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Liberty Mutual

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.

5/26/15 The Successful Interview

by

Written by Debbie Webber

The Vice President of Career Connector’s Board of Directors, Sandi Ashton, did a great job filling in this week for Jessica Pierce. Sandi mentioned that she was mesmerized by the changes that the career transition process has taken since 2006. Networking has become so important—every conversation you have could be the connection you need for your next position. So talk to everyone!

Keynote Speaker

Jim Paisley has provided Career Transition Services, Executive Assessment, Executive Coaching, and Management Training to hundreds of professionals. As a licensed psychologist, with more than 30 years experience as a coach and consultant, he has served a variety of Fortune 500 as well as smaller corporate clients. Jim is a former jet pilot, flight instructor and classroom instructor in the USAF.

The entire career/job environment has changed radically. Jim told us that statistics now indicate that by the age of 38, today’s college graduates will experience eight to ten job changes, with three to five career changes within those job changes. This averages out to only two years per position. Considering these changes, excellent interviewing skills are becoming even more valuable.

A successful interview is defined as a formal meeting between two individuals where an information exchange takes place. Exchange is the key word here. You’re a solution to a problem the employer has and you need to gather information about your potential employer as much as the interviewer does about you.

Jim emphasized that preparation for an interview is needed long before the appointment is made. The interview is a sales pitch selling YOU, so take some time to become more self-aware. Collect all the knowledge you can about the product –YOU. You need to inventory your abilities in leadership, conflict resolution, team building and other notable skills. Formal assessments (like the DISC Behavior Assessment via Career Connectors) can be very helpful in this exercise.

Once you’ve got your skills at top of mind, Jim outlined six critical steps that must be completed to prepare for a successful interview.

  1. Determine your strategic direction. Where do you want to work and what do you want to do?
  2. Prepare a truthful and polished explanation about the reason you left your previous job.
  3. Prepare your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” question with a two minute explanation of your accomplishments and what you’re good at.
  4. Put together a master list of your accomplishments that relate to responsibilities in the job description of the potential position. Develop at least 6-12, using the problem, action taken and result format.
  5. Have an excellent resume and LinkedIn presence. Put together a portfolio, if applicable.
  6. Make sure your references are prepared and available.

Interview Types

The screening interview – You’ll usually talk with someone from human resources about introductory items that allow the interviewer to determine if you have the minimum qualifications for the job. These usually last no more than 30 minutes.

  • One-on-One – self explanatory
  • Panel – A small group of employees will interview you at the same time, each asking pre-determined questions.
  • Group – This can include being asked to solve a hypothetical business challenge with a group of people that you don’t know.
  • Video – Skype and other technologies are being used more frequently.

And finally—The Actual Interview!

Get the Details

It sounds obvious, but make sure you get the details. When and where as well as with whom, along with the interview’s name,  title and telephone number.

Grooming and Appropriate Attire

As the saying goes, “There’s no second chance to make a first impression.” Dress at least one-half step above what others in the office will be wearing (call and ask the HR department about usual office dress). Make sure your clothes are pressed, shoes shined, limit your jewelry and do not wear perfume/cologne.

What to Take With You

Take something to write on in a portfolio or binder, carried in a briefcase, if you feel it’s appropriate. Bring extra copies of your resume and your references. Don’t forget something to write with and if you must bring your cell phone, turn it completely off!

Do Your Research

Research the company by reading their annual reports. Search for and read articles about the company from the last several years. Use the Book of Lists at the library to research their closest competitors and find other options by working with a reference librarian at your local library. Research the responsibilities of the position you’re interviewing for in order to completely understand the position. And finally, talk with your network to learn firsthand about the company.

Visualize Success

Oftentimes being without a job makes us uneasy and fearful. Jim noted that even though we are no longer at our previous position, we did not leave our talent, or our knowledge and experience, or our leadership skills, or our contacts. We only gave up the job. Worry disturbs our thinking, behavior and emotional responses. Maintain your social contacts and talk with a friend to release your stress. Speak with optimism, this will influence your thinking. Believe in yourself and work to have a positive attitude, seeing yourself as successful.

Know Yourself and Practice

Practice your “Tell me about yourself” answer, be ready to speak about your accomplishments and prepare for questions you may be asked such as:

Tell me about your best (worst) boss, your best (worst) work situation.

What interests you most about the job?

What experience do you have in this field?

Tell me about two key accomplishments.

Why should I hire you?

At the Beginning of the Interview

Manage your first impressions, and make sure you practice your handshake—no stiff-as-a-board, limp fish, half handshakes or bone-crushers.

Use Your Self Statement

Start off the interview strongly by making sure to relate your statement to the job description and what you do best.

Questions You May Be Asked

Come prepared with questions of your own. Why is the job open? What is the career path for the position? What are the most pressing challenges for the person filling this position? Why do you like working here? How do you see my skills and experience fitting your needs? Remember, an interview is a conversation.

Share Key Accomplishments

Can’t say it enough—be prepared! Use the P A R Format

P = what is the problem

A = What action(s) did you take?

R = What was the result or impact?

Make your accomplishments relatable to the current job, and use numbers for measurable results whenever possible.

Two-Way Info Exchange

Let the interviewer lead and set the tone. Give short, relevant responses, but tell what YOU bring to the job. Listen carefully.

Closing the Interview

Jim stated that “By your entrance and exit shall you be known.”

Validate your interest in the position, ask your questions and restate your qualifications. And be sure to ask what the next steps in the process will be and when you will hear about the next step.

After the Interview

ALWAYS send a thank you note. E-mail is acceptable, but it never hurts to follow up with a thank-you via U.S. mail.

Jim closed his presentation with a comment from his book (titled “Career Transition Guide, The 3 Step Solution,” ).  His recipe for success is the result of preparation, a positive attitude and a lot of hard work.

Employers

Liberty Mutual
Justin Oviatt, Branch Manager

Liberty Mutual is #76 on the Fortune 100 list, with a great mission to help people be and feel more safe and secure. Field Sales Representatives positions are available. These are sales positons in the personal insurance unit that come with 12 weeks of training, and a FIXED salary with bonus earnings available. The average representative income is $91,000 annually, with many opportunities for increases. Sales positions have a service department to back up your sales and are W-2 positions with a large array of benefits. Opportunities are available across the state, including Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert Phoenix and Prescott. Contact Justin via email here  or 480.532.4211.

Revana
Octavio Duarte, Talent Acquisition Specialist

Revana is a professional inside sales organization that provides business process outsourcing to their clients. This business processing includes sales, marketing and analytics for Google, Craig’s List, Directv, Verizon Wireless and many more. The exact activity depends on what the client company has asked for. Opportunities include inbound and outbound sales associates and sales managers. A Senior Financial Analyst position is also currently available. Revana has locations in Tempe and north Phoenix. To apply, click here, select your preferred location, complete the online app and a recruiter will contact you for a phone screen. Octavio also encouraged interested applicants to visit the office and talk to a recruiter face to face.

Verizon Wireless
Darrin Ruof, HR Recruiter

Darrin told us that a Verizon Wireless retail position is the “best retail position you can have.” Verizon is currently #16 of the Fortune 20, and provides an excellent career path and opportunities for their employees. The environment is fast-paced and fun—available positions include Solutions Specialists in retail sales and Customer Service Specialists in customer care. Benefits include competitive pay, healthcare benefits from day one, tuition assistance up to $8,000 annually, phone discounts and a 401(k) with employer matching. Apply here.

Apollo Education Group
David Specht, Senior Recruiter

Apollo Education Group is much more than University of Phoenix. It also owns and runs Western International University, the College of Financial Planning and the Carnegie Learning institutions. Apollo encourages an environment that embraces innovative ideas and people from diverse backgrounds. Every resume that is submitted is looked at by a human being. Positions open now include entry level enrollment to paralegals to financial analysts to traveling sales professionals. Opportunities change from day to day so check in often. Apply here.

 

Next Event

Wednesday, June 3, 9:00am, Phoenix
DISCover Your Unique Value, Sandi Ashton
City of Phoenix, Dave Meadows
Hiring companies: Maricopa County, Northcentral University, Revana and Verizon Wireless