stress

Written by Susan Lamphiear

Jennifer Swenson welcomed a room full of job seekers at the Scottsdale event, reminding everyone that she’s been in their shoes. She described 2010 as the worst year of her life after a job layoff, going through outplacement, and feeling defeated because it seemed there were inadequate resources for her.

After she found the welcoming community of Career Connectors, caring people ultimately helped her find a real job again. It’s now come full circle for Jennifer, President of the Board of Directors for Career Connectors. Becoming involved has given her the ability to give back, and since her own ordeal, she’s hired many people she’s met at these events.

With that, she introduced the keynote speaker who had some timely advice for anyone going through the stress of challenging times, including job transition.

Keynote Speaker

Paula Shoup, Certified Team Advantage Coach, passionate about helping businesses and individuals, wants everyone to experience less stress along their road to success. With over 20 years of experience guiding individuals and businesses, she created what’s called the Internal GPS Process and uses the process with businesses and individuals.

The Internal GPS Process

• Where are you?
• Where do you want to go?
• How will you get there?
• How will you celebrate success?

Decreasing stress and increasing positive internal vibes

With deliberate actions, we can all learn to shift habits of fear which often cause so much stress during times of change. The book How to Change when Change is Hard explains that emotions are what drive us all. Determine what motivates you emotionally and use that emotion to drive you. Research shows we’re all motivated the most by our emotions.  In the job search, can you play into a potential employer’s emotional needs as well as your own emotional triggers?

Visualization is a powerful tool. In a study of three groups of students, the group seeing the most success was the group who not only envisioned getting an A, but visualized the steps they would take to get there.

Developing habits to increase your daily dose of positivity can even include ritual activities like brushing your teeth, organizing your closet, or taking a walk.  In her book Positivity, Barbara Fredrickson says research supports the three-to-one positivity ratio. People with a healthy positivity ratio were found to show more life resiliency.  The ratio basically means that during the course of a day, for example, it requires the ratio of three positive events to make up for one negative event.

• Inventory  your own strengths. Ask friends to help you determine your own strengths.
• Prioritize connecting with people. Don’t pass up an opportunity to connect with people in the grocery store, for example.
• Laugh regularly. Laugh on purpose.
• Establish routines, including exercise.
• Be grateful. Make it a habit to thank people regularly.

Hiring Companies

Matrix Health

Colleen Roth, Team Lead Recruiter

With corporate offices in Scottsdale, Matrix Health includes a large network of nurse practitioners who conduct health assessments for seniors in their homes. The company works with Medicare Advantage health plans throughout the United States. The company includes many benefits including a 401K where you’re vested in three years. Current positions in the corporate office are listed on their website.

Echo Global Logistics

Jack Malloy, Carrier Sales Development Manager

Echo Global Logistics is a leading provider of technology-enabled transportation and supply chain management services.  The company strives to take the complicated out of transportation management. The company’s technology includes proprietary web-based technology. A non-asset based company, this means they don’t own trucks, etc. In 2013 the company received a Most Admired Companies Award from Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ. Their main hiring focus right now is for Truckload Carrier Sales positions. For more information, visit them online and You Tube.

Career Evolutions

Christian Kaijser, Managing Director

Christian stressed that “low balling” yourself won’t get you far. “Why are you coming to me in discount mode?” the potential employer is apt to wonder. For the experienced job seeker, Christian urges them to think like a doctor or lawyer. If you’re going in for brain surgery, of course, you’d want someone with experience! Career Evolutions is an executive search company taking  pride in assisting their clients throughout their full employment life cycle, from resume preparation to interview and the hiring process onward. More information is available at their website.

Charles Schwab

Shannon Grimes, Talent Attraction Manager

Forty years ago Charles Schwab, founded as a brokerage firm, wanted to bring Wallstreet to Main Street. Today their focus remains on integrity and the good of the client. Benefits of the company include a culture where the manager knows who you are, wellness program including a walking path and onsite yoga, and a meritocracy, where advancing is based on performance. Many opportunities are available at the company and can be found on their website.

Resources

Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants

Rodger Brubacher, Director of Continuing Education

Rodger Brubacher of Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants was on hand to remind everyone that if an employer asks you what you’ve been doing since your last position, being able to tell them you’ve received certifications can be an obvious way to answer. The school includes remote training capability and offers several professional certifications including, but not limited to, Microsoft and Project Management. For more information about classes and funding, visit their website.

Closing

Jennifer Swenson closed the formal part of the event before dismissing everyone to the breakout sessions.

The next Career Connectors event takes place in Phoenix and features Jessica Pierce’s presentation on LinkedUp on LinkedIn, Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 9:00 AM. For complete schedule, times and directions, click here.

Remember that staying positive in stressful times may require intentional steps, and that’s never more true than during a period of career transition. And that includes laughter.

It reminds me of the Al Franken character on Saturday Night Live, Stuart Smalley. Stuart is not a licensed therapist, but he is, however, a member of several 12-step programs. Stuart even made Al Gore sit in front of the mirror and repeat positive affirmations after his loss in the Presidential election. “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And doggone it, people like me.”  To view the segment and increase your positivity ratio, click here.