Four months after I was laid off due to the downturn of the economy I have landed. I cannot thank SJN enough for all that it does. I have landed a position with Goodwill of Central AZ as a Field Technician. I would not have gotten the interview without the networking tools that SJN taught me. My new team is amazing, and after my first week in the job, I am even more confident that I have found a company and a position that fit me perfectly. SJN taught me so much and I now have tools and resources that will be helpful even as my new career goes forward. During my transition I took classes, obtained certifications, applied for and received stimulus funding for further certifications (that can continue even as I’m employed), trained for and ran my 2nd full marathon, and met so many wonderful people at SJN. I encourage anyone still looking to keep a positive outlook and find ways to continue to grow yourself both professionally and personally, the payoff WILL be there. There are so many members that took time out to speak with me, point me in the right direction, offer advice and encouragement, and introduce me to colleagues and friends; I appreciate and thank you all! A special thank you to Jennifer Rue, Rick Gould, Bill Markham, George Fleming, Alan Walsh, and David Thompson, as each of these people took extra time to speak to me and help me navigate this process. I look forward to staying involved with the SJN community and giving back to such a wonderful organization.
With My Sincerest Gratitude,
Danielle Rice
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One more thing for me to be thankful for – landing my new job. December 7, I will be starting in my new role as Director of Supply chain at CompuCom in Dallas. My family and I are very excited about this new adventure in our lives, and the job is the perfect fit/opportunity for me.
When I lost my job last November 10 I had no idea how much the job search process had changed since the last time I had to look for work (nearly 16 years earlier), and SJN’s curriculum and support set me in the right direction. Although my search was very challenging, the knowledge and support I received from SJN kept me focused, positive and prepared for success. Many people within the organization inspired me to my successful search, but I’d like to point out two who particularly touched me: Eric Walton, for his no-nonsense approach to presenting the SJN curriculum, and for his openness in sharing his personal stories and his faith; and Dawn
Nowatzki for her commitment to the cause, and for making SJN SEV a reality (and a tremendous success).
I learned a lot about the job search process, about myself and about the importance of networking – not just in job search, but as a valuable part of everyday life – and I intend to continue to network and help as many others as possible.
Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes to everyone,
Jim Martin
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I just accepted a position as Director of Operations for OmniMount Systems (Phoenix).
SJN helped me tremendously through the different stages during this transition. I re-gained my confidence. I used all the tactics discussed in the presentations.
Within the last couple of weeks, I had 3 interviews. The first, I got through networking and reaching someone within the company. The other two, I actually got by applying online (I was shocked!). I think having my resume critiqued at SJN made a huge difference. I also reached out to my previous CEO for his expertise. What he advised enabled me to cinch the interviews.
Thank you for everything. Your personal support and encouragement are unparalleled.
Jeff Eidinger
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I am pleased to share that I have been offered a position as an Employment Specialist for Goodwill of Central Arizona. I will be working in a Workforce Investment Act funded program to assist clients who may experience barriers to employment to find jobs.
This is a brand new field for me, but one for which I have a passion. I am qualified for it primarily because of all of the volunteer work I’ve been doing, added to my years of marketing and market research experience. In fact, my background allows me a unique perspective that others in my new field may lack.
My new opportunity is directly as a result of the advice, counsel, encouragement, prayers, and emotional support of many, many people, far more than I can name but including: my family; Pastor Bob and everyone from my church; the men of my Bible study; Raoul, Chris, Jennifer, Dawn, Bill, and everyone else I have met at the Southwest Job Network, including the Innovation Councils and Self-Support Teams; Tim, Marti, Tom, Barbara, and everyone at the North Phoenix Baptist Church Employment Network; and the librarians and baristas beer servers who let me hang out on various afternoons/evenings when I needed to leave my apartment. It is my honor to have met you.
I can never fully repay you all for your friendship and support, but I will try, starting with sharing the Lessons Learned during my transition. It got a bit lengthy, so rather than post it here, I invite you to my blog.
I plan to stay as involved with SJN and with the Employment Network as my schedule will allow. In the meantime, if there is anything I can do to support your own search, or if you are just looking for someone to go hiking with or for a round of mini-golf, please let me know.
Kevin R. Dumcum
www.linkedin.com/in/kevindumcum
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Yes, the rumor is true and I have landed at a local home health care company and start my new journey on 8-10-09. Wow, it’s been a very long 13.5 months and I can step back and say it was a rich time of growth, up and down emotions, new adventures & paths, new relationships and new routines. It tested everything within my soul but in the end it truly was one of the best times in my life.
I was encouraged by many in my network and I want to name just a few. A very special thanks goes to the leadership of SJN that I had a lot of touch with over the last year including Chris Vicari, Raoul Encinas, Eric Walton, Bill Markham, Bill Austin and Jennifer Rue. Thank you for all the knowledge, encouragement, tough love, prayer and friendship you provided, it’s great to head into this next phase with some strong leaders and friends by my side. I also want to mention Dave Sherman and George Fleming, thanks for not giving up on me during this time.
Lastly, I want to thank my wife Judy because in many ways, and on many days she was my earthly strength and I couldn’t have done it without you my dear. My spiritual faith was also tested during this real time of adversity and that faith has grown exponentially due directly to obedience…Yea God! Sometimes I didn’t understand your timing or agree with the path selection but in the end you too were right and I’m a better, more humble and caring individual to the people that enter my life everyday.
As you can tell the credit for this landing is due to many, many caring people. If I were to summarize my recommendations to those of you in job search and career management I would tell you to form your own “support” group or “advisory” board (SST’s at SJN) of a few close friends that can put an arm around you when you need that and kick you in the butt when you need that too. Network, network, and then network some more, build Linkedin, get your profile to 100%, join Linkedin groups…in short use the tools available to you. Volunteer some time back to SJN, your church, or a non-profit that you believe in. Read, learn, increase your knowledge…and grow yourself through this time.
Apply what you learn, you are responsible for you! Last is, keep the faith, never lose hope (and if you do, acknowledge it and do what it takes to get it back). Know that you too will land, keep that vision alive every day and remember that “this too shall pass.” Also, look at investing in a coach, there are many around SJN and in the community.
My real growth took off when I took this step with 5 different coaches over 13.5 months; it makes the ride smoother and gets RESULTS faster. Continue the walk, keep your head high, establish new routines and run the race with endurance!
Best regards,
Jeff D. Brown
www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdbrown2009
“If I could I would always work in silence and obscurity, and let my efforts be known by their results.” by English novelist and poet Emily Bronte taken from The 360 Leader by John Maxwell.
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Friday, July 3, 2009
I am thrilled to announce that I have landed a position as a Case Worker for a non profit organization called Neighbors Who Care. The organization is 14 years old and serves homebound seniors in Sun Lakes and South Chandler. I will be conducting home visits to reassess current clients’ needs for services and provide clients with information and resources as needed.
While I learned of this opportunity through a posting on a job site, it was the support, advice and guidance I received from Chris, Raoul, Pat, Sara, and all the many others at SJN over the past months who helped me cope with my transition in this tough job market. This is the second time around for me in the past 2 years, and I really have come to appreciate the networking opportunities this organization provides.
If I can be of assistance to anyone, please let me know. I plan to continue networking with people I have been fortunate to meet and do hope to attend as many events as I can. Good luck in your job search!
Sincerely,
Lori Brown
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(Landed!) Thank you so much for being there and supporting the community with the job network. I know that I have personally greatly benefitted from the curriculum and speakers. I have also greatly benefitted from volunteering and helping others. I will continue to be an Ambassador and spread the word about SJN and what it offers. I will also volunteer on evening events or days off when I can. I have met a ton of great people through SJN and plan to stay connected. Thank you so much for your support and allowing me to volunteer with SJN!
Liz Alexander
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I am pleased to share that I have successfully landed a contract position with General Dynamics here in the valley. I will be working with them to help improve the engineering processes in one of the Divisions.
I would like to thank Chris, Raoul, Paula and all of the many others of you who helped me so much as I went through my transition. I can’t tell you how much your friendship, ideas, and encouragement have meant to me over the past months. Even a kind word or bit of advice or encouragement from someone who I had met only one or two times at meetings frequently made the difference between a good day and another discouraging one. I am convinced that my time with SJN was one of the significant contributing factors to my landing this position. Thanks.
I know it can be a little bittersweet hearing that someone else just got a job when you have been looking without success for a while, but I firmly believe that keeping your spirits up and continuing to do positive things (like volunteering with SJN and networking) are keys to eventual success. I went from not having had an interview in over three months to having several interviews and landing a job in a week. Hopefully, you will have a similar experience soon (at least the week with interviews and a job offer!). Keep planting the seeds – eventually the rains will come.
Good luck in your job hunting
Jim Brodie
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Wow! I was so impressed with your SJN meeting yesterday and so glad I came! You have built an incredible organization and offer so many tools for Job Seekers such as myself – and Martha Rockwell was fantastic as well!
A big THANK YOU for all the time and effort you have put into SJN to make it what it is: I’ll see you in two weeks!
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I have landed a position with Universal Technical Institute as their Internal Communications Director. I want to thank SJN for the informative emails and reference materials that I made use of during my 5 month job search. SJN is such a great resource and a comforting connection to tap into during a stressful time. Good luck to all and stay positive as you continue your search. Even in these tough market conditions there are opportunities out there so keep the faith.
Best regards,
Bill Odell
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I am a new member in the network group and today is the 2nd time I participated in the networking activity. I just relocated here from California 1/2 year ago to be with my husband (we just got married late last year). I only started my job search recently and I have felt isolated, lost and overwhelmed.
However, I am really, really impressed with your kind gesture and capability in making this networking works for job seekers like me, providing me with a safe space for support and re-education. You have made the job seeking process much less painful for me. BTW, the workshop today has been phenomenal as I now have a clearer sense of what it takes to prepare myself for job search, thanks to Jim [O'Hara, speaker on "Creating Your Vision and Marketing Plan."]
I am glad that Ruben & Martha nominated you [for the Frances Young Community Heroes Award]. I am very grateful for your contribution and I am sure many would agree that you have made a tremendous difference in our lives and family as well.
Congratulation on winning the Hero award and thank you for being the Hero for us, job seekers!!!
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I’m pleased to announce to the group that I’m now an “Alumni” of SJN! I’ve landed with a division of Wells Fargo in a newly created position as VP Product Development, Investment Plan Services in Wells Fargo Shareowner Services. Our main office is in St. Paul MN – I’ll be shuttling between this St. Paul location and my Phoenix office as necessary, likely spending 10 days a month in St. Paul, rest of the time with clients or telecommuting.
I contacted the new President of this division in February and pitched my proposal for how I could help him grow the business and to achieve the revenue demands of the Bank. He was new to the LOB, having been assigned his position in December, my strategy was to let him settle in and understand the business financials and operations before pitching my proposal. The approach worked well as he was just reaching the point of developing a strategy of how to grow this division, I come along with “my written” introduction and proposal and he came to recognize how a dedicated and experienced product management focus in shareowner financial services would help him achieve his financial and service goals.
Networking was critical in intelligence gathering as I was able to determine timing, business drivers, key players and their personality types, how they work, hot buttons, challenges to address as well as how to work through issues with the upper mid-west culture and approach to business.
Took 6 months to develop the position and operating arrangement and from them to gain the budget override, but we finally came to terms and I official started last week.
Thank you and the group for your support during this time. Looking for the right career move, packaging myself as a ‘product’ and developing employment opportunities for is very much an unnatural act for me, and the fundamental change executive search business adds greatly to the challenge. While I’ve been a networker for most of my working career, it was very much business circle focused. Expanding my executive network beyond my immediate industry contacts continues to be very helpful.
The focus and business-like approach to the meetings is refreshing, helps with ones discipline and helpful in keeping priorities focused.
As I enter the alumni phase of this relationship, I’ll be open to lend an assist wherever I can to members in the search phase as well as to other alumni of the group.
Regards,
Jim Volpe
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I was a Compliance Officer in the mortgage industry with no hope of finding another position within the mortgage industry in the Phoenix Valley. I was networking to try and find another industry to utilize my skills. While doing this I had decided to start my own business to assist the mortgage brokers and bankers in the valley with compliance and quality controls needs. While networking with accounting firms that provide accounting services to the mortgage industry, I was told about a full-time opportunity at one of the mortgage bankers in Phoenix. It was not an advertised position. Essentially, I was offered the opportunity. I am now employed at Core Mortgage Group as a Quality Control / Compliance Liaison.
I can not say enough good things about what the SJN Group meant to me. I may not have gotten this position directly from a member or volunteer, but you gave me the tools, motivation, and showed me how valuable networking is to all who are not employed. It will be difficult to attend meetings, since I start work at 8am, but I hope to be able to assist from time to time with your efforts to guide the unemployed to finding a new opportunity. You are all amazing people. To the attendees, just keep getting yourself out there promoting your search. You will find someone who will guide you to your next opportunity!!!
With Sincere Appreciation,
Joanne Landry
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Just a quick note of thanks for creating SJN! I have attended two meetings and will attend “Exploring Your Passions.” You have greeted me at both meetings, making me feel more comfortable and relaxed in such a stressful time. After 8 years away from the workforce and no networking experience, I look forward to each event and the friendships that will develop.
Please let me know what I can do to help SJN!
Maggie Hess
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I went to my first networking meeting yesterday and I want to thank you all for this wonderful resource. I left there feeling so positive and so ready to take on my assignment of getting a job.The speakers were wonderful and I met some great people with whom I am going to start an informal “cafemeet-up” job support group with.
Thank you for this wonderful service.
Kate Calvert
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I just wanted to write you a quick note to let you know it was a pleasure to meet you and attend the SJN meeting this past Tuesday. I enjoyed the program immensely. I greatly appreciated the advice provided and the networking opportunities. You and your fellow colleagues are to be commended for coordinating the job search curriculum. I look forward to going through each step with you. As I am quickly finding out, it IS a job to find a job.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Debra Gittin
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Chris: Just want to say THANK YOU to you and your team for what you’re all doing through SJN. I believe you’re giving many good and talented people a place to learn and connect during this (what can be a very anxious and lonely) time, with the knowledge that there’s a place where people care about them and want to help them. You guys keep up the fine work. You’re making a difference.
God Bless You,
Jim Barrera
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Chris,
I am extremely impressed with you and others volunteering their time and resources with SJN to assist others in finding a job. Not only has SJN been informative/productive for me, but your passion to help has been clearly conveyed.
Mark Blanford
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