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

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

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

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

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

Keynote

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

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

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

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

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

Competence

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

Character

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

Chemistry

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

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

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

How Hiring Managers Find Employees

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

Where recruiters find the best candidates

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

Social networks recruiters use

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hiring Companies

City of Phoenix Workforce Connections

Kathy Thiessen, Senior Workforce Project Manager

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

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

WIOA Services

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

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

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

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

Taser

Shelby Hagan, Recruiting Coordinator

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

Aetna

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

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

Verizon Wireless

Darrin Ruof, HR Recruiter

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

Education Management Corporation (EDMC)

Kelly Moncada, Talent Acquisition Specialist

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

Closing

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

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

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

6/11/15 — Developing and Living Your Personal Brand

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

My Wish, a song by the pop country group Rascal Flatts, could be the theme song for our keynote speaker today, but hey, I’m not sure if country music is his thing. But the sentiment sure appears to be.  He’s now living his own life purpose through his career, his relationships and his philanthropic work, and he loves sharing his strategy for blending all these aspects of his life into one satisfying entity, allowing the real self to shine through.

Keynote

Career coach and author of Incorporate You (guide to using the DISC assessment results), Michael S. Seaver firmly believes in personal branding that aims to help individuals find autonomy,  mastery and purpose every day of their lives. It’s now become his  passion to help individuals achieve this through volunteer work and career.

But a few years ago, though Michael’s career was going well, he wasn’t feeling satisfied. He was looking for meaning in his own career when he experienced an “A-HA” moment while reading Daniel Pink’s book,  Drive. He discovered he completely lost track of time when he began working one-on-one with individuals in career transition.  He also began to volunteer his time teaching Junior Achievement classes and served on Phoenix-area boards designed to help people develop their careers.

Through his own process of discovering meaningful work with a higher purpose, Michael has been able to share his process of making a life’s passion part of not only his career but his whole life. He told attendees at Scottsdale Career Connectors that he’s given up lucrative offers because the offers didn’t allow him to do “this”, meaning to share his beliefs that it’s possible to find meaningful work that aligns with your own life purpose that also allows you to master your profession.

Michael’s Steps to Developing and Living Your Personal Brand

  • Look to your past. What is your favorite childhood memory? What was a difficult experience? What important lessons did you learn? And what were perceived problems that occurred repeatedly? You guessed it. Those things you enjoyed may reveal the answer to the question of what you should be doing in your life. The challenges you faced years ago shine light on areas where you likely could help someone else at that point in their lives.
  • Examine your present. Consider your top three professional interests. Ideally, what’s the location of your job? What are your daily tasks, rewards and responsibility level? What’s the growth potential?
  • Think about your future. Describe your life in five years. What’s your income? What is the size of your team? What kinds of vacations and travel will you experience? What’s your relationship with your family and friends?
  • Determine your intention and write your own guiding statement, sort of like a company’s mission statement. Michael shared examples including his own: I unlock human potential by leveraging career and leadership coaching expertise to help executives overcome disengagement, feeling undervalued, and mediocrity.
  • List your ambitions. Be specific.
  • Determine your value and write it down as a statement. One example: I apply (1) business strategy concepts (2) positive psychology (3) conscious capitalism to unlock human potential.
  • List some constraints. One example: Whenever I second guess my abilities, I will review my top three strengths and past accomplishments.

Through his own journey, Michael has learned it’s possible for us to use our talents to do something we believe in and to thrive in an environment that fits who we are.

Michael reminds us that, indeed, the world is changing. It’s no longer enough to provide goods and services. The industrial age is long gone. And the information age is no longer sufficient.  Companies need to stage experiences, he says, referencing the book The Experience Economy by B.  Joseph Pine and James H. Gilmore.

Michael references the work that an entrepreneurial company in Phoenix is doing – helping new businesses whose mission seeks to improve society. It’s called Seed Spot and they’ve just recently named nine new companies to undergo their training.

A poignant message that Michael shared with attendees was reflected in a six-minute You Tube video which poetically emphasizes the idea of purpose in life’s little moments — some of us may not even know about– unless we’re lucky enough to have had someone tell us. Lollipop moments. Those moments when we may have had a profound positive impact on someone’s life, even a stranger, because of something we were doing that involved our being genuine. Michael’s hope for anyone whose life he touches is that they have a chance to find their own life’s purpose and then that life’s purpose reverberates through all phases of life. To view the video he showed, a TED talk, click on the title, Everyday Leadership.

Hiring Companies

Aetna

Le Nguyen, Director, Recruiting Operations

Aetna, employing 50,000 people, is a health care insurance provider. Changes in Aetna’s wages and medical benefits announced January 12, 2015, benefit thousands of its employees. Starting April 2015, Aetna increased its minimum base hourly wage for its U.S. employees to $16/hour. Aetna is also launching an enhanced medical benefits program for 2016 to help lower the out-of-pocket health care expenses for some of its U.S. employees. Other benefits at the company include paid time off and holidays, life insurance, 401K, bonuses and more. Current employment opportunities include accounting, finance, human resources, customer support, sales and more. To apply and see a complete list of openings, visit their website.

Lifelock

Becky Willmer, Recruiter

Lifelock is a technology company whose main goal is to protect consumers’ identity. The company offers competitive wages, incentive programs, stock options and health, 24 hours of paid volunteer time off to support service programs, tuition assistance, and health benefits plans from day one.  Current positions open include customer service at their center in Tempe plus openings in other areas including marketing, communications, and finance. For more information on openings, and to apply, visit their website.

International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (I.C.E.)

Jason Brambier, Corporate Recruiter

International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (I.C.E.), a global travel and leisure organization, provides cruise and vacation packages, especially to return customers. Headquartered in Scottsdale, the company has continued to receive awards including Best Place to Work 2013 by the Phoenix Business Journal and Spirit of Enterprise Innovator Award by the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business. They provide numerous perks to their employees including onsite wellness clinic, onsite massage therapists, and free flu shots, to name a few.  Positions available include inbound and outbound sales, PT member services, and staff accountant. For a more complete list of open positions and to apply, visit their website.

Education Management Corp (EDMC)

Mark Pierce, Manager of Talent Acquisition

Education Management Corp includes The Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown Mackie College and South University and offers traditional classrooms and online courses. Students are their main focus and the four institutes offer a variety of programs. Perks include promotion from within, free tuition for the whole family at any of the sites, health insurance benefits and more. Open positions include admissions representatives, academic counselor, faculty — both full-time and adjunct — in various disciplines, and part-time national admissions representatives.  For more information, or to apply, visit their website.

Resources

City of Phoenix

Michael S. Seaver,  Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Vice Chairman

The City of Phoenix Workforce Connection offers skill-building services. Services include skills development training plus employment and talent marketing. Funding can be obtained through the federally-funded Workforce Investment Act (WIOA) with the goal to help individuals transition back into the workforce as quickly as possible.

This past year has seen growth in several industries locally including education and health services, leisure and hospitality, finance, and professional and business services.

Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) One-Stop Career Centers are located in three sites throughout Phoenix. For more information on locations, courses and funding, visit their website.

TTY Career College

Cheryl Hesketh, Admissions Consultant

TTY Career College is a short-term certification college which assists students in revamping or updating skills needed to get back into the job market. The school specifically offers courses for jobs needed in the Phoenix area. No medical billing jobs training is available since currently the Phoenix job market is glutted. Several certifications are offered including Project Management Program (PMP), Information Technology, Microsoft Excel Business Analyst and more. All courses are certified by globally known institutes. Funding is available for most unemployed and underemployed individuals. Up to $4000 is available if you quality, and scholarships are available for the balance. The PMP course involves a difficult test, but TTY will pay the $500 for students to take the test up to six months after the first exam, providing tutoring and extra help. For more information about the school or to enroll, visit their website.

Highlands HOPE Initiative Continues

Going along with one of Career Connectors’ primary missions, Heart of Service, Highlands Church in Scottsdale not only hosts the Scottsdale event each month, they continue with their ongoing Highlands HOPE Initiative, distributing gift cards based on income to individuals in career transition. Highlands last month distributed Fry’s gift cards to help with groceries, gas and essentials to help 47 families ($2,760).

Again this month Highlands distributed Fry’s gift cards to individuals in job transition. Highlands requested this month that any individuals applying today for the gift cards should add their phone numbers to their application, as well, if they find themselves in need of additional assistance so the church can contact them.

Jessica said after the gift cards were distributed last month, people sent their testimonials about how appreciative they were for the Fry’s gift cards. Used to a certain amount of income, after job loss, people stressed how very helpful it was to receive gift cards they could use for groceries.

Closing

Executive Director of Career Connectors Jessica Pierce closed the formal part of the sessions by thanking Highlands Church for hosting the event and reminding everyone about the free DISC Assessment  available on the Career Connectors’ website under resources. After the formal part of the meeting, participants may receive free business portraits, assistance with resume preparation, and LinkedIn advice.

The next Career Connectors event takes place June 23, 2015 at 9:00 AM in Gilbert, featuring Ted Robison’s presentation: Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out.

The next Phoenix event will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2015, and the next Scottsdale event occurs Thursday, July 9, 2015.

For details including keynote topics, and hiring companies, times and locations about any of these events, click here.

Parting Thought: Workout music for the work search mood. It’s My Life by Bon Jovi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

02/12/15 — DISCovering Your Unique Value

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Written by Susan Lamphiear

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

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

Keynote Speaker

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recognizing Behavioral Styles Quickly

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

Tips for Using 4 DISC Behavioral Styles in a Job Interview

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

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

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

Hiring Companies

AppointmentPlus

Jennifer Rojas, Human Resource & Recruiting Manager

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

Paladin

Dana Johnson, Account Manager

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

Charles Schwab

Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Manager

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

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Rodger Brubacher

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

Closing

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

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

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

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

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

12/3/14 – The Virtues of Fearlessness

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Written by Thomas Castillo

Jessica opened the meeting with an explanation of the Career Connectors mission.  She thanked our volunteers who are the heart of service.  She encouraged us to keep pursuing our job search.

Keynote

Jennifer Steele‘s message to us was to be true to yourself even though there may people who want you to conform.  She told us of her childhood back in 1974 and how she was an outspoken friendly little girl and that a person dear to her heart told her to be quiet and blend in.  She took that advice and discovered that she just wasn’t being true to herself.  She finally broke free from that bad advice when she was singing in choir and the music director told her not to sing so loud and “mouth the words”.  Jennifer left the choir and never looked back.  Then she sang “My Way” with a recording of Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. So what does this all mean?  Jennifer wants us to find our voice. She asked the following questions

  • What do you want to say?
  • What is your calling?
  • What can I do with little or no support?
  • What support do I need?

Set a timeline and execute it.  Surround yourself with great people and contribute your skills to support others.

During the presentation there was a picture of the the Thrilla In Manila with Joe Frasier on his back and Mohammed Ali standing over him.  Jennifer posed the question  Do you want to stand tall and be victorious, be flat on your back, or just be a bystander in your life?

Jennifer loves the Brady Bunch.  Yeah TV!  She said that problem solving should be like a 22 minute sit com.  A good sitcom had these key elements that you can use to solve problems which are:

  • Keep Smiling
  • Identify Challenges
  • Engage Key Players

I was never a fan of the movie “The Exorcist” and neither is Jennifer.  She told us she avoided staying at her friends slumber parties because of her fear of watching the Linda Blair’s spinning head during the movie and how years later when attending her first college class at the USC she sat behind the person that she dreaded Linda Blair.  Freaky.  Her message to us was not give into the power of the unknown and don’t let others dictate your actions. She told us to Dream Big and Be Fearless!

Hiring Companies

City of Phoenix

Terry McAvoy, Senior Business Consultant for Labor Market Information-Advanced Manufacturing Industry

Phoenix has a thriving manufacturing sector.  Who knew!  Manufacturing produces over 18.4 billion dollars of revenue through exports.  There are approximately 154,000 employees and 4600 employers in this sector of the economy.  The city of Phoenix has opened an office in Mexico and is fostering many new opportunities  between the two countries.  So what does this mean to you jobseeker?  It means that there are many job openings in manufacturing.  Terry showed us a slide of a modern factory.  It was very clean and modern not like the old timey smoke stack factories of the past. The majority of the jobs are highly skilled and pay in 80 to 90K range.  If you are the kind of person who likes to make things, troubleshoot problems on machinery and can keep to a production schedule then you need to contact Terry at 602-534-1658.

Compound Photonics

Debi Birch, Talent Acquisition Specialist

If you could ask SNL’s Rosanne Rosana Dana what Compound Photonics did I think she would say “They make teeny tiny projectors that you can barely see.”  Well that’s what I think they do.  Debi Birch played UTUBE video about the company.  They are one of new breed of manufacturing companies that Terry McAvoy is talking about.  They make embedded laser projectors for mobile devices, 4K projectors, and head up displays that are very complex.  They have a modern plant with a 25,000 sq ft clean room.  They have 350 employees worldwide and are looking for some very technologically savvy individuals to join their team. Positions include optical engineers, laser engineers, liquid crystal scientists and others.

Independence University

Philip Popovich, Recruiter

Independence University is relatively new to the education scene.  They were founded in 2013 and is on the campus of College America which is on 17th and Dunlap.  They offer associates, bachelors and masters degrees  in health care and other fields.  Philip Popovich is looking for a few good men and women as admissions consultants.  They offer great benefits and Philip is looking for people who have a passion for education.  After two week training period and 4 to 6 weeks of on the job training you can either work at home or at the university’s campus  .

Revana

Octavio Duarte, Talent Acquisition Specialist

Google, AT&T, Nissan. Do those names ring a bell?  Revana assists these companies by being their sales force for their products.  They work selling to consumers and business to business.  Revana is looking for inbound and outbound sales associates and sales managers.  Octavio wants perspective employees to visit their website revanajobs.com and then come visit their closest site and fill out an online application and assessment.   .

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Roger Brubaker

If you want an edge in this competitive job market then you need to talk to Roger.  Dynamic Worldwide has networking courses, and classes for Microsoft, CompTIA, Palo Alto Networks, VMWare, EC Council and many others.  They also have a variety of training options.  You can train in class, on site, or virtually.

 

11/5/14 – Lost My Job…Now What?

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Written by Ian Salsman

There comes a time in many our lives as adults explosive, unexpected events happen that, no matter how much we prepare, catch us off guard and have a very pronounced impact on the core our being—a wedding, the loss of a loved one, the birth of a loved one, health failures, health victories. But one that seems to affect nearly every working adult at one point or another is the loss of a job. We head of to work Monday morning, spend much of the week putting our skills, experience and passion to the good of society. Then one day we are told that it is our last day and a vast emptiness awaits.

When that happens, we find ourselves asking, “I lost my job…now what?” It is like standing in the middle of an infinite Nebraska wheat field overlooking an expanse grain and a flat horizon with no roads that point in any direction. It may appear exciting but may also feel haunting and disconcerting.

Keynote

Naomi Buckta spoke to this very point, “…What Now?” The concern is not just the skills necessary to land a new job—resume, interview tips, certifications. It is also knowing how to take care of and balance one’s life through this desert.

When one loses one’s job—especially in unexpected and less favorable circumstances—there are a number of traps that are easy to fall into and that need to be avoided at all costs. These things include the panic, self-pity, blame (of self and of others), complaints, indulgences, self-recrimination and unrealistic expectations. Getting off on the right foot—regardless how challenging the task might be at the moment—is going to be key to landing, not just A job, but THE job.

First things first, as Naomi phrases it. Make sure NOT to fall into pits I just mentioned. Don’t listen to them no matter how loudly they scream.

Then prepare THE “story,” being the story about what just happened. Do have several versions. A prospective employer does not want the same details and emotion than might one’s family member.

File for unemployment. There is a limit on the amount of time one can take to file for the benefit. Don’t loose out!

Then update your resume which was likely lost and forgotten during one’s last “not-quite-so-secure-after-all” job.

As time goes along—plausibly faster than expected—it will be crucial to stay current in your field. Failure to stay current in one’s field is the number one reason for layoffs. The longer one is without a job, the more this lag becomes pronounced.

Check what your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and other online presences says about you. Recruiters and potential employers get a sense of who you are…directly from these via these channels. Make sure they are favorable.

One of the hardest self assessment component to tackle is “What do I want to do with my career?” Delineating exactly what it one wants to do with one’s career is challenging, at best, for a great number of people. This is something to which I can personally attest. Naomi shared that she knew that she did not want lots of travel or have to manage people. In addition, she longed to be home more with her family.  She asked her husband how much they needed her to make. She then found a job that made that figure but it was also a job she loved and permitted her to stay home with the kids more.

If one is used to making lists, they should make lists. If they are not used to making lists, then they should make lists anyway. (1) List who you know and might have something useful for you—employers, friends, family. peers, past companies. (2) List your target companies for which you would enjoy working. (3) List networking opportunities. Don’t downplay events such as Career Connectors as  being full of other other unemployed people—these people know other people and those “other” people may be offering jobs.

Creating a plan of action. As I type this, I not only think about this as being a means to keep oneself on track but also help develop the skills of strategizing, time and resource management that are often part of virtually every job—including the one you don’t have.

Speaking of networking, Molly Wendell has written a book entitled The New Job Search: Break All The Rules. Get Connected. And Get Hired Faster For The Money You’re Worth (available on amazon.com) which highlights what it takes to find a job in today’s market. It is worth the investment.

Networkingphoenix.com has hundreds of networking events. Schedule your week to include some of these.

Get yourself ready for “tomorrow’s” interview. Have your elevator speech ready and rehearsed, ensure your suit still fits and is clean and pressed, and ensure your resume is ready for presentation.

Of course, one major point of concern is money. Naomi truly encouraged us to share our situation with our friends and family, allowing them to help us (a hard thing for some of us with pride issues). She encouraged us to go over our finances and projections cutting back on some of the things we take for granted such as eating out, cable, hair salons, and pool services.

This will include developing creative alternatives to some of those things to which we have grown use—meaning one’s well being. Home movie nights, game nights walks in the park, taking the kids for a picnic lunch, searching “free things to do in Pheonix”, and progressive neighbor dinners are some of a plethora of things to help, inexpensively, maintain a balanced life. On a grander scale GET OUT OF THE HOUSE EVERYDAY—even it if it is to run an errand. Volunteering is part of this. Volunteering somewhere not only gets you involved in solving other peoples’ problems, but also provides fodder for resumes.

Keep moving by taking MOOC (free online courses), do some things you always wanted to do, accept contract or part-time work, teach a class, read a book, read two books. Mostly, count your blessings, love generously, life fully to nurture your soul and enjoy your family.

Thank you, Naomi for sharing from your heart in the most genuine, sincere and encouraging manner.

Hiring companies

City of Phoenix – Phoenix Workforce Connection

Esther Atempa Co-Manager, PWC South One-Stop

The city of Phoenix’s Workforce Connection has adopted a new focus: “Every Customer Will Leave a Better Job Candidate.” While the employment rates are better than in the past year, there is still work to be done. Today’s job market is focused on matching skills where one’s soft skills are highly heeded. They have a newly revamped program that is more targeted to streamlining the process to get the job seeker up and running. Go to https://www.azjobconnection.gov/.  

Discover Financial Services

Dominique Williams, Sr. Talent Strategist

Discover Financial Services were the first to offer cash back incentives. They have a lot going on and offer their workforce. This includes 4-10 weeks of paid training, competitive salary and incentives, tuition reimbursement, professional training and mentoring. Benefits start the first day of employment so if you are coming to your first day of work and trip and fall getting out of the car, you are covered.

The employment process is simple: go to www.mydiscovercareer.com to go through the assessment and questionnaire.

Arizona Dept. of Transportation

Christ Dempsey, Recruiter

Chris shared that he spent 24 years in the Marines and the Army. After retirement, he discovered that companies have very little need for his skills of combat engagement and humble driving. However, he found a job with ADOT as a recruiter calling upon his experience of recruiting in the military.

He shared that every state job is posted on ADOT’s site. The jobs may not have the greatest pay compared to the corporate world but they make that up through great benefits.

He also encouraged everyone to stay aggressive. Some job openings are open for only 4 hours. Others are open for days but result in 100 resumes with which you must compete. Also, don’t overlook entry level positions…one can often get discovered there.

Charles Schwab

Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Manager

Charles Schwab is a company that sets out to help everyone be financially fit, providing clients with ETHICAL services, RESPECTING fellow employees, and STRIVING relentlessly to innovate what they do. They have many positions to fill beyond the most obvious Financial Advisors. Go to  bit.ly/careerconnectors 

Resources

Canyon State Institute

John Dvorak, Community Relations Manager

There is federal grant money is available under the Workforce Development Act to assist unemployed and underemployed individuals. Certification programs for Project Management certification or Microsoft Office, along with several others, are available through Canyon State Institute.

Closing

Attend our next event which is in Gilbert on November 11.

“You Lost Your Job…Now What?” One thing NOT to do is LOSE HOPE.