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State Farm

8/1/19 – Career Advancement in the Culture of Contact Centers

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Written by Jim McBride

Contact Center Panel featured companies

Panel

The contact center – or call center, as the terms are interchangeable – is the critical hub for serving clients/customers across multiple channels for nearly every organization large and small. Live-agent, chat, email and social media links consumers through thousands and thousands of interactions with the contact center.

In the Phoenix metro region, the contact center “industry” converges with the tremendous growth of financial services companies in delivering a hotbed of potential careers for the active and passive job seeker. Contact center roles are often a gateway into career growth and do not necessarily require starting at the entry level.

In front of a full house, Jessica Pierce facilitated two panel discussions addressing careers, advancement opportunities and workplace culture with eight high profile, award-winning contact centers in the financial services sector. Each company represented on the panel has been recognized by employer branding firm Best Companies AZ for workplace excellence so, clearly, they know their stuff.

For those in career transition, this was an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand from senior leaders how to get your foot in the door and grow your career within these respected organizations. All eight companies are in growth mode and looking to hire hundreds of employees.

Panel 1 – Career Advancement & Opportunities

Q – What can you tell us about entry level positions in your contact center and the potential career opportunities?

Farmers: We currently have openings for entry level sales and service positions, but we also have many openings for individual contributors, including back office processing, reporting, analytics, IT and project management.

Voya Financial: Customer service roles are a launch point for many of the higher-level jobs which require licensing (i.e. Series 6). Right now, we’re looking to fill roles in workforce management and benefits administration, which are not entry level.

USAA: We are targeting customer service and claims roles, which do not require previous experience. Representatives handle inbound calls from members. We’ll help you get licensed once you’re on board.

Freedom Financial Network: All of our customer service is inbound. No outbound calling. We have openings for debt relief, negotiators, back office payment processing and call center sales.

Q – What career pathways have you established within your company?

Freedom Financial Network: We call it a career ladder. You can move from an entry level 1, 2 or 3 position into supervisor or even over to sales and lending, which pays more. From there, we’ve had employees move into IT, marketing and training positions.

USAA: The progression is typically from associate – as we call them – to specialist to senior associate. We challenge our leaders to have career advancement discussions and develop a career trajectory. There are internal programs for learning IT skills, such as coding. We’re developing your skills for life, not just for USAA.

Voya Financial: We expect our leaders to prepare development plans and have conversations about career progression with their team members. Employees are empowered to ask questions and get involved. The entry level position is your entry point.

Farmers: On a formal basis there are career path discussions between managers and their employees. Informally, we have peer resource groups focused on diversity and like-minded ideas and interests. Want to become a leader? Well, let’s show you how to run a huddle.

Q – Are there opportunities for the mature job seeker who doesn’t want an entry level position?

Voya Financial: We have many roles based on experience. You could start as a senior representative.

USAA: We’re willing to go externally to find certain skill sets and experience. We do try to promote from within but sometimes there’s a real need to find fresh blood.

Freedom Financial Network : It’s a combination. Some of our roles require experience, but in the call center experience is not necessarily needed. Sales experience can come from any industry. Roughly 50% of our roles are filled externally.

Farmers: Promoting from within is important. But we cast our hiring net externally, as well. I recently hired a director from the outside. We have an immediate need for analytics and reporting skills, which will likely come externally.

Q – What is your company’s policy on promoting from within?

Farmers: There are growth opportunities for everyone, regardless of tenure. We will help you prepare for that next job and fulfill your career potential.

Voya Financial: We have an 18-month requirement for eligibility due to the complexity of the entry level roles. We want you as an employee to be comfortable. However, there are times when the eligibility requirement is waived.

USAA: The timeframe is 12 to 18 months in the current job to be eligible for promotion. Many of those next roles will require licensing, so it can take some time to learn.

Freedom Financial Network: You must be in the role for three months. We know that people want to move up the career ladder. We do not have any license-required positions.

Q – With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) how do you see technology impacting call center jobs? (from the audience)

Farmers: Technology, such as the bot, will have an impact on the most transactional of interactions with customers. However, there’s always going to be a need for critical thinking and emotional intelligence of the human being. We need empathy in the human contact. There will be a blend of technology and human interaction.

USAA: Our members want to talk with a human when they call in. The technology will make it easier to match the member with the representative that’s best equipped to assist a specific need or demographic.

Panel 2 – Culture & Employee Engagement

Drew Foster – American Express, Director of US Recruiting
Sherry McFadden – State Farm, Customer Care Center Director
Renee Brown – Vanguard, Senior Recruiter
Christine Sorensen – Charles Schwab, Team Manager Participant Services

Q – What does culture fit mean to you? What’s it like working for your company?

Vanguard: It’s a culture of empathy and communication. We all have to be mindful that the investment industry language can go over people’s head. We have a team environment focused on employee development.

Schwab: We’re here to help everyone grow and succeed. Someone’s always available to help, no matter what the situation. We conduct an assessment to determine ethics, teamwork and the type of work environment that would be the best fit for the candidate.

State Farm: We’re a relationship company steeped in integrity and tradition. We’re your neighbor. We’re there after a hurricane or an auto accident. That’s our culture, we care.

Q – How do you get your foot in the door? Do you have to start at entry level jobs?

AMEX: Some roles will require entry level experience at first, but not all. It depends on your skill set. I’m currently looking for workforce management skills, which does need entry level experience.

Vanguard: We’re regulated, so many roles require licensing and then you work your way up. You can pursue internal opportunities after one year. We have hired supervisors from the outside. About 85% of our hiring is from within.

Schwab: It really depends on your experience and license requirements of the role. We have lots of room for growth and it’s important to have those development discussions with your manager.

Q – What are the hot jobs at your company right now?

AMEX: Senior manager (supporting 18 cruise lines), director of workforce management, sales, fraud, team leaders.

State Farm: Enterprise technology, software development, coding, data scientist, frontline supervisors, bilingual supervisor, sales and service.

Vanguard: Data science, IT, senior financial planner.

Schwab: Always hiring in participant services and investor services. Our operation has 60 different departments and there are always openings.

Q – Describe the family friendliness of your call center. What support do you provide? (from the audience)

Vanguard: We have a 37.5-hour work week Monday through Friday. No weekends. All shifts end no later than 8:00 pm.

Schwab: Four 10-hour days are available. Paid four-week sabbatical every five years.

State Farm: H.O.P.E. – Helping Others Parent Effectively program.

AMEX: 20 weeks of maternity/paternity leave for parents.

Resource

Introducing – Career Connectors Academy Training Program

Landi Carfi, VP of Corporate Training – Brighton College

Brighton College is excited to announce its new partnership with Career Connectors that connects professionals in career transition to hiring companies and quality resources.

Career Connectors and Brighton College share similar values and focus on their clients, making both organizations stand out from the crowd. Brighton’s mission and goals ensure their students’ greatest success, and Career Connectors, as Arizona’s fastest growing job candidate program, strive to land people in the career of their dreams. They are working hand in hand to provide affordable online education certificate programs.

Based on Career Connectors’ partnership with Brighton College, a few of the best accredited online certificate programs are being offered to Career Connectors’ participants at a reduced rate. The online education certificate programs available include:

  • Cyber Security Institute
  • Business Institute
  • Allied Health Institute
  • Legal Medical Institute
  • Paralegal Institute
  • Professional Development

Event Sponsor

Optima Tax Relief

Ben Simpson – Vice President, Phoenix Operations

The Optima Tax Relief team has had one vision since inception – to help Americans nationwide deal with the aggressive collection policies of the State/IRS tax agencies.

  • Founded 2011
  • 80 employees in AZ; 100 by end of 2019
  • No tax knowledge required to get hired
  • Promote from within
  • Hiring leaders as operations grow
  • Team environment – “mischievous fun”

Open Positions
I/T Jr. Systems Administrator
Resolution Support Representative
Customer Service
Inside Sales

Resources and Closing

Jessica thanked the many partners and volunteers for their contributions to the Career Connectors event. Job seekers were encouraged to utilize the many transition resources – professional resume writers, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and take the free DISC assessment. Next up on the calendar: Connecting with Top Staffing Firms to Find Your Next Career, Thursday August 15th in Scottsdale. Stay tuned for weekly emails and LinkedIn posts.

6/25/19 – Get LinkedIn – or Get Left Out

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Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out - Ted Robison

Written by Jim McBride

Keynote

Ted Robison – LinkedIn Expert and Career Coach

LinkedIn is perhaps the most vital and valuable tool for people in career transition. To build your personal brand, to expand your professional network, to raise your visibility and be found:  Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out, according to career coach and featured speaker Ted Robison.

LinkedIn is not just another social media platform. It’s not just an electronic version of your resume. LinkedIn is the showcase for your individual brand of transferable skills, expertise, personal style and the outstanding value you’ll bring to your next employer.

Many recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn exclusively to find and research candidates. There are over 600,000 LinkedIn subscribers worldwide. An astounding 87% of people find jobs through networking. A robust LinkedIn profile and a personal network of past and present colleagues, friends, alumni, industry insiders, recruiters and managers can be your gateway to landing your next great job opportunity.

On your LinkedIn profile, the headline and summary areas are your first impressions, so really make them count. Create a “wow factor” with your skills, experience and industry expertise. The goal is to differentiate your profile and compel the reader with a value proposition around your personal brand. Make statements about what you will bring to a hiring company. Develop a tagline, reveal your passion and let your personal style shine. Speak to the reader.

Make sure to include industry key words, which will help with search optimization when recruiters and managers are hunting on LinkedIn. If you’re in career transition and unsure how to fill the “current role” field, Ted suggests that you indicate you’re volunteering or consulting (as applicable).

Ted said that 80% of all available jobs are hidden from job boards. Meaning, those jobs aren’t made public and it takes networking to get you noticed and talking to those companies. Networking by definition means a supportive system of sharing information between people. LinkedIn can help you get the sharing started.

When your profile is complete, begin reaching out to your network contacts. Take someone to lunch. Meet for coffee. Have conversations. Ask how you can help them, and they will likely reciprocate. Your network connections can help you “break in” to companies on your target list, bypass recruiters and find the hidden jobs.

When preparing for interviews and business meetings, utilize LinkedIn to gather intel on the hiring manager and/or recruiter. Finding commonality with an interviewer allows you to build rapport, relax and demonstrate your preparedness.

Here’s a quick list of fundamentals for anybody just getting started on the LinkedIn platform or is perhaps already using LinkedIn and looking to create a more engaging profile.

• A professional headshot/background photo for your profile is a must
• Grow your professional network to at least 500 connections
• Obtain 4 – 8 recommendations from former managers, direct reports, peers
• Follow 30 – 50 target companies
• Join 30 – 50 groups and associations
• Comment in group discussions to show off your subject matter expertise
• Customize the default contact URL so it reflects your name. Put it on your business card
• LinkedIn is free. Try the free one-month Premium Account, if interested
• Privacy – limit the amount of personal information, it’s a business forum

If you’re having trouble getting started or just want to freshen up your profile, start looking at other people’s profiles to spark ideas. Encourage friends, family members, people in your network to give you feedback on your profile. You can make edits and tweaks as often as you’d like. Do whatever it takes to build and promote your brand…so you’re LinkedIn…not left out!

Resource

Josette Bergeron
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, Community Awareness and Employer Engagement Partner

Mission – Through the goodwill of others, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona creates 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 through onsite career centers as well as through the recent launch of mycareeradvisor.com. The services are free of charge and available to all.

Hiring Companies

Willis Towers Watson
Jim Lapota, Benefits Advisor

Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating back to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets. The benefits Delivery & Administration Segment helps clients unlock their benefits strategy – by offering the highest quality administration in the industry and enabling their people to have a personalized benefits portfolio tailored to their needs. To keep updated on current job openings, go here.

Open Positions:
Benefits Advisor
Human Resources Generalist
Data Analyst
Associate Director – Client Services Management
Audit Analyst
Account Executive – Health & Benefits
Team Leader – Benefit Outsourcing Sales
Online Training Development Specialist
LMS Administrator (Learning Management System)
User Experience Engineer

State Farm
Molly Romine – Talent Brand Ambassador

Mission – The State Farm mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

State Farm is currently hiring to fill customer service positions for their Marina Heights facility in Tempe. Patience, empathy and nurturing skills are desired to dial-in on customer emotions with a delight-to-serve approach. You can always find a current list of open positions on the State Farm site .

Open Positions
Accounting, Financial and Banking
Administrative Support
Claims Investigation
Customer Service
Facilities Management and Administrative Services
Legal, Compliance and Risk Management
Human Resources
Marketing, Design and Communications
Research and Analytics
Sales Support
Technology and User Experience
Underwriting and Actuarial

Resources and Closing

Jessica Pierce closed the meeting by encouraging participants to make full use of the resources and partner volunteers. Stay tuned for weekly email updates.

6/25/19 – Get LinkedIn – or Get Left Out Copy

by

Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out - Ted Robison

Written by Jim McBride

Keynote

Ted Robison – LinkedIn Expert and Career Coach

LinkedIn is perhaps the most vital and valuable tool for people in career transition. To build your personal brand, to expand your professional network, to raise your visibility and be found:  Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out, according to career coach and featured speaker Ted Robison.

LinkedIn is not just another social media platform. It’s not just an electronic version of your resume. LinkedIn is the showcase for your individual brand of transferable skills, expertise, personal style and the outstanding value you’ll bring to your next employer.

Many recruiters and hiring managers use LinkedIn exclusively to find and research candidates. There are over 600,000 LinkedIn subscribers worldwide. An astounding 87% of people find jobs through networking. A robust LinkedIn profile and a personal network of past and present colleagues, friends, alumni, industry insiders, recruiters and managers can be your gateway to landing your next great job opportunity.

On your LinkedIn profile, the headline and summary areas are your first impressions, so really make them count. Create a “wow factor” with your skills, experience and industry expertise. The goal is to differentiate your profile and compel the reader with a value proposition around your personal brand. Make statements about what you will bring to a hiring company. Develop a tagline, reveal your passion and let your personal style shine. Speak to the reader.

Make sure to include industry key words, which will help with search optimization when recruiters and managers are hunting on LinkedIn. If you’re in career transition and unsure how to fill the “current role” field, Ted suggests that you indicate you’re volunteering or consulting (as applicable).

Ted said that 80% of all available jobs are hidden from job boards. Meaning, those jobs aren’t made public and it takes networking to get you noticed and talking to those companies. Networking by definition means a supportive system of sharing information between people. LinkedIn can help you get the sharing started.

When your profile is complete, begin reaching out to your network contacts. Take someone to lunch. Meet for coffee. Have conversations. Ask how you can help them, and they will likely reciprocate. Your network connections can help you “break in” to companies on your target list, bypass recruiters and find the hidden jobs.

When preparing for interviews and business meetings, utilize LinkedIn to gather intel on the hiring manager and/or recruiter. Finding commonality with an interviewer allows you to build rapport, relax and demonstrate your preparedness.

Here’s a quick list of fundamentals for anybody just getting started on the LinkedIn platform or is perhaps already using LinkedIn and looking to create a more engaging profile.

• A professional headshot/background photo for your profile is a must
• Grow your professional network to at least 500 connections
• Obtain 4 – 8 recommendations from former managers, direct reports, peers
• Follow 30 – 50 target companies
• Join 30 – 50 groups and associations
• Comment in group discussions to show off your subject matter expertise
• Customize the default contact URL so it reflects your name. Put it on your business card
• LinkedIn is free. Try the free one-month Premium Account, if interested
• Privacy – limit the amount of personal information, it’s a business forum

If you’re having trouble getting started or just want to freshen up your profile, start looking at other people’s profiles to spark ideas. Encourage friends, family members, people in your network to give you feedback on your profile. You can make edits and tweaks as often as you’d like. Do whatever it takes to build and promote your brand…so you’re LinkedIn…not left out!

Resource

Josette Bergeron
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, Community Awareness and Employer Engagement Partner

Mission – Through the goodwill of others, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona creates 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 through onsite career centers as well as through the recent launch of mycareeradvisor.com. The services are free of charge and available to all.

Hiring Companies

Willis Towers Watson
Jim Lapota, Benefits Advisor

Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating back to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving more than 140 countries and markets. The benefits Delivery & Administration Segment helps clients unlock their benefits strategy – by offering the highest quality administration in the industry and enabling their people to have a personalized benefits portfolio tailored to their needs. To keep updated on current job openings, go here.

Open Positions:
Benefits Advisor
Human Resources Generalist
Data Analyst
Associate Director – Client Services Management
Audit Analyst
Account Executive – Health & Benefits
Team Leader – Benefit Outsourcing Sales
Online Training Development Specialist
LMS Administrator (Learning Management System)
User Experience Engineer

State Farm
Molly Romine – Talent Brand Ambassador

Mission – The State Farm mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

State Farm is currently hiring to fill customer service positions for their Marina Heights facility in Tempe. Patience, empathy and nurturing skills are desired to dial-in on customer emotions with a delight-to-serve approach. You can always find a current list of open positions on the State Farm site .

Open Positions
Accounting, Financial and Banking
Administrative Support
Claims Investigation
Customer Service
Facilities Management and Administrative Services
Legal, Compliance and Risk Management
Human Resources
Marketing, Design and Communications
Research and Analytics
Sales Support
Technology and User Experience
Underwriting and Actuarial

Resources and Closing

Jessica Pierce closed the meeting by encouraging participants to make full use of the resources and partner volunteers. Stay tuned for weekly email updates.

5/2/2019 – Technology Panel

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Written by Rachel Gersten

Jessica Pierce welcomed and explained the agenda, which was a bit different than typical Career Connectors meetings. Instead of one keynote speaker we were fortunate enough to have two panel discussions, which included seven technology market experts. Today’s event was sponsored by USAA.

Panel One: Talent Recruitment in Technology

Brad Harris, Software Developer at USAA
USAA is a mission driven company built by members of the military for the military. They are actively seeking talented individuals to fill over 1,000 jobs in AZ in the next 2 years. Openings include Data Analytics Audit Manager, Business Intelligence/ETL Engineer, Senior Risk Analyst, Java Software Engineer, Attorney, .NET Developer, and Customer Service Representative.

Melissa McCoy, Vice President for TechFinders
TechFinders is a well-established recruiting firm that has adapted well to the changes in technology, over their 20+ year history. This is a company that knows how to stay current.

Gil “GW” Williams, Lead Sales and Marketing Manager for Intel
Intel has evolved into a more data-centric company. They still work with PC’s and chips but they are much more than that. They are known to say any technology will run better with Intel. They are hiring process engineers, manufacturing techs/engineers, as well as a number of other positions.

Panel One: Q & A

Q: When you say “technology field” what does that mean?

A: The “technology field” is everywhere. Our world has gotten to the point where we need tech for just about everything. Tech is becoming a bigger part of our lives. If you have a website you are a tech company.

Q: What do you consider a job in the field?

A: There is a full range of job opportunities in the tech field, some of which include: developers, data engineers, project management, support, management, marketing, sales, HR analyst, and quality assurance, to name of few.

Q: How do you break into the tech field?

A: Be in the middle of everything. Spend as much time as you can networking. Consider having a direct link to your resume on your business cards. Use social media like LinkedIn to research people at the companies you’re interested in working. Learn about their culture. Go to events. Remember it takes time, be persistent. Ask many people eventually someone will say yes. Only 8% people that apply online will get hired according to the panel.

Q: What do you see as the future of tech in AZ?

A: Artificial intelligence (AI) will be huge in the next five to seven years. Cyber security will be very important because of foreign threats and hacking. The old saying, “information is power” rings true.

Panel Two:  Career Pathways

Chukwudi Anya, Security Controls and Compliance Analyst at Freedom Financial Network.
Freedom Financial Network is the largest debt relief service provider in US. Open positions include Data Analyst, DevOps Engineer, Full Stack Engineer, Accounting Specialist, QA Coach, Software Engineer, Senior Scrum Master/Agile Coach and more.

Chad Johnson, Technology Manager for State Farm
State Farm provides financial services with over 83 million policies in the country. Openings include Software Developer, Java Developer, Data Scientist, Salesforce & Digital Analytics Analyst, Customer Service, and Business Analysts.

James Mitchell, Recruiting Manager for Deloitte
Deloitte is the largest consulting firm in the country. Deloitte has over 400 jobs to fill in Arizona including AWS Cloud Architect, Cyber Oracle Cloud EBS Security & Controls Consultant, Sr Linux Administrator, Cyber Risk Secure Software Enablement Consultant, UX Designer and many more.

Rob Loy, Head of Technology Education with GCU
GCU is an education provider with support for IT education, boot camps and degree programs.

Panel Two: Q & A

Q: What does tech mean for your business?

A: Technology means everything to business. It encompasses so many areas some of which include: support, operations, data support, compliance, risk security, planning and analyst.

Q: How would you get your foot in the door?

A: Remember to set yourself apart. Employers are interested in finding the right employee for the right position. Tap into your soft skills especially your willingness to learn.
There are many ways to get your foot in the door. One of which is to gain additional education by going back to school for degrees, certifications, and/or boot camps.
There are three things to keep in mind when wanting noticed: networking, networking, networking. LinkedIn is a great networking tool. Use it to connect with company leaders.

Closing

Jessica Pierce concluded the meeting by thanking USAA for sponsoring the Panel, our wonderful host GCU for their support, as well as all our amazing corporate sponsors and volunteers. The next meeting will be held on May 9th, 9 am at the Scottsdale location.

On May 11th, USAA has an on-site Career Expo from 7:30 to 10:30 am. This will be held at USAA’s newly built campus at 25700 Norterra Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85085. Please remember to sign up online for these upcoming events.

Please check out the blog post from Heather Marcom at Freedom Financial Network on Re-careering.

The MINDset Game™: How to Master Your Mindset to Land Your Next Job

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Written by Gary Matsuda

Ever think, ‘Why is it so hard for me to take the next step in my career? Everyone else seems to find the perfect job so easily.”
But what no one ever told you is the key to landing next job might not be just more money or more time – it’s what you’ve always had all along. It’s your own mind.

Keynote

Vered Kogan knows a thing or two about getting out of your head and making progress. As a job search expert through her private coaching practice and with Lee Hecht Harrison, she’s worked with hundreds of people making career changes.
Her coaching experience found it is mindset that makes the difference and what Vered provides is not just strategy but help with execution that leads to success.
You may have read, ”Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” (Charles R. Swindoll). But if you’re dealing with job loss or are switching careers, the associated mental and emotional conflict often triggers the brain’s defenses to send out hormones that are often counterproductive.
The most common reaction to change
It’s a good thing our brain has a natural negativity bias because it’s there to protect us and to keep us safe. Within the brain’s circuitry, negativity networks outnumber positive networks 5 to 1, so when we perceive threats or something that’s unknown, it much easier for our minds to default towards safety and comfort.
When it comes to self-preservation, our brain tries to work in our favor: Stay safe! Conserve energy! Don’t put your finger there! And it also seeks out comfort: More sleep! More food! More Netflix!
But while our brain tries to warn and protect us during a job change, stress hormones get released, the fight or flight response kicks in and bad things happen to our bodies because we are stressed. We can’t think, can’t sleep and we eat ice cream, chocolate and sweets. Blame it on our brain’s desire for feel good hormones like serotonin and too much of the stress hormone, cortisol, but these and your mindset can be managed, says Vered.
So how do we get a handle on what we are experiencing and stop it from ruining our day?
As a 15-year-old sophomore on high school junior varsity, future NBA basketball star, Michael Jordan saw his close friend selected for the varsity squad instead of him. Angered and depressed, he went home, locked himself in his room and cried.
However, he turned his disappointment around and began to work hard at the game because he wanted to prove he was better than everyone thought he was. He refocused often and his short-term actions were specific and clear, “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it,” Jordan would explain. “That usually got me going again.”
Vered shows how we can stop our emotions from getting the better of us with 4 rules from the MINDset Game™:
Rule 1: Decide what you are searching for and why.
Behind our logic, there are deep seated reasons why we think the way we do. To make this rule work we must be intentional about focusing on a goal and ending the dilemma of too many options. If we don’t decide what to target, then by default our wily subconscious takes over and BAM! just like that we are distracted.
Our subconscious has outsized influence on our thoughts and it out performs the conscious in information processing by a factor of thousands! While many of these systems are associated with maintaining our body functions it does underscore the latent power of using our subconscious to make our brains work on autopilot.
Vered says to think of our subconscious as our personal goal achieving machine, there to help make us aware of opportunities that align with our set goals. But it needs to be given clear, positive, realistic instructions.
So do this: Create a list of what is important in career, health, and family. What is it that you want to achieve? And more importantly – why? Think – what would it take for me to do this?
Rule 2: Listen for clues. Know what direction you are facing (toward or away from what you want).
Take your emotional temperature at least 4 times a day. Make it a habit. Ask yourself “What emotions am I feeling now?” Negative emotions (along with the associated stress hormones) limit your ability to perform at your best.
Don’t serve or feed thoughts and emotions that will take you in the wrong direction, instead encourage positive emotions that free up your thinking and set your focus towards what you really want.
Be aware you are always moving closer or farther from your goal. Your habitual thoughts create your life as Gandhi said, “A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

Rule 3: When you are moving away from what you want, change your focus to get “warmer”
Change your thoughts. Ask, “What story am I telling myself?” And verify, “Is this really true?” If it’s a negative thought then specify a new, more empowering belief by finding small proofs, reasons, past feedback and from who you know might be supportive.
And remember, “What would it take to achieve my goal?”

Change your emotions. Ask yourself, “What can I acknowledge myself for?” Call to mind even those small achievements and appreciation that you’ve received.
Ask yourself, “What am I grateful for?” This is a fast way to keep yourself grounded and change emotions.
Ask yourself, “What do I want to feel?” The Quick Coherence® technique is a powerful tool for shifting into a more positive & coherent state.
Step 1 Focus attention in the area of your heart. Imagine your breath flowing in and out of your chest area, breathing a little slower or deeper than usual. Try inhaling for 5 seconds then exhaling for 5 seconds or whatever rhythm is comfortable.
Step 2 Try to re-experience the feeling you have for someone you love, a pet, a special place, or an accomplishment or focus on a feeling of calm or ease.
While negative emotions narrow our attention and force us to act in a specific way, positive emotions do the opposite: They broaden our attention and increase our awareness of possible actions we might take. Those are the beginnings of creativity.
For Michel Jordan, it was not a matter of eliminating or forgetting the bad situation or anxiety but controlling and turning away from it by executing constructive behaviors.
Rule 4: Keep moving until you find what you want.
Commit to taking at least ONE action this week to move you closer (“warmer”) to your goal.
It’s your life. Be persistent. Plan your own reality because what you believe is stopping you might just be in your head. Put these rules to work, take your career to the next level, stop thinking too much and start doing and see if this can help your personal, relationship and business challenges!

Hiring Companies

Linda Hoolihan, CRS Temp Housing
Help families in need! Work with CRS to help insurance policy holders who have lost or damaged homes find temporary housing. This is a small company of about 160 employees. They’re hiring Customer Care Specialists to take care of families who have undergone loss, a Resident Specialist in sales (should have experience negotiating and facilitating) and a Relationship Manager who will work to increase business with current clients.
Molly Romine, State Farm, Recruiter
If you are the nurturing and caring type, State Farm needs those who can help their clients who have lost something.
Now hiring for customer facing roles for those who are trying to recover from unexpected loss. There are also tech positions open. Located on the Tempe Town Lake in one of the largest complexes in Arizona in Marina Heights. If you’re looking for a stable company that’s recession resistant, insurance is it.
Gay Meyer, USAA, AVP HR Regional Operations
USAA’s mission is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services; in so doing, USAA seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community. They currently have 12 million members and over 33,000 employees worldwide, with more than 4,800 in Phoenix.
The Phoenix campus is the only USAA office outside of San Antonio that supports all primary lines of business, including insurance, banking, investment management and financial planning services. Situated on 575 acres off I-17 and Happy Valley Road, USAA’s innovative and spacious work area offers a full array of campus amenities, while conducting business as a responsible steward of our precious natural resources. USAA Phoenix campus is LEED New Construction certified and LEED Platinum Existing Building certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, ENERGY STAR rated by the EPA, and has won multiple international awards for building excellence and sustainability. This company is interested in personal and professional development and will pay you to go to school!
Main areas for job openings are: Customer Service and Sales, Insurance, IT and Risk/Compliance. Apply online at usaajobs.com.

Resources

Ron Mack, Goodwill of Central & Northern AZ
Not just a retail store but an organization that provides opportunities which serve the needs of the community and help the professional job seeker become self-sufficient.
The Goodwill Career Center offers free career coaching, resume critiquing, job leads from employers, mock interviews, and digital skills training classes from beginning to advanced in 3 locations in Phoenix.
Mesa location will be open next month as a new career center.

Robert Loy, GCU, Head of Non-degree Tech Programs
Get started in the IT industry! GCU non-degree programs can provide everything to make you marketable in IT. There is a 16 week Coding Bootcamp that almost guarantees successful employment with connections with recruiters, community and hiring companies!