Furloughs
  • Hands on Training and Mentorship
  • A long history of helping families

For more information or to apply, contact Jason Wiseman.

Resources & Closing

Director of Operations for Career Connectors, Sheila Coulam opened the meeting and later prepared the online audience for the breakout sessions. Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the first part of the meeting, thanked volunteers, and requested anyone interested in becoming a volunteer blogger to contact Sheila Coulam.

Click here to access a list of free resources available through the Career Connectors’ website, including the free online DISC assessment.

For more details about upcoming events, see the events section on the Career Connectors’ website. Check out Diversity Talks May 13, 2021, an online event to connect with award-winning companies known for their culture of inclusion, and Tempe Virtual Job Fair on May 18, 2021.

As a Career Connectors’ attendee, receive a free headshot to use on your LinkedIn profile during these online-only Career Connectors’ events. Go to this link for details and to sign up for locations throughout the Phoenix area. Gordon Murray Flash Photo makes this available. It’s certainly not required, but he accepts donations.

Parting Thought from Seth Godin: “Seizing new ground, making connections between people or ideas, working without a map–these are works of art, and if you do them, you are an artist, regardless if you wear a smock, use a computer, or work with others all day long.” Click on Seth’s name to see a thought-provoking video message for 2021.

8/26/20 – Panels: Insurance and Financial Services

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

Experts. Who among us hasn’t heard a discussion or two lately about experts? Should we take advice about the Pandemic from anonymous or questionable Facebook comments or seek out and listen to reputable scientists and medical professionals?

If you’re in job transition, Career Connectors has a reputation for providing professional and timely advice to individuals during challenging times of career change. Experts help guide you through not only the job search, but job search during Covid-19 and all the extra changes and challenges that have resulted. You have free access to professionals in a number of industries to help guide the way.

In typical fashion, Career Connectors pulled together professionals from the Insurance and Finance Industries to present pertinent, timely panel discussions about the job search, along with information about their companies and how they’re adapting during the Pandemic.

Keynote Panels

Hosted by Jessica Pierce, CEO/Founder of Career Connectors.

Insurance Panel

Q1 Please give us a brief overview of your company and your role.

  • Sandy: State Farm Insurance helps customers protect the things that matter the most, including cars and homes. With 58,000 employees, State Farm ranks 36 on the Fortune 500 list. In April, 2022, State Farm will celebrate their 100th Year anniversary. The company is literally a family company, often with several members of the same family working for State Farm. The company believes in philanthropy and offers each employee one day a year to volunteer, with the option of earning a second volunteer day. The company offers lots of career development opportunities.
  • Ryan: RLI Insurance, a public company on the New York Stock Exchange, was founded 50 years ago. The company offers products to underserved specialty industries. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, they employ 900 workers in 50 states, including Arizona.
  • John: Liberty Mutual, always evolving, can be described as a tech company who happens to do insurance. On the leading edge of the industry, Liberty uses drones along with other cutting edge technology. My role is retail brokerage in Phoenix and Tucson. Liberty operates throughout the United States and worldwide.

Q2 What’s your advice to prospective employees? What is your company looking for?

  • Sandy: A lot of people come in without knowing about the company. Networking is so important so make use of resources like Career Connectors or LinkedIn. No time to be humble–put key words in your resume.
  • Ryan: Research and know the company you’re communicating with. This goes a long way.
  • John: Show me who are. Let me see who you are in the interview.

Q3 What are myths and assumptions about the industry that changed when you started working at your company?

  • Sandy: State Farm offers lots of opportunities in a variety of areas.
  • Ryan: I’ve become aware of all the good the insurance industry does in a community. In the recent Hurricane Laura, for example, people don’t always realize what happens right after a catastrophe like that–the insurance companies are there right away to help.
  • John: People often think insurance is 80-90% sales. It’s more like 10% sales. All job families are available unlike other industries–and the industry is constantly growing.

Q4 Could you explain how potential employees get their foot in the door and what career paths are available?

  • Sandy: Customer service and claims jobs are entry level and offer a foot in the door. You learn a lot about the company by working in these areas. Getting a mentor helps in your career path, too. You don’t need an insurance degree but education and growth and development are available once you start work at State Farm. I changed careers within the company.
  • Ryan: Most job families are available including Software Developer. Employees are always learning. You can stay within one division towards career growth or move into a different division. Networking is important within the company. I’ve been in five different divisions in my career. Building relationships is very important.
  • John: Communicate with your boss. Often the company will pay for a degree or for advanced learning to help an employee grow. Let the company know where you want to go in your career and they’ll guide you.

Q5 How has the Covid-19, the Pandemic, changed things?

  • Sandy: Moving the company and technology to 7600 homes has been the biggest pivot or challenge. We used technology to do things we didn’t know we could do. We customized to help customers. And we’ve also passed savings on to customers–since there’s less driving there are fewer accidents.
  • Ryan: I agree with everything Sandy said. Also, interviews are unique. We were and still are still hiring. One challenge is convincing hiring managers to hire a new employee without ever meeting them in person. Onboarding becomes a second challenge; we must be very intentional–for example, who is part of the onboarding and who is the buddy whose task becomes helping the new employee?
  • John: Liberty focuses on the employee including enhanced compensation. Recently 95-98% of employees approved of the way the company has handled the transition during Covid-19. Product innovation has stepped up since people aren’t driving as much. Liberty is giving back premiums. Expense management becomes important as people go back out. We’re starting to see the “boomerang” employee–referring to people who left and are coming back–which is awesome for the insurance industry.

Q6 What do you think is the future of the insurance industry?

  • Sandy: There’s an even bigger need for technology. Technology sells insurance. I’ve seen talk lately of flying vehicles! Cyber threats and data risk and AI Artificial Intelligence are hot. The industry will help customers navigate the technology.
  • Ryan: Success will look different in the next 50 years. We can’t count on what got us here the past 50 years. Product innovation will be necessary–for example, pay by mile, as people reduce their driving. Right now we have more data than we know what to do with. It’s important to know how to utilize all this data. Lots of exciting quick-paced change despite all the negativity that goes with the Pandemic.
  • John: Our top four goals are global including de-escalation which will be moving out of the Pandemic and into the new normal and its best practices. The company is realizing more positives about expanding remote work, for example. It allows for more growth and opportunity.

Q7 How is the world of work changing? What’s your position on hiring seasoned employees over 50? What if these individuals want an entry level job–is that an acceptable culture?

  • Sandy: Yes! We want your experience as long as you move into a suitable role. Bring your experience. If you’re willing to start at entry level and find a fit, that’s great. We love experienced people. You already know how to be a professional.
  • Ryan: Yes to experience. We don’t know what we do not know. What are other companies and industries doing? We can learn from your experience.
  • John: Yes we like experience. Who are you today? Are you coachable? Do you have a vision of where you’d like to go?

Q8 What are the hot jobs in your company?

  • Sandy: We have openings for lots of tech reps–software developers like JAVA and more. Go to the website for a complete list. Bilingual Spanish is a big need currently. You must pass a difficult test in speaking, writing, and reading. We also need entry level claims and customer service.
  • Ryan: IT–I support this area in Illinois. We landed in Phoenix where we have access to more candidates with different experiences and higher quality. In Tempe we have a need for both short and long term positions.
  • John: We’re always looking for rock stars at math and also actuarial and spreadsheets strengths. These skills remain in high demand.

Financial Panel

Q1 Please tell us about your company, your role, and what you like best.

  • Jerrelle: Silicon Valley Bank is the number one leader in technology banking. LinkedIn is one of their first clients. I love the culture, cliche though it sounds; it’s like family. Clients include healthcare and premium wine. Lots of opportunity. We’re an especially awesome company if you have a passion for technology. The company is worldwide and innovative.
  • Erin: We’re a family of a few companies. Freedom Financial Network was founded in 2002 by two students who were friends. The company values balance of the heart and dollar. Including Phoenix and San Mateo, California, we have 2200 employees. We do personal loans and consolidation and are dipping our toes in the mortgage area. The best part to me is helping customers. The company offers paid time off to volunteer. The company lives and breathes our core values–they’re not just on a coffee cup.
  • Olivia: One of the world’s largest investment management companies, but Vanguard has a family feel. Client owned, the company has great opportunities including IT or tech or analytics. Service oriented, the three pillars are client, crew, and community. Our generous benefits are listed on the website.

Q2 What skills are you looking for?

  • Jerrelle: We’re looking for expertise in IT or client facing or analyst. One of the main things we’re looking for is innovation. Also, the entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for technology, science or math. A passion for numbers, a passion to learn. Technology skills are in high demand. The company will teach you the finance part.
  • Erin: I echo what Jerrelle said. We’re a smaller company but have lots of roles. Entry level, right out of school or no degree and the company will train you. We’re looking for true leaders who put in a little extra something. People who are critical thinkers who think outside the box and love helping people.
  • Olivia: We’re looking for individuals with a teamwork mindset who are interested in learning and have a desire to be the point person to help others. Many career development opportunities are available. We look for employees who will be proactive to find out what avenues interest you towards your career path. I had a background in nonprofit but started out entry level in client relationships and progressed from there.

Q3 What do you like and why do you stay?

  • Jerrelle: I love a challenge and the focus on diversity–many populations in this field are underrepresented. There’s an opportunity to build relationships. I consider myself a professional friend maker. As a recruiter, I look for someone whose interest can be channeled into one of our divisions. An example might be someone who majored in biology. We have a life sciences group. A client might be interested in working or talking with someone with a similar interest in science. With technology, you can bring your expertise. This industry is not just about numbers but about building relationships.
  • Erin: One thing is constant–CHANGE. I personally love change. That came in handy because with Covid-19 created the need to go with the flow and be flexible as things change. Most roles require this flexibility. My story began as a supervisor but I helped build QA and I moved into a different area of the business. A BA in psychology, once I tried HR management I found my passion. The company provides lots of support from their leaders. The company has passion for career development. No experience in finance is needed.
  • Olivia: Often call centers get a bad rap–but I’m steering people away from that mindset. I enjoy client facing and enjoy feeling the impact the job has on clients. I also love the opportunity to pursue and learn in different areas. Relationship is a big part of the industry and something I really didn’t know before I joined.

Q4 How do potential employees get their foot in the door and do you have a career path for them?

  • Jerrelle: Ways to get a foot in the door include client services and operations and relationship management. Find someone from the company because they love to talk. Let them know you’re interested. Recent grads have access to the associate development program.
  • Erin: Customer service is a good way to get a foot in the door. Also, don’t forget about networking and LinkedIn. I started as a supervisor helping build QA and moved into a different area of the business.
  • Olivia: Networking is huge. The client relations associate is a good starting place. The company also hires insurance sales. Customer service is another area to start. A license is not required but once with the company you can expand your horizons.

Q5 What are some of the hot jobs in your company?

  • Jerrelle: We need a Senior Cloud Security Engineer in Tempe. Also Vice President to support our credit card team, Senior Manager of Operations, and People Management. And please check out our website.
  • Erin: Freedom has need for inside sales, debt relief, lending, and customer service, especially bilingual. Also the areas of operation risk, auditor and customer service in lending and loan services. For more hot jobs visit our website.
  • Olivia: Customer service to high level clients and client relationship associates are good entry level jobs. Also check out our website for other opportunities.

Resources

US Health Advisors

Joe Bourcier, Joe the Health Insurance Pro

US Health Advisors partners with Career Connectors.

US Health Advisors offers flexible health insurance coverage for individuals including Medicare supplements and can be competitive for anyone on COBRA insurance. For small businesses under two people, our company is often able to offer better coverage including creative ways to customize coverage for individual employees instead of one blanket policy.

By the time Joe meets with clients, he has done research first, which allows them to offer from one to three top plans that might work best for the customer. Many businesses need coverage and he’s able to cover 30 states in the US. The company works with several professional businesses including realtors, plumbers, doctors, dentists, and lawyers as well as individuals.

US Health Advisors works with America’s self-employed, small business owners, or individuals to help them access affordable benefits and services.

Joe can be reached via Facebook or LinkedIn so feel free to reach out to him with questions. He’s a free resource to all attendees or anyone who needs information.

Closing

CEO/Founder of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce thanked the volunteers and hiring companies, invited attendees to sign up for regular notifications, to take the DISC assessment free, and to use the resources outlined on the website.

Career Connectors, now being offered online, means they can serve even more people, so Jessica urges attendees to share this information with other people who may benefit from the free events and resources. The schedule may change later in September but for now visit the website for days and times for the online events.

DID YOU KNOW?
So far this year, Career Connectors has served more than 3,000 people in career transition. We are passionate about helping more, and need your help.

  • Can you spare just $5? How about $42? $42 is what it costs to help one person per month (90% of your donations go directly to serving people needing a new position- and is tax-deductable) Visit this page to make a donation!
  • Do you know someone who’s landed a new job after participating in our programs? We’d love to talk to them! Please email us at contact@careerconnectors.org or go send them to this page to tell us their story!

8/27/19 – Kickstart Your Job Search

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Kickstart your job search

Written by Julia Churan

When you haven’t had to look for a job in many years, you might feel
overwhelmed in a whole new world of HR technology. The solutions you used to job search 10 years ago or even 5 are likely obsolete. Terms have changed, the interview format is likely over the phone or video, and you suddenly feel overwhelmed in what seems like an impersonal way of finding a job. The reality is “making it personal” may be what helps you navigate or bypass the Applicant Tracking Systems and land the interview.

10 Lessons to Get to YES!

Keynote Speaker:  Kevin Dumcum – ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa County

Kevin has spent the last six plus years in workforce development and employment services. He’s experienced the process change first-hand and shared a guide to “Kickstart Your Job Search.“

Lesson 1: Recognize That Job Loss Is Traumatic

Feelings of anger, confusion and hurt are normal when you lose your job, no matter what the circumstances. The rollercoaster of feelings will eventually ease but they may also come in waves; so be patient.

Lesson 2: Understand How Companies Think

Companies exist for the purpose of turning a profit.  This includes decisions of restructuring and downsizing. Companies make no guarantees and you can’t assume any job will be the one you retire from now.

Think of yourself as a contractor regardless of your status and always consider what your next step might be.

Lesson 3: Control Your Own Career Path

No matter what company you take a job with, this will likely not be your last job so keep your skills sharp. Learn new skills and take advantage of any training opportunities and tuition reimbursement to learn new skills.

Lesson 4: Take Care of Yourself

Job search should not be your 24/7 focus. Find a balance and take care of yourself with hobbies, exercise, helping others or enjoy family and friends. You might not have the time very soon so learn a new skill or do something you’ve always wanted to. Learn to cook, take a home repair course or join a hiking group. These sort of activities will get you out meeting new people and help you be refreshed when you are searching for that new position.

Lesson 5: Decide What You Really Want

This might be the ideal time to consider a fresh start or career change. These resources can help you with some soul searching and provide some direction for the next chapter of your career:

  • Book: “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Bolles – The book provides current statistics on the U.S. job market, self-directed exercises to help you understand your “Why,” and tips to finding someone who will pay you for that purpose.
  • Book & Assessment: “Strengths Finder 2.0” This book and tool helps identify your top strengths (not skills). It will help align your skills to give you more success in life.
  • Assessment: Carl Young Personality Type – you can take this through Arizona@Work.  This helps you define your values.
  • Assessment: DISC Assessment – this tool is available online through Career Connectors and Top Talent at no cost to attending seekers. It helps you define your career trajectory and may help build your resume.
  • Assessment and Resource Website: ONetOnline.org – They offer an assessment “My Next Move” that takes about 15 minutes and gives you a range of occupations based on the results. It also allows you to type in your last occupation and get links to other related occupations that might suit you better or be something to watch for.
  • Website: CareerOneStop.org – this site should help you decide if the roles you are seeking are growing occupations. You will find valuable information like the median wage to know if your desired salary is in line and other stats about the role. The site is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor so the data may be a bit delayed, but still useful.
  • Publication: Phoenix Business Journal – there is a subscription fee for this weekly publication and daily website but it provides current information about local businesses and industries. They also publish an annual special “Book of Lists” that gives you a great start in listing top companies and key data in most industries.
  • Website: Best CompaniesAZ – This organization recognizes companies who rank as desirable places in the Valley to work based on employee satisfaction and company culture. They are profiled on the website and recognized at recruiting events throughout the year.
  • Other Online Resources: Search for specific companies on Google, Yelp, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to see what others are saying about your target companies and current news to stay aware of the organization.

Lesson 6: Try Everything

We live in a time when resources are easily accessible. Many are at little or no cost for seekers.  Take advantage of the variety of services and don’t take an attitude that “It isn’t for me.” You just never know where that next contact might come from.  Consider:

  • Arizona@Work
  • Employment Academy
  • Goodwill of Central & Northenr
  • Maricopa County Library
  • Phoenix Public Library
  • Fresh Start Women’s Foundation

Lesson 7:  Find All the Jobs

Job Sites
The days of classified ads and Monster.com are gone.  There are job boards everywhere.  Some are specialized, some are localized and most are free. Many take out a lot of the search work by allowing you to upload your resume and they will notify you of matches.  They will quickly pollute your email box with recommendations or prospects so be prepared. Consider a special email box for your search.  Take a look at some or all of these online job boards:

  • AZJobConnection.gov
  • CareerBuilder
  • Dice
  • SimplyHired
  • Indeed
  • ZipRecruiter
  • LinkedIn

Google has rolled out a new feature.  If you type “jobs” into the search box you will get listings of jobs in your area without going directly to a specific company’s site.  You can refine the search to “jobs in Tempe AZ” or “jobs at USAA” or “engineering jobs near me.” You will still need to apply though the employer, but it is an easy way to search quickly.

Remember, the majority of online applications will not be seen by
a live person unless your resume/profile matches with the recruiter’s criteria in the Applicant Tracking System. You cannot rely on mass applying. You must leverage your network and make yourself standout.

Sign up for the ARIZONA@WORK Job Blast Newsletters.  Text AZATWORK to 22828 to get a listing of 5000 of the most recent local jobs.

Social Media
Employers will raise questions if you aren’t visible on social media so you need to have profiles and begin building a circle of connections. You don’t have to be on every platform but be sure you are active on LinkedIn and then pick another one or two. Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram will give you a good start. This can help employers get to know you, the person, a little better. They will see if you are well-rounded. It can help them decide if you are a good fit for their organization. If community service is important in their company, they may look to see if you volunteer or have interests in that activity.

Be aware of what you are posting, however, and the viewers that may see it.

You must have a LinkedIn profile and begin to establish a robust
professional network, if you don’t already have.  There are many tips on past blog posts to help you fine tune your LinkedIn profile and build connections.  See them here. You can also get assistance at any Career Connectors event by a LinkedIn expert.

Consider posting on your social sites that you are a seeker. If these people are in your network, they will be eager to help if you are specific in what you are looking for. Do something like: “I am currently exploring new opportunities in Marketing in the Gilbert/Chandler area. I am focusing on startup technology companies with leadership opportunities in social media and brand marketing.” This won’t leave your friends guessing on opportunities.

Spend time each day building and interacting with your social network, but remember, this type of networking doesn’t equal face-to-face networking.

Live Networking
You should consider your desired companies and positions and make yourself available at events where you can make connections with someone at your target companies or in your target position. This could include attending:

  • Local Hiring Events and Job Fairs
  • Career Connectors
  • AZHire Me Job Fair
  • Jobertising.com
  • LocalWork.com
  • Arizona@Work
  • Goodwill

Always be prepared with an “Elevator Speech” or a specific introduction plan that tells who you are and what you are looking for.

A great resource for a wide variety of events around the Valley is NetworkingPhoenix.com. They publish an active calender of events to help fill up your a calendar.

The Hidden Job Market
These are high volumes of jobs that never make it to job boards and
posting sites. Many of these are with smaller businesses that choose
not to post opportunities or hire solely on referrals. Some may not
even have an HR department.  These may be jobs that you will never learn about unless you are leveraging many networking avenues. This is where getting the word out gets you consideration. It might be from social media or networking events like Career Connectors. It can be through clubs or Bunco nights or church groups. It can be wise to become a member or volunteer for trade associations or Chamber of Commerce meetings. Facebook events may be another great way to find people with common interests like jogging, wine, Dungeons & Dragons, or atheletic boosters. Through these communities you will have fun, build commaradarie and meet new friends who also have wide networks.

Lesson 8: Volunteer

Volunteering is good for your soul. It makes you feel good, feel valued, and it gets you up in the morning, engaging with others. You will have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day and hopefully meet some new people in the process. You can look into your local school, church or non-profit associations.  HandsOn Greater Phoenix and VolunteerMatch are great services to help you find something that meets your interests.  And, don’t forget, Career Connectors is always looking for people to help with events and job seeker services. Find out more about these opportunities.

Lesson 9: Expect Rejection

No…not hiring…funding pulled…going another direction…over-qualified…under-qualified…on hold.

You will hear these and many other excuses. You will also not hear anything sometimes. You must be prepared for it! From the mouth of Rocky Balboa, “Life is not all rainbows and sunshine!” You can’t give up!

Lesson 10: Success Breeds Success

Hiring Companies

Liberty Mutual, @WorkAtLiberty

Justin Oviatt, Sr. Branch Manager

Liberty Mutual managers came to talk about opportunities they currently have in the Phoenix area.  Their new East Valley offices make them the largest employer in the City of Chandler with over 50,000 employees across 5 continents.  They are the 4th largest Property and Casualty Insurance company in the U.S. with $126 billion in assets. They foster a culture of inclusion and empowerment for their staff.

The hiring team shared specific details of openings in Inside Sales, Field Sales, Claims Management and Bodily Injury.  They also have opportunities in Consumer, Business, Investments, Legal and IT units.

Liberty Mutual offers new employees a strong benefits package including a pension and 401K. Benefits are effective the day of employment.

Resources

Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona

Ron Mack – Community Awareness Partner

Mission – Through the goodwill of others, we create the pathway to a better future for all by helping those who desire self-sufficiency.

The Goodwill Career Centers offer free career coaching, assistance with resumes, mock interviewing, employment support and digital skills training. They specialize in providing on-going support for the professional job seeker. Goodwill delivers community awareness of local employment events through onsite career centers and through the recent launch of mycareeradvisor.com (live chat available). The services are free of charge and available to all.

Career Connectors Academy

Landi Carfi, VP of Corporate Training, Brighton College

Landi shared the exciting news and details about Career Connectors partnership with Brighton College to bring affordable education and career services to participants. This will help bridge the talent gap or transition in your career search. The Academy offers a wide variety of accredited online educational programs along with many professional development classes. The focus is on quality and affordability.

A few of the best accredited online certificate programs that are being offered to Career Connectors at a reduced price are: Information Technology Certification Programs, Business Management Associate Degree Online, Paralegal Certificate, Medical Assistant School, Legal Nurse Consultant Certification and Online Professional Development Classes. Many others are also available. Career Connectors members will receive a 30% discount on the programs and certifications and payment plans are available. For more information go to the Career Connectors Academy website.

Closing

Jessica Pierce, CEO and Founder of Career Connectors, closed the event encouraging attendees to visit the many resources available at no charge to seekers at Career Connectors events: LinkedIn and resume assistance, professional photos, DISC assessments, career and financial coaching. These and all Career Connectors services would not be possible without the generous time of Staff, Volunteers, Sponsors and Partners. Also, a huge thank you to the Central Christian Church for hosting the Gilbert event. Attendees were encouraged to network and take advantage of the many services.

The next two events are:

  • Sept 5 – Instant Likability by Dave Sherman at Grand Canyon University
  • Sept 12 – Resume Mythbusters: Certified Resume Writer Panel at Highlands Church in North Scottsdale

Details are available on the Events Page.

1/17/19 – Financial Services/Insurance Panel

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Written by Jim McBride

Time to put your transferable skills into action? Have a driving passion for serving customers? Interested in navigating the career lattice? If so, you may be the perfect fit in both of these top five growth industries in Phoenix: Insurance and Financial Services!

Unique industry insights from two round-table panels of recruiting experts, hosted by Jessica Pierce, sparked lively discussion on the hottest jobs and how to start your career transition. Our audience of job seekers and networkers heard Q&A topics ranging from getting started without previous industry experience, to career pathways and industry myth-busting. Keep reading for a full recap.

PANEL 1 – Career Advancement in the Culture of the Insurance Industry

State Farm – Molly Romine, Recruiter
Farmers – Steven Acevedo, Supervisor
Liberty Mutual – John Walters, President, AZ Insurance Institute

Q – What advice do you have for people who are interested in pursuing career opportunities in the insurance industry?

A – We are always looking for people with a positive mentality. It’s so important to always be positive. Do your research – spend time connecting with people in the industry, read blog posts, get to KNOW the industry, learn the acronyms and become a practitioner of knowledge. Be yourself – we want a glimpse into your life, so you can be a superstar and have an amazing experience.

Q – Sometimes Insurance companies get a bad rap. What myths can you shatter?

A – Going in, I was planning on a career pivot within two years because I thought it would be boring! I soon recognized there’s so much more beyond the entry level position. Our company is like a mini-city, you are able to pursue so many other things within the organization. There’s a perception that insurance is all about being an agent. But there are lots of moving parts in areas like claims, underwriting and IT, just to name a few. There’s no college major that doesn’t apply to the insurance industry. There are lots of non-traditional roles. We’ve employed nurses, doctors and even physicists.

Q – What has kept you engaged?

A – The ability to keep on my learning path, finishing up my master’s program with the financial assistance that was provided. Plus, there are so many great people. The industry is known for attention to work-life balance. Only 10% of our workforce is call center and there are work-from-home opportunities at nearly all levels. There’s huge flexibility with work schedules. In the call center we are honoring our commitment to the customer so there is a need for schedule adherence, but we are not looking for robots.

Q- What are the career pathways once employees come on board?

A – I refer to this as career lattice. You can grow sideways – left or right – as well as diagonal. You’re navigating the lattice versus the career ladder. For some, the best career move may be lateral. It’s important to find an internal mentor as well as a mentor within the industry. Identify your interests and strengths. There are plenty of internal opportunities, keep your eyes open and decide which direction you’d like to go. Keep in mind, there are new jobs being created that didn’t exist 5 – 10 years ago.

Q – What are some tips for people who are pursuing senior management roles?

A – There definitely are openings. We’re always looking for talent and there’s always a need for leaders. The positions are typically posted internally first, then externally. If starting at entry level isn’t for you, network in the industry and learn about the jobs that aren’t posted yet. Learning the ropes really helps. We do try to promote from within, which can make it tough for external candidates. However, we know external candidates have valuable niche skills and the desire to compete for these roles.

Q – What is the outlook in the next 2 – 5 years in the insurance industry?

A – Phoenix is a great labor and academic market. The area is not disaster prone (no floods, hurricanes, etc.) so that’s why we’re here. Industry change is being driven by technology, regulation and consumer demand. As technology improves, our ability to serve improves. We’re not like Blockbuster, the movie video tape company that didn’t change with the times.

Q – What are the hot careers?

A – Jobs in IT, telematics, artificial intelligence, data science, programming, data platforms are all really hot. So is leadership. Great leaders can be hard to come by. Showcase your talent from other places you’ve worked.

Q – What are the benefits you offer?

A – We offer a cafeteria-style. It’s very broad and generous. We want your mind free and clear, not worried about insurance coverage. The benefits are not cookie-cutter. We match the diversity of our employee groups. For example: just out of college, single parent, looking to adopt – it’s designed for different stages of an employee’s life cycle. Tuition reimbursement is very popular.

Q – (audience) Are there any programs for hiring seniors (50+)?

A – Jobs are open for people of all ages. Some roles may be more attractive to seasoned job seekers. There’s been a noticeable increase in the number of part-time retirees who are looking for a flexible schedule.

Q – (audience) What is the best way to navigate a job fair? The job I’m looking for is not available and I’m directed to watch the website for postings.

A – There’s no easy answer to this question. If we’re at a job fair looking for customer service people, that’s going to be our focus. The best answer is to dig in on the website and make sure to network. We have employee referral programs, reach out and connect with current employees. They will be motivated to help you.

Q – (audience) – What is the best way to prepare for an interview?

A – Be ready for behavior-based questions. We’ll be looking for specific examples of situations from your past. Come up with a list of 10 examples and practice. This is what happened…this is how I handled it.

PANEL 2 – Never Expected to be Where I am Today – Financial Services

Freedom Financial Network  – Heather Marcom, Head of Talent Acquisition
Chase – Lekheythan Malone, Sr. Recruiter
Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (Financial Training) – Brittany Holmes, Workforce Development Manager

Q – What skills do you need to move into financial services?

A – We hire from all kinds of work experience. It’s really all about how you communicate with customers. We’re not just call centers. There are plenty of opportunities in roles beyond the call center.

Q – Financial services does not always sound exciting and fun. Why do you like this industry?

A – There is a common theme, we are passionate about serving our clients; educating and answering questions to help people achieve their financial goals in life. We have empathy for people when they need our help. We offer great benefits and we’re growing, which is very exciting.

Q – What if a job seeker has no previous financial services experience, are there opportunities?

A – The call center is typically where you start. Although over 50% of our roles are filled internally, we are looking for skills that are transferable. We also focus on a competency and culture fit. Be able to articulate your transferable skills, verbally and on your resume. If we understand your transferable skills, we can help direct you. It takes effort. Do your research and don’t ask, “whadya got?” You should always know what specific job you are seeking.

To build your industry knowledge, make a point of attending an industry conference to network, learn something new or brush up on best practices. Some positions require a license. Getting into a licensing program shows initiative and a commitment that you’re ready for the securities industry. There are four-week programs with outplacement assistance through the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation.  (See:  Financial Industry Training Open House)

Q – What are the career pathways in financial services?

A – We’re building a path from our customer service “farm team” and coaching people through the career ladder. But we’re still figuring it out because we’re a new company. Internal opportunities are numerous with so many different and diverse lines of business, so there’s lots to explore. It depends on want you want to accomplish in your career and we encourage employees to move around. Managers have career development on their score card, so they are having those conversations with their direct reports.

Q – What is the future of the industry?

A – We are piloting part-time roles in our core services because workforce flexibility is critical. More automation is coming, so make sure you keep up on your skills. You HAVE to be tech savvy, so don’t get left behind. We still need lots of people behind the technology to serve customers.

Q – What are the attractive benefits beyond the standard suite?

A – Freedom Financial Network:  Voted Best Place to Work in Phoenix. Cafeteria, coffee bar, covered outdoor seating areas, BBQ, games, core values C.A.R.E., time off on your birthday, time off to volunteer.

Chase: Internal resume and interviewing workshops, coaching and networking. Retirement portfolio flexibility options.

Q – If someone has a credit history issue, are they eligible to work?

A – Yes, you would be eligible for 95% of the roles. A typical background investigation is conducted on prospective employees but only a limited number of roles require a credit history check.

Q – (audience) If I’m looking for a manager role, what job title should I put on my resume to get it through the applicant tracking system?

If you’re applying with just one resume for every job, you’re using the wrong approach. Look at each job description and customize your resume to that job. Drop in key words and don’t worry so much about the job title. Recruiters recognize that job titles can vary. And remember, a recruiter will spend about 30 seconds scanning your resume.

RESOURCES

GCU – Jim Pangborn, Director

GCU offers an IT functionality “boot camp” featuring an in-depth program to build your skills for a career in the technology field. GCU also provides business management MBA programs and continuing education for those interested in adding on to their skill set.

Numerous open staff positions at GCU, featuring:
• Director of Compensation
• Sr. Financial Analyst

jobs@gcu.edu
jobs@gce.com

CLOSING

Jessica Pierce closed the meeting with a review of upcoming events. Up next, “Put Your Strengths to Work – Find a Job that Fits” featuring Stephanie Clergé on Tuesday, January 22nd in Gilbert. Jessica acknowledged the many partners and volunteers who help make Career Connectors a success!

08/28/18 – I Want a New Job, Now What?

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Written by Nicole Langston

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

I Want a New Job, Now What?

Sierra Collister

Sierra Collister is a local Gilbert resident with 15 years of progressive sales and marketing experience, specializing in building multi-million dollar brand strategies for consumer products on Amazon.com. Her broad experience in the business world includes management roles for diverse organizations including large publicly traded companies and small family owned businesses. In her career, Sierra has survived (and thrived) financial restructuring, re-organizations, layoffs and more. Sound familiar?

SIGNS IT’S TIME TO LOOK FOR A NEW JOB:

Whether you are in between jobs, in a bad job, or were passed over for a promotion. (That bites!)

  1. Maybe things are not going well with your boss, your coworkers.
  2. Maybe it’s not a good culture fit for you.
  3. Maybe you are depressed about work, when you aren’t there or even when you are there. If there are times that you wake up and feel like you have a brick sitting on your chest, then that is a sign.
  4. Maybe your company has had multiple rounds of layoffs, and you are going down.
  5. Maybe your job has advanced/changed in skills, but you aren’t getting the compensation aligned for that level of experience.
  6. Maybe your skills are not being utilized and you are bored.
  7. Maybe your stress has become unmanageable and it is spilling into your personal life.
  8. Maybe you have lost your work/life balance entirely.
  9. Maybe you have a unique reason not included here, maybe your personal life goals have changed.

“Nothing happens, until the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change. – Arthur Burt”

LET’S GET STARTED

Sierra is excited to help provide tools to find your next role. Even if you aren’t currently active on social media, there are many tools that are needed for your professional search.

What does your social network say about you?

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Sierra uses the last 3 channels for personal branding or personal life. LinkedIn is non negotiable, you have to be on it, as it is your digital resume. Personally she doesn’t connect with coworkers on the last 3 either, but that is her preference.

  • 60% of hiring employers use social networking sites to research job candidates.
  • 2 in 5 employers said they are less likely to interview job candidates if they are unable to find information about the person online.
  • She highly recommends Googling yourself! That is the first thing an employer will do.
  • Work on branding yourself positively and professionally.
  • Clean up and work on your name profile results. If you happen to have one bad review, then get active on social media to move that negative rank/presence down and the new activity to drive positive up.
  • 50% of hiring managers who screen candidates via social networks said they’ve found information that caused them not to hire a person.
  • Hiring managers will google you!

Social media photos – the Biggest Offenders:

  • Inappropriate drinking or drug use
  • Bigoted comments
  • Bad mouthing previous employers

Keep in mind your audience.  Your LinkedIn profile picture should be a professional headshot.  Get one here today! Sierra recommends updating every 3-5 years as long as image still looks like you.

SELF-ASSESSMENT

  • Elevator speech
    • Script it out until it feels natural. Focus on your top 3 skills or super powers.
    • She always ends with an open ended question for the interviewer. It gets them to answer/reply.

“Hi, my name is Sierra, but some people call me the Queen of Amazon.com. That’s because I work with companies to …. At your company, how do you handle your business on Amazon.com?

  • What do you want to do with your career? (next one)
  • Career Assessment – CC includes some resources for free to attendees (DISC Assessment)
  • Career Coaches – CC includes coaches onsite at events (LinkedIn, Resume, Social Media, Financial)
  • Clean up and update/optimize your LinkedIn profile!
    • Recommendations – give and get recommendations on profile
      • Usually a client/vendor/partner is best, never your boss, only a coworker if you know they will be discreet
    • Skills
    • Endorsements

*Again the CC coaches can help you with these items.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS!

  • Who do you know? Who can you reach out to? Who are former mentors? Who is on your short list from these?
    • Current and/or former business associates
    • Peers
    • Past Companies
    • Friends
  • Who are your targeted companies? Develop your own hit list of approximately 5 to focus on
  • What networking events will you attend to target that?
  • Reconnect with people
    • networkingphoenix.com – There are so many different types of groups you can find to connect with.
    • LinkedIn groups – can be very helpful. You can target your industry, your job focus, and more. You can build your lead pipeline from it.
    • Church groups
    • Next door (neighbors/friends, etc.)
    • Facebook groups

Find out who you know from the above that can help you.

  • Speak positive
  • Be positive – always go in with a positive outlook. Even if you don’t get what you need that day, you may help someone else. That is all positive!
  • Spread positive vibes

PREPARATION

  • Use a “human voice” in your resume instead of a robotic zombie voice
    • The CC Resume writer coaches here can help
  • Stop writing “cover letters” and start writing “pain” letters. Approach the cover letter as what you can do to help them with their company/job needs

Get ready for the interviews

  • Sierra likes to provide a copy of the job description, a copy of the resume and get input on ways to align/improve
  • Your portfolio (this is optional and may not apply to all jobs) – remove all sensitive information (names of companies, financial figures etc) your successes, achievements, work etc.
    • Bring your 30/60/90 day plan to the interview
    • Maybe you can help develop a process for them
    • Maybe you can bring in XX amount of clients
    • Maybe you can bring in XX amount of revenue
    • Print on nice resume paper
    • Bring prepared questions to ask
    • Bring common interests
    • Research!

ATTRIBUTES

Before the employer asks their questions, ask them the top 3 attributes someone needs to be successful in this role.  Then when you are asked questions, you can include the needed skills in your response.  Do the same thing for each person you interview with, as they will each have their own ideas.

REMEMBER ME

Find something personal that will make you stand out from the crowd, so you can leave a memorable impression with the interviewer.

GETTING READY

  • Where do you need help?
    • If you are getting an initial screening but not in person, then maybe you need help with your interviewing skills
    • If you aren’t getting phone screening requests, then maybe you need to focus on your resume (CC Resume Writers can help you)

“What is the #1 reason people lost jobs or didn’t get promoted within their organizations?”  Failure to stay current in their field.

GETTING RESULTS – MOOCs

MOOC = Massive open online courses

Harvard business reviewed surveyed 52K people around the world

72% said their online classes helped them professionally

43% improved candidacy for new job

26% of respondents cited the classes as a reason they found a new job

19% changed to a new career

  • Take courses, add them to your resume or LinkedIn profile, if relevant
    • Once you take the course, post something on LinkedIn, share the link to the course
    • Shows you are a lifelong learner
  • There are many sites that offer online courses

IS THE JOB RIGHT FOR YOU?

When you get a job offer, you need to evaluate and make sure it is a good fit.  You will be spending 40 hours + and want to be happy in your job.

BEING SENSATIONAL AT YOUR NEW JOB

  1. Behave as if you are still being interviewed
  2. See your manager as a person you help, not a person who tells you what to do
  3. Build relationships based on performance, not conversation
  4. Go the extra mile early and often
  5. Spot the high performers and mimic them
  6. Find a way to stand out
  7. Create your own Project
  8. Find people to help
  9. Never forget why you were hired
  10. Watch and learn

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of ruts and start searching for different ways of truer answers.” – M. Scott Peck, American psychiatrist and author of “The Road Less Traveled”

Q&A session:

Q:  What does it look like to grow relationships in your network?

A:  Social media is helpful, reach out to those in your network that you haven’t connected with in a while. Have conversations to stay in touch; renew those contacts; even if they don’t have a job for you, ask they keep you in mind; if not maybe you can help them with someone in your network. Maybe even consider adding a calendar, 2x a year reaching out to them personally to stay in mind. Maybe you share a family photo, send Christmas card, etc.

Carl Forkner (Coach) added a LinkedIn recommendation idea; for those of you that have paper recommendations, you can scan them and attach them to your profiles as well. Many of us have pre-social media recommendations.

Q:  What does she mean by cleaning up/optimizing your social media profiles?

A:  Sierra clarified that means making sure the your results are all positive.

Carl Forkner (Coach) added that while you should keep your Facebook profile private, but you can create a public business page instead that can be found on the web. Good tool to utilize.

HIRING COMPANIES

Republic Services
Shannon Taylor, Director Talent Acquisition

Shannon leads the talent acquisition strategy and process, recruitment technology, and vendor relationships nationally. Shannon is a partner to the business and translates the human capital initiatives into commercial and operational excellence.

Republic Services motto is “We’ll handle it from here.”

They look for candidates who are citizens of the earth.

The red star that you see on their trucks, represents their 5 Rs which are their 5 company values.

Who are we seeking? Java Developer, eCommerce Analyst, Analyst Operations Effectiveness, Billing Coordinators, Senior Analyst Digital Marketing, Manager Financial Support, Systems Engineer, IT Risk & Compliance Analyst, Corporate Accountant, Quality Assurance Manager, GIS Developer and more.  Go here to apply.  Staff are eligible after 6 months to apply to other roles in house.

Liberty Mutual
Justin Oviatt, Sr Branch Manager

Liberty Mutual is a Fortune 100 company with 50K+ employees in 30 countries and 5 continents. As a point of reference, they are larger than: Starbucks, McDonalds, Facebook, Nike, and American Express.

They have 2 campaigns they do annually:

  • Give with Liberty
    Employees can take their money and donate to any charity they want. Liberty Mutual will match .50 to the dollar. It comes directly from the paychecks. They donated $52M globally in 2016.
  • Serve with Liberty
    Employees can take a day to donate their time to a company that they partner with. (Goodwill is one of them).

They are growing themselves and are currently #6 but want move to the #3 top life insurance company. Industry and how we live our lives continues to change daily. Liberty tries to get ahead of that and be innovative. Currently Liberty Mutual utilizes mobile claims and drones for evaluating disaster relief.

Available positions in Arizona:

  • Field Service reps
  • Inbound sales and service reps
  • Inbound claim positions

RESOURCES

Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ (GCNA)
Bobby Ghisolfo, Director of Mission Services

Bobby is the Director of Mission Services for Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ. Bobby and his team collaborate with over 700 employers in the Phoenix metro marketing to understand the expectations and standards they are looking for in prospective job seekers.

Bobby asked audience “What happened to the economy 10 years ago?” The recession. He was let go and looking for work. He applied to 125 jobs at the time. How many interviews do we think that he got? Answer = 0 not a single one. He found out that his resume was really bad.

Bobby stared with Goodwill in 2015. He had negative impression of Goodwill prior to starting with them. Goodwill does a lot to help job seekers, which is why they partner with CC. Goodwill does have career advisors, resume and interview coaches as well. Goodwill will do a phone interview and mock interview with candidates to help them prepare. Goodwill works with many companies/employers.

Goodwill’s new platform will be going public in the next 2-3 months.  Visit it virtually instead of onsite at mycareeradvisor.com

Woz U
John Bernard, Director of Business Development

How many of you have heard of Woz U?  How many have heard of Steve Wozniak?

One of the owners, has made their money. Now their focus is to give back to community. Help and teach development so people can grow. If you are tired of what you have been doing, if you have had a lot of interviews and nothing has come up, maybe it is time to consider doing something else. Yes, there is a cost involved to take the classes, but you don’t have to pay it back until you land in a new job.

CLOSING

Recaps: if you missed any of the information today you can always go to our website and see the recap  www.careerconnectors.org/recap

Photos: we don’t email you your photos. In a few days we will post them. www.careerconnectors.org/photos

Sheila concluded the meeting by thanking our wonderful host Central Christian Church – Gilbert for their support, as well as, all our amazing corporate sponsors and volunteers.

VOLUNTEERS: We can’t make these events happen without our volunteers. Many of our volunteers are in transition and we always welcome additional help.

NEXT EVENT: The next event will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at our Phoenix location (GCU) Grand Canyon University. Topic: Salary Negotiation – Make More Money.