Search 4 U — Your Talent and Career Transition Solution

I’m thrilled to let you know that I landed… finally!

It was a long way since I’ve started into the job searching journey (June 2020) after a 6 years of career break, but in February, when I was about to give up, I was lucky to have found Southlake focus group, it gave me all the support and tools that I needed to continue 😊.

I’ve started in April at Olam International, in Richardson offices, as an accountant. I applied for the job through LinkedIn in March, the hiring process lasted about a month.

I’ll like to thank you and all the volunteers at the different groups that I’ve participated during those months, I’m glad to have met you! And I hope that we can keep in touch.

Thanks again and please let me know if I can help at some way! Romina Pons

Good Morning Foster, Trevor and Mark ,

I came to an agreement last night and signed the offer letter with CFM Materials LP. They are a Limited partnership between GE aircraft Engines and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. CFM Materials LP is the world’s largest provider of serviceable engines and components which power such aircraft as the Airbus and Boeing single isle commercial jetliners, as well as the Boeing KC-135R aerial tanker operated by the U.S. Air Force.

I accepted the position as Senior Manager of Technical Records and Quality with a start date of May 17th.

I wanted to say thank you for your support, your knowledge and positive attitude in these trying times!! The WYK team made it possible to work through a time in my life I never saw coming or even imagined could happen.

I pray for God to continue working through the WYK team to reach out and touch so many more lives as you have mine.

God Bless you all, Philip Austin

I am happy to announce that I have landed back at American Airlines!

My thanks to each of you for your continued support, dedication and service provided for the unemployed. I took advantage of the expertise offered by many groups and job search networks available in the DFW Metroplex to hone my skills and network. The silver lining of being unemployed here is the many individuals and organizations offering their service and expertise complementary to those in need.

I have experienced many good and less good days, which is typical in a job search. My faith has sustained me as well as receiving support from family, friends and associates along the journey.

Again, my thanks to all of you for the conversations and interactions we have had individually and collectively along the way. Keep up the good work!

Take care,

David

I reached out to you a few weeks ago about help finding a full-time position.  I am happy to report that I have been offered a full-time position.  

I am now helping one of my part time jobs find a replacement for me.  It is a small construction company in Southlake.  It is a bookkeeping job – 2 days per week.  Wednesday & Friday.  QB experience necessary. $20 per hour. 

Will you let me know if you know of anyone that might be interested?

Thank you.

Kerry Henry

817-909-0726

DALLAS, April 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Richards Group has named its first chief talent and culture officer. Nikki Wilson, former human resources and labor relations director at General Motors, will report to CEO Glenn Dady. Along with the appointment of outside inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D) counsel Do What Matters earlier this year, this furthers the agency’s commitment to a broader and more diverse workforce and a core focus on its people – with inclusion-first management being top priority.

Nikki Wilson, chief talent and culture officer

Wilson will represent the interests, voices and experiences of the agency’s talent at the executive level and will be an advocate for enhancing employee engagement and the workplace environment. She will oversee the integration of initiatives into the entire agency’s culture and operations, act as the agency’s champion for all employee resource groups, and lead all human resources functions.

“I’m excited to join The Richards Group at such an important time in their refounding journey. As the agency continues to deliver great creative content, we also want to deliver a great employee experience,” said Wilson.

Together with Dady, Wilson will spearhead the workforce plan vision for the agency’s changing culture and ongoing rebuild. She will also oversee leadership training initiatives.

“Nikki’s valuable experience in human resources, labor relations and DEI make her a crucial asset as our agency continues to rebuild – for now and for years to come,” said Dady. “This hire may be our most important position we’ve created since the founding of the agency, and Nikki is the perfect person for the role.”

Wilson’s 18 years at General Motors culminated in her leading human resources strategy for the automotive leader in Arlington, Texas, overseeing leadership development and workforce training. She previously served as human resources director and labor relations manager in various locations around the United States and globally.

Furthering the spirit of a new era at The Richards Group, Wilson will also join the newly appointed Leadership Council, a group tasked with keeping a close eye on all aspects of the firm and its vision for the future. They will be joined by a rotating team of younger members to provide fresh perspective on agency matters. A newly appointed Creative Council will partner with the agency’s up-and-coming talent to ensure continued improvement in the agency’s work.

SOURCE The Richards Group

Foster!!

I landed- hallelujah!  I will be working at TIAA as a Financial Services Consultant.  I have connections in the company that are eager to move me into different roles after I earn my stripes, so I’m really excited to be starting this journey.  Thank you for your time and help in this process!

Blessings,

Caroline Pollard

As you already know, I’ve landed a new job! Thank you very much for your encouragement, support and guidance. 

I have accepted the Quality Payment Program Manager position with Keplr Vision. I will be working remotely from my home in Tinley Park, but their corporate office is in Bloomington, Illinois, about 110 miles away. My new supervisor works remotely from, where else…Dallas! It’s a new world! 

Believe it or not, after all the networking I have done, the Keplr recruiter contacted me after viewing my LinkedIn profile with the green “#opentowork” ring around my photo. They were looking for specific skills, in this case the keywords were “Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS).”

I interviewed with the recruiter and the Revenue Cycle Director in December and was passed over for the job. The candidate selected quit in March. I was told it was not a good fit for her. I was also told that the reason I was not offered the job in December was my asking price was too high. 

Keplr reached out again in late March. I interviewed with four additional people and was verbally offered the position on Friday April 9th. I made a counteroffer on Monday, April 12th and they provided three concessions:

1. Extra week of vacation

2. $50/month phone allowance

3. $2500/year for association dues/seminars/educational purposes

I asked Keplr’s professional corporate recruiter what she thought about the green “#open to work” circle on LinkedIn profile pictures. She said she liked it and stated, “Companies need to hire quickly.” She also said “We want to know you’re ready” to make a move. This perspective goes along with Terry Sullivan’s anecdotal survey in which 48 of 49 recruiters favor using the green ring with “#open to work” on the LinkedIn profile picture.

As you and others have stated, it’s a numbers game and I’m still sorting all that out. I tracked most activities on an Excel spreadsheet. I missed a few out of exhaustion or was it laziness?

•Out of work for 27 weeks

•Applied for 125 jobs with intent (I did not count some “easy apply” positions I applied just for the heck of it!)

•Interviewed with 54 people at 26 companies

•Connected with 665+ people on LinkedIn (Currently I have over 900 connections)

•Had over 250 informational interviews with people I met at job support Zoom meetings.

All the coaching sessions, Zoom support group meetings, and networking built my confidence and made me a much stronger person. There was a reason for all this! 

I can’t thank you, Southlake Focus Group, CareerDFW and the WYK show crew enough. The leadership teams and other job seekers provided direction, guidance, support, levity and H.O.P.E. throughout my job search. Kudos to you all! 

Your warm welcome to Zoom meetings always made my day! The silver lining to this arduous job search has been all the remarkable friends I have made along the way. Fortunately for me, SFG had Zoom meetings during COVID or our paths never would have crossed. Feeling blessed.

Ever Grateful,

Polly Malloy

malloy.polly@gmail.com

(708) 217-3019

www.linkedin.com/in/pollymalloy

Good Morning Foster,

I wanted to share the good news that I have landed a contract to perm position with NTTData. I will be BPO Technical Training Specialist. Its a remote position, working on a long term project for one of their healthcare clients.

I learned about the position through a recruiter who reached out to me after finding my resume on one of the job boards.  I have been out since Dec 18, 2020 and am very grateful to have landed during this COVID era. My start date is March 22.

I want to thank you, Jeff Morris and everyone at Frisco Connect, North DallasCFG, SFG, and CareerDFW for the great service you provide job seekers.

Thanks for all you do,

Jose Martinez-Garriga

jmartinezgarriga@gmail.com

I am very happy to say that I have landed!

I have accepted a role as a Senior Business Analyst at FleetPride (in Irving) starting 2/25. 

I am incredibly grateful for all that SFG has provided.  Your dedication to professionalism, enlightenment and support is unparalleled. 

I will always remember:

the 2 minute warnings to start promptly at 8am

the reminder to dress professionally as if we were at a job interview

celebrations and doughnuts

last minute runs for coffee between meetings

Jumpstart to get us started right

Strengthfinders to help us attain clarity in our brand

1:1 networking advice

Networking rooms

Questions of the day

10 sec and 2 min introductions

hands out of our pockets reminders

Linkedin invitations with a message

and most of all H.O.P.E. – Helping one person everyday…

My job search culminated in 10 interviews in one week, two written offers (during a winter storm) and a landing that involved a pivot. 

I don’t believe that I would have achieved all this without the encoragement provided by the leadership team and SFG members.

You not only filled me with confidence, you provided me with inspiration and for that I am ever thankful!

I will continue to send people to SFG, and please let me know if there is ever any way that I may assist you. 

Sincerely, 

Doug