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Jesse Moryn

Giving Back During the 2019 Holiday Season

December 2, 2019 by Jesse Moryn Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again! The time when we get together with family and friends to exchange gifts, reflect on the previous year, and give back in our own small ways. To focus on our core value of Giving Time, Wisdom, and Resources, we wanted to thank our consultants for such an amazing year of giving and highlight a few of the ways the Keyot team has given back to our communities in 2019.

In May, Keyot consultants in Charlotte created cards with words of encouragement for the children of Levine Children’s Hospital and also collected items to donate such as toys, games, and books:

Charlotte Give Back Event May 2019

 

In August, Keyot sponsored the 2019 Wells Fargo TMPS Charity Golf Classic, raising money for The American Cancer Society, The Bennett Clayton Foundation, and Vail Place:

Keyotville 2019

 

At the end of August, we packed 684 meals for Meals from the Heartland:

Meals for the heartland 2019

 

And in October, we packed 5944 meals for The Sheridan Story:

Keyot at the Sheridan Story 2019

 

In mid-November, our Iowa Keyot Holiday Party wrapped gifts for Hawthorn Hill:

Iowa Keyot Holiday Party 2019 Group Photo

 

And at the end of November, our Minnesota Keyot Holiday Party wrapped gifts for Lifetrack:

Minnesota Keyot Holiday Party 2019 Group Pic

To close out the year, in Mid-December we will also be wrapping gifts for a non-profit in Charlotte, NC called Gracious Hands. Can’t wait!

 

Other Give Back Ideas

We asked our back office team about some of the ways they like to give back! Check them out for more give back ideas this holiday season:

I love to volunteer at different places around the Twin Cities like Feed My Starving Children.

-Laura Jensen

 

I volunteer through the MN Society of CPA’s.  Last year I worked with BestPrep and went to a local school to talk about taxes to Juniors and Seniors in high school.  I am on their list if they ever get a request for someone to come speak about the CPA profession or a related topic.

My nephew also does gifts for the homeless in Mpls and St. Paul every year.  We purchase necessity items and gifts cards, wrap them and then disperse to pass them out.  The challenge is finding them in their actual environment and then having them accept the gift.

-Diane Brass

 

I give back through Big Brothers Big Sisters – spend a couple hours every month with my little sister of 7+ years

-Erin Byriel

 

We volunteer a lot for our church youth groups, foster care and a local food pantry stacking/organizing food.

-Aaron Stratman

 

I was recently a dog adoption coordinator at the Animal Humane Society. As a dog adoption coordinator, I helped customers connect with and learn about animals in our care to make good adoption matches. Volunteers would set up visitations with potential customers and share the behavioral and health histories of our animals. We also helped socialize the dogs and give them exercise.

AHS is a fabulous organization, and being an avid dog lover who can’t own a dog in my current circumstances, it was a great way to connect with and help dogs in need find their forever homes.

-Haley Madsen

 

These all sound like normal Delivery Manager things, but I’m referring to conversations with friends, family, connections, etc:

-Resume help / tailoring for specific job opportunities/industries
-Talking about what to prepare for in an interview
-Provide industry insights and updates to those looking to build their career
-Donate to local organizations and/or Make-A-Wish! There’s several organizations in our own city that support issues we often don’t even know exist!

-Andrew Reiter

 

One thing I like to do sometimes is pay for the person behind me in line, like at the McDonalds drive-thru, Starbucks, or for ice cream.

-Haley Meissen

 

As you can see, there are plenty of ways we can all get involved to give back. We want to thank our team once again for their generous spirits and a wonderful year of serving our communities. We can’t wait to see what 2020 holds and are looking forward to another great year!

Filed Under: General, Giving Back

Dispelling the Scary Myths of Consulting

October 31, 2019 by Jesse Moryn Leave a Comment

Halloween Jack O Lantern

For those outside of the industry, there tend to be several myths and misconceptions about what it’s like to be a consultant. These myths can be attributed to several sources, but mostly come from outdated views on what the industry is like today. In this post, we’ll be dispelling a few of these myths and looking at testimony from Keyot consultants on what it’s like to work as a consultant with us.

 

Myth #1: Being a Number vs. Being a Person

The idea that recruiters are just trying to place consultants to make a quick buck couldn’t be further from the truth. At Keyot, our recruiting team works very hard to get to know our candidates and place them in roles we think they’ll love. Here’s a note from one of our consultants, Rachel D.:

“I always had the misconception that when approached by a recruiter, they’d only be in it for themselves and once they found me a new job I wouldn’t hear from them again. Something was very different about Keyot’s approach. Perhaps it was my circumstances that pushed me to continue conversations with them but the beauty of it is, the moment I chose to become a consultant, I have been supported since day one.”

 

Myth #2: Consultants are ‘Lone Wolves’

This myth is based on the idea that consultants don’t receive any support from the consulting firm once they start and won’t be contacted until it’s time to renew their contract. Keyot is not one of those firms!

Our Delivery Managers check in regularly with consultants to see how they’re doing and help resolve any issues that come up during the engagement. We also use what we call a “whole-person” approach to consultant support, as it provides support in three ways: individually, professionally, and developmentally. You can read more about it on our website here. Here are some thoughts from consultants about the support they receive:

“I love consulting for the amazing support provided by Keyot! It can be intimidating going into an organization as a new consultant, but my delivery manager has supported me every step of the way!” -Angela S.

“I enjoy being a consultant because I am still learning new things, acclimating myself within a large corporation and opening myself up to help people where I can. There have been some challenges getting off the ground running, but Keyot has been in my corner and working alongside me to find the right position that will allow my previous work experience to flourish and benefit the organization I am a part of.” -Rachel D.

 

Myth #3: If / When my Engagement Ends, I’m On My Own

Keyot works with our consultants before their engagements end to either get an extension with the client or find a new engagement. We want to support our consultants however we can, and this includes helping them find their next engagement. From Keyot Consultant Molly M:

“Well in advance of the contract end date, my delivery manager works with me and my onsite manager to determine next steps so that there isn’t any gap in work for the client or for me and to ensure that everyone is happy. If this means reassignment, the delivery manager assists in the search.”

 

A Few Other Pros of Working in Consulting

Rather than just dispelling myths, we also have testimony from our consultants on some of the ways they’ve benefited by entering the consulting world. Here are a few of them:

“Consulting has given me the opportunity to collaborate with new and different groups of people.”

“Consulting has contributed to my career advancement due to my exposure to new and different technologies, applications and methodologies.”

“I chose consulting because it is the perfect way to find out if a company truly lives by their values before committing yourself to that company.”

“Being an hourly employee (versus salaried) gave me pause, and it initially felt like a burden to track/submit. However, it quickly became routine, and I even prefer it now, knowing that I will be paid for all hours worked.”

“I think what intrigued me the most was knowing that I could have the potential of being assigned positions that I may not have otherwise applied for on my own.”

 

Final Thoughts

There are certainly more misconceptions that we could tackle, but those listed above are a few of the main ones we encounter. Also, there are still firms where you may experience what we’ve debunked as myths, but that’s not how we do things at Keyot.

If you have any questions or want to know more about the Keyot process, don’t be afraid to reach out to one of our recruiters or email us at info@keyot.com! Consulting really isn’t as scary as it may seem. Keyot wants all our candidates and consultants to be as excited as we are about everything this industry has to offer!

Filed Under: Career Advice, From Our Consultants - Testimonials, General

Career Fair Tips from Crew212

September 17, 2019 by Jesse Moryn Leave a Comment

career fair tips from Crew212

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing, students are back on campus, and upperclassmen are busy forming their post-graduation plans. For Crew212, that means it’s recruiting season! If you want to make the most of this year’s career fair at your school, here are some tips on putting your best foot forward.

  1. Bring Extra Copies of Your Resume

You should plan to leave your resume with every company you interact with – this means you need to bring plenty of copies!

  1. Dress for Success

Look the part when you go to the career fair! Most career fairs will have a business professional dress code, or business casual at the very least. A few days before the career fair, take some time to make sure you have an outfit ready. This means your outfit is ironed, clean, and ready to wear into a professional setting.

  1. Do Your Research

Look up the companies who will be at your career fair. Not only will you be able to form a game plan about which companies you really want to meet, but you’ll also be able to do some preliminary research about the organizations. Knowing about the company ahead of time is a surefire way to get a recruiter’s attention! Having said that, keep an open mind if you see a company at the career fair that may be of interest, even if you didn’t get a chance to research them ahead of time.

  1. Master Your Elevator Pitch

Your elevator pitch is the quick synopsis of who you are and what you do, a Cliff Notes intro that you can say within the span of a short elevator ride. Your elevator pitch should be no longer than 30-40 seconds! If you practice your elevator pitch and have it ready to go, you’ll be more confident and time efficient when you introduce yourself to recruiters.

  1. Ask Thoughtful Questions

This one ties back into doing your research. The worst thing you can do at a career fair is ask obvious questions about a company – information that is readily available on their website or with a quick google search. Ask more open-ended questions that open the possibility of a conversation with the recruiter. If you ask something as simple as “what does your company do?”, you’re not making a great first impression.

  1. Maintain Engaging Eye Contact and Body Language

This is an area of improvement for many people, but fortunately body language and eye contact are both things that can be improved with practice. Make sure you’re showing the recruiter that you’re engaged in the conversation and genuinely want to talk to them. Nothing is worse than coming across as disinterested or distracted!

  1. Gather Business Cards

Get business cards from the recruiters you talk to. You can use their contact information to follow up after the career fair, whether it be with more questions or simply to thank them for their time. Expressing your gratitude and showing further interest in an organization can go a long way towards landing an interview!

  1. Follow Up with Recruiters

Tied in with the last point, it’s important that you follow up with the companies you’re interested in. Keep in mind that while you were meeting with a few different companies, each of those companies were meeting literally hundreds of candidates. Following up can be crucial in standing out from your peers.

  1. Enjoy Yourself

Career fairs often have the unfortunate perception of being stuffy, formal and competitive, with the end goal being landing an interview with the best companies over your peers. If you go in with that mindset, you miss the opportunity to meet the people around you and really enjoy the process of figuring out where you want to be after graduation. On the other hand, if you go in with an open mind and set out to enjoy yourself and meet some great people, you’ll be happier and will come across as an even more likable candidate.

Filed Under: Career Advice, College Graduates, Crew212, Recruiting

Finding a Mentor in the Workplace

September 5, 2019 by Jesse Moryn Leave a Comment

overhead view of two people having coffee together

This guest post is by Ellie Gerst, Crew212 member. Thank you for your great insight, Ellie!

You’re swimming. Cruising through fluorescent-dappled water, exploring corporate castles and finding your place amongst the glittery pebbles and fake seaweed. Consulting can feel like you’re in a fish tank. You’re a piece of the office – a part of the team, but an invisible barrier separates you from the rest. A mentor can be the hammer that breaks the glass.

Why You Should Find a Mentor

A mentor is a living, breathing textbook for your workplace. A resource to get ahead, both in networking and in learning about your business. Maybe they have the same position as you, but have been with the company longer. Maybe they have the position you see yourself in down the line. Maybe their job is completely unrelated to you, but their network could offer you opportunities. Whatever the case, they have connections and insight about your company that could make a huge difference in understanding your role and building relationships within your workplace.

How to Find a Good Mentor

So how do you find a mentor? There are many ways! This can range from asking a fellow co-worker or cube mate to grab coffee once a month, to being formally paired by your manager or a digital pairing tool on your company’s internal website. Here are some other tips to get you started:

  • Ask your leadership what capacity you have for mentorship and what resources are available to you.
  • Get to know the people who sit with you, even if you don’t work together directly.
  • Participate in, or even plan yourself, team engagement activities.

The initiative to seek out a mentor exhibits both interest in your company and a commitment to growth within your role. 

How to Effectively Utilize a Mentor

After finding a mentor, the question becomes, what to do? Ask questions. A lot of them. Bring an agenda of sorts to your meetings. Don’t force conversations — but do facilitate. Make it easy for them and let them know that you appreciate the time they are giving you. That being said, don’t feel discouraged if your first mentor relationship isn’t what you expected.  You may not land with a perfect match, especially if you are paired randomly, but you are guaranteed to learn something.

Building a network in the workplace is so important in feeling like you’ve broken the fish tank barrier of being new or contracted. If mentorship is an option for you, it could make a huge difference in your consulting experience.

Filed Under: Career Advice, College Graduates, Crew212

Trailblazers: Women Succeeding in STEM

May 2, 2019 by Jesse Moryn Leave a Comment

TrailblazersLIVE Logo

Trailblazers April 2019 was a huge success! We would like to thank everyone who made these events possible, both for their support of Trailblazers and for their tireless dedication to helping and inspiring the young women who attend these events. We would also like to thank our hosts for kindly allowing us the use of their space and for being such great partners over the past few months – North Hennepin Community College & Mall of America in the Twin Cities and Corteva Agriscience in Des Moines.

What are Trailblazers Panel Events?

Trailblazers events are educational panel events that Keyot facilitates on a semi-annual basis and are a large part of the way we “give back” to our communities. They create mentorship opportunities by providing young women a chance to meet with other women who are currently employed in STEM and get to know more about what these jobs are like.

This program arose from our founders’ own experiences as women in STEM and their desire to provide guidance to young women who may be considering going into STEM, but who have questions or don’t know where to start. These programs also hope to bring some diversity to our STEM communities, because despite being 50% of the US workforce, women compose less than 25% of STEM workers. For reference, in college, President Anjie Cayot was the only girl in her entire MIS program!

To pull an event together, we start by reaching out to a small number of local women who are working in STEM jobs, who are typically 5 to 10 years into their careers. These women form our panels. We then invite young women from the surrounding community to attend a two-hour event – attendee ages range from early high school to early college.

At the event, the panelists share their stories with attendees and talk a little bit about their backgrounds, what they do for a living, and what a typical day in their jobs is like. Once we make it through all the panelists, we break into small groups so attendees can meet the panelists and ask them any questions they might have.

Trailblazers events give young women the opportunity to meet women just like them, albeit a few years older, so they can really imagine themselves pursuing these types of careers. Our panelists come from all sorts of backgrounds and have all taken different paths to get to where they are today – the one thing they have in common is that they’re all succeeding today as women in STEM and want to inspire others to follow suit. We feel incredibly fortunate for all the young women we’ve been able to impact so far and look forward to many more Trailblazers events – we hope to see you at the next one!

 

Some Pictures From Our April 2019 Trailblazers Events

North Hennepin Community College

Our first April event was held on Tuesday, April 16th at North Hennepin Community College. Our panel featured a Manufacturing Engineer, a Business Analyst, a Research Biotechnologist, an Extracorporeal Therapies Scientist, an Epidemiologist, a Manufacturing Biotechnician, and a Physician Assistant.

Robbyn W, Research Biotechnologist at Cargill, explains what she does with the help of a prop – a baby chick stuffed animal meant to represent a microbe.

 

North Hennepin Trailblazers 2019 2
Alejandra J, Extracorporeal Therapies Scientist at Medtronic, was kind enough to bring along a complicated piece of medical technology related to her job.

 

North Hennepin Trailblazers 2019 3
Alyssa S, Manufacturing Engineer at Teleflex, connects with Trailblazers attendees face to face during our small group breakout session. Behind her, Skarlett S, Business Analyst with Surescripts, can be seen doing the same.

 

North Hennepin Trailblazers 2019 4
Keyot President Anjie Cayot along with Keyot Partner Chandler Cayot lead a special parents breakout session to answer questions from the parents of our attendees.

 

Corteva Agriscience

Our second event was on Thursday, April 18th at Corteva Agriscience in Johnston, Iowa, just north of Des Moines. For this event, our panel featured a Software Developer, a Project Engineer, a Mechanical Engineer, a Business Analyst, and an Agricultural Research Scientist.

Corteva Agriscience Trailblazers April 2019 1
Cindy Rockwell, Managing Partner and CIO of Keyot, kicks things off at our Des Moines Trailblazers event at Corteva Agriscience.

 

Corteva Agriscience Trailblazers April 2019 2
A fisheye view of the great venue provided by Corteva Agriscience while our panelists are introduced.

 

Mall of America

Our second Minnesota event was also on Thursday, April 18th, located at Mall of America. Our panel for this event featured a Project Coordinator, a Lean Process/Quality Engineer, an R&D Scientist, an IT Security Analyst, a Data Engineer, a Software Developer, an Application Analyst, and an Engineer working in Water Resource Planning for Cities.

Mall of America Trailblazers April 2019 1
A shot of our Mall of America panelists along with President Anjie Cayot and former panelist/emcee Jessica T. – MOA did a great job of decorating and created this fun ‘STEM’ balloon display for a picture backdrop!

 

Mall of America Trailblazers April 2019 2
All our great panelists listen while Danielle R, a Lean Process Engineer and Quality Engineer at WCCO Belting, tells us about what she does.

 

Mall of America Trailblazers April 2019 3
Lots of attendees for our Mall of America event – we appreciate everyone who was able to join us!

 

Thank you again to all who attended a Trailblazers event in April! If you have any questions about Trailblazers or would like to be kept in the loop about when our next event is, feel free to reach out to us at info@keyot.com!

Filed Under: Giving Back

Change Management: Micro and Macro

March 29, 2019 by Jesse Moryn 1 Comment

Change Neon Sign

This post was written by Jeanine Rickson, Director of Recruiting

Hats off to all you Change Management professionals and all the consultants who have built change management muscle over the years. My husband and I recently sold our home and 10 acres in Wisconsin and downsized to a much smaller condo in Stillwater. We are 2 people who couldn’t know each other better. We initiated this change, no one was doing it to us. Intellectually we were on board; we were change agents, change champions. Yet, when it finally happened, we weren’t as emotionally prepared as we thought we were.

Throughout the process we both had triggers that impacted our “project” and our plans. We had moments of paralysis and others of “what the heck is the other one doing or thinking” e.g. Why on earth would my husband put 2 measuring tapes in the kitchen towel drawer?! I won’t tell you about my idiosyncrasies. Some paths forward seemed easy and clear to me and others a dense fog of uncertainty. Bottom line, however macro the change, we feel it and respond to it on a personal, micro level.

In the project and client world, teams undergoing change may or may not know each other well and may or may not even like each other. They may be all on board for the change and still hit a momentary stall over an old process they helped build years ago – one that represented a significant moment in their career lives and that they find hard to just toss away.

The rate and volume of change is incredible today. From a recent Forbes article: “It’s clear that keeping up with the rate of digital advancement – for example automation, harnessing big data, emerging technologies and cyber security – will pose significant challenges for future leaders, including our own graduates, and will add a whole new layer of complexity as they try to stay ahead of competitors and innovate,” said Roland Siegers, CEMS executive director.

What we are seeing is that Agile as a framework has increased that velocity – our clients are transforming to stay ahead and innovate faster. Having said that, organizations also reach moments of paralysis or change fatigue. You are living it every day and building your skills.

I would love to hear your change management stories: successes, observations, struggles and wisdom. You know I love a good story! I can be reached at jeanine@keyot.com.

Filed Under: Career Advice

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