Jessica Pierce, the founder and now Executive Director of Career Connectors, sat down with us to answer a few key questions to help job seekers in the metro Phoenix area.
After being impacted by the economic downturn, Jessica created Career Connectors in 2009 as a volunteer-based community group that helped locals write resumes. The organization has since grown to service over 24,000 in the Valley, providing expert career advice, networking opportunities and training.
Q: Why did you see the need for Career Connectors in a market like Phoenix?
A: I didn’t actually see the need and jump; the need found me through an interesting turn of events. I was running a staffing agency that served land developers and commercial real estate investors in 2008-09. The business came to a complete halt in 2009 when the banks stopped lending money, therefore we closed the doors on our agency. My husband has also been in talent acquisition for many years and was laid off from his recruiting position. In May of 2009, Mark and I were both unemployed, had three kids, large house with a mortgage and all the expenses to go with it. Mark and I were trying to figure out what to do, and as I looked around I saw many of my friends that were in similar situations. That’s when I heard a true calling to start a small group to help people write their resumes. I asked my local church if they would let us have a room, and the group was born meeting every week helping people write resumes, interview well and meet a couple employers. Within two months, we had 250 people show up to an event – it was that day that I realized this was a community program that needed to serve a much larger population.
Q: What are some of the best tips you have for professionals in transition in the Phoenix Market?
A: The 4 tips that I continually push people to use are:
- Know who you are, what you are about and your strongest skillsets. Then when people ask you what you are looking for, you can give them a clear answer. It will also help as you are job searching to know your desired niche.
- Write a list of at least 10 companies that you are targeting. It’s important to feel in control of your job search, not for your job search to control you. A targeted list gives you names of companies to tell others, a place to go to conduct research and a focus for watching their website/social media.
- Have strong collateral. This includes a resume that is bold, accurate and shows accomplishments. It also includes a LinkedIn profile that is professional, shows some personality and emphasizes your strengths.
- Network like crazy. People don’t typically like that word, so it’s important to understand that networking is just a fancy word for building relationships. Talk to people, ask for connections and be incredibly kind/gracious.
Q: What are some of the best areas in Phoenix for job opportunities?
A: Growth is happening all over the Phoenix area – North Scottsdale, Chandler Tech Center, Gilbert off the 202, West Valley and more. There is also an upswing in flexible and work from home positions.
Q: Where do you see the biggest demand for jobs in Phoenix? Industry? Location? Roles?
A: Some of the hot markets in Phoenix are IT/Technology, Healthcare and Call Center. However, when people think of an industry, they tend to think in a very narrow focus of that industry. For example, call centers have primarily sales positions. However, they have HR, Finance, IT, supply chain, etc as well. Don’t completely dismiss an entire industry because of preconceived notions – do the research.
Q: Are there any other events or organizations in the Phoenix area that you would recommend getting involved with as a job seeker?
A: Job seekers should ask themselves – what do I enjoy doing? Once you figure that out, show up to events/programs that support the things you enjoy. If you are a veteran, show up to Veteran organizations/networking groups. If you like to bike, find a local group that bikes together. Come visit us at Career Connectors! We will help you with job connections and resources. The main idea around networking during the job search is getting out of the house 3-5 times per week and meeting people. People hire candidates they like, so get out there and be likeable!
Interested in attending the next Career Connectors event? Check out the Career Connectors website.