Innovation Director, Harrison Tonne And CareerTEAM Education President Micaela Alpers, Unveiling the Virtual Reality Job Interview Concept at the NAWB 2016 Conference. CareerTEAM has invested in making a this a great tool to assuage interview anxiety. It gives our VIP’s the ability to fully immerse themselves in an interview from showing up on the premises to sample questions, in a 360 degree view utilizing their smart phones!
HARTFORD, Connecticut, August 21, 2015- Graduates of Career Edge gather to celebrate completion of Career TEAM’s gainful employment course.
Navigating the job market today is not only a scary place, but a difficult one.Today a job seeker needs an arsenal of expertise in order to land a job opportunity and very recently “soft skills” was added to that list. Alth
ough, soft-skills sounds like a“buzz-word” of the 21st century workplace, it is here to stay.
According the CareerBuilder, the vast majority of employers -77 percent- believe that soft skills (skills associated with one’s personality) are just as important as hard skills (skills that are learned to perform a s
pecific job function and can be measured). Beyond that, sixteen percent of employers said that soft skills were more important than hard skills when qualifying candidates for the job.
Many companies are no longer just assessing candidates who are proficient in a particular job function, but also posses the right soft skills to carry out the job duties and fit in with the culture. Career Edge curriculum focuses on these soft skills that employers are searching for. It focuses on attitude, professionalism, communication, goal setting and personal branding to prepare job seekers with the soft- skills to receive a job offer.
HARTFORD, Connecticut, July 16, 2015-
A recent study from CareerBuilder showed that 33% of organizations are planning on adding Customer Service Professionals to their staff just in 2015 alone. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, these jobs will increase by 400,000 by 2018. The huge increase in the job market can be attributed to growing companies continue to grow and increase their customer base. Employers are also looking to make sure the customer is satisfied, no matter how long the call may take.
Companies are now focusing on representatives who can bring energy to customers who aren’t always in the best of moods and satisfy their needs. Customers want someone who can relate to them, but also attend to their needs. The main qualification that employers are currently focusing on in candidates is making sure they are a right fit for their culture; they want people who want to serve others and are excited by people calling in with problems.
Career TEAM saw this need for professionals in Connecticut, with Stub Hub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, searching for Customer Service Representatives. Their main focus? Making sure each candidate fit the cultural of their organization. All potential candidates in attendance viewed a presentation on the culture at Stub Hub and interviewed for the role. Attendees who displayed a passion to serve others were offered positions.
May 1, 2015
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 1, 2015 – Career TEAM, a leader in workforce development and online learning, today announced that Micaela Alpers has joined the organization as President of the Education Division after spending 8 years in Higher Education publishing. Most recently, she served as National Director of Sales for McGraw Hill Education, where she was charged with rebuilding the Private Sector Sales organization and improving student outcomes through McGraw Hill’s adaptive learning platforms.
With a personal mission statement of, “supporting people in creating fulfilled and abundant lives,” Micaela’s background in Higher Education, coaching, and career development will enhance the 20 year track record. Micaela completed the Accomplishment Coaching training program in 2013, after years of successful development with her own coach. She is also a certified trainer in the Aha! Process, Bridges Out Of Poverty program. Micaela strongly believes that education is the gateway to empowerment, self-confidence and most of all — choice!
Per CEO, Chris Kuselias, “we are excited about the vision and direction that Micaela brings to our organization.” Micaela sees her new role with Career TEAM “as an extension of her experience as she expands her focus to the career readiness side of the student lifecycle”. Micaela has observed the Department of Education’s shift toward the gainful employment of graduates. As a result, she is most excited about exploring new ways of sharing Career Team’s 20 years of workforce development experience with partner institutions and, ultimately, with graduates.
A Cum Laude graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in International Business, Micaela lives in San Diego, CA, with her husband, Nick and their 9 month old son, Kai. They describe San Diego as, “living in nature’s playground,” where they enjoy spending time hiking, biking, and anything outdoors. They share a passion for travel, and can’t wait to expose Kai to different cultures around the globe!