The Konik Blueprint Podcast
The Konik Blueprint Podcast is for curious job seekers in architecture, engineering, and manufacturing disciplines. Your hosts, Jen Fitzke and Tom Goettl have over 40 years of combined technical recruiting experience in the Minneapolis, MN area and will share their perspective on what it takes to advance your career. Special guests will include technical leaders, professionals, and internal staff.
We aim to positively impact people’s lives by sharing insights that will enable professionals to advance their technical careers! Lean more about us at Koniknetwork.com!
Episode Twenty-eight
Negotiate Higher Pay and Benefits! Career Strategies for Uncertain Times Part III
Episode Twenty-seven
Safeguard Your Career from Layoffs and Thrive! Career Strategies for Uncertain Times!
While the job market for engineering and architecture professionals remains robust, macroeconomic indicators signal a potential slowdown.
Navigate the changing environment and grow your career regardless of what may come with our latest episode: “Career Strategies for Uncertain Times Part II”
Jen and Tom give their insights and perspectives on this timely topic for professionals at all levels!
Our expert hosts will cover:
• Technical Job Market Update!
• How to safeguard your career from adversity
• Foster growth for the months and years ahead
Episode Twenty-six
Career Strategies for Uncertain Times Part I
While the job market for engineering and architecture professionals remains robust, macroeconomic indicators signal a potential slowdown.
Navigate the changing environment and grow your career regardless of what may come during our three-part series, “Career Strategies for Uncertain Times”!
Konik Expert Hosts Jen Fitzke and Tom Goettl give their insights and perspectives on this timely topic for professionals at all levels!
We cover:
• Technical Job Market Update!
• How to set a Career Mindset and grow your career!
• What to consider when entering the job market during changing times!
Episode Twenty-five:
Health and Benefits Trends to Attract and Retain Your Talent!
Welcome to the 25th episode of the Konik Blueprint Podcast!
As companies start planning for 2023, health and benefits plans are a primary concern that helps their employees thrive and retains and attracts a company’s greatest resource.
What’s important to employees and candidates has greatly changed since the start of the pandemic. Have your benefits adapted to these new priorities?
We have an expert guest with us to help answer this very question. Greg Haffely, SVP, Employee Health & Benefits at Marsh McLennan Agency stopped by the Konik Blueprint Podast, recorded on LinedIn Live! We take a deep dive into what leading employers are changing to keep up with employees changing needs.
We cover:What are the latest Employee Health and Benefit trends?What are successful companies offering to take care of their people?How to best attract and retain a diverse workforce with your health and benefits plan?You’ll gain:*Expert insights into health and benefits trends of leading companies*2023 healthcare cost projections*Align Diversity and Inclusion goals to your benefit plans*Effective Mental Health InitiativesAbout Greg:Greg brings over 14 years of expertise from Marsh McLennan Agency, a global health and benefits leader. With a background in recruiting and staffing, he brings a personalized approach that offers great value to his audience with real-time insights and best practices.
Connect with Greg!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greghaffely/
Email: greg.haffely@marshmma.com
Episode Twenty-four:
Minnesota's Changing Workforce
Where have all the applicants gone?
Curious how lower college enrollment and higher retirement projections will impact your growth plans?
Listen to a special episode with Minnesota’s Senior Demographer, Megan Dayton!
Gain fresh insight into demographic trends that affect every Minnesota company and update your department and organization’s hiring strategy!
Episode Twenty-three:
What’s Up With The Engineering Job Market?
Hosts Jen Fitzke, Recruiting Lead, and Tom Goettl, President, chat about the changing economy and its impact on the job market! We take a deep dive into the overall demand for engineering, manufacturing, and architecture talent. Jen Fitzke shares her deep insights from over twenty years of Midwest engineering recruitment experience.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How is the engineering job market this summer
- What to expect when entering the job market
- How to decide if it’s the right time for you
Konik is a technical recruiting company focused on architecture, engineering, and manufacturing positions in the Midwest.
Connect with Jen:
LinkedIn
Email
Konik Website
Additional Resources:
Konik 3rd Quarter Outlook
Hey Manager, Can We Talk?
Episode Twenty-two:
What’s To Come In Supply Chain 2022-2023 with Industry Expert Emily LeVasseur
Supply chain expert Emily LeVasseur stopped by the Konik Blueprint Podcast with hosts Jen Fitzke and Tom Goettl for a great conversation on “What’s to come in supply chain 2022-2023”!
This fascinating conversation illuminates what’s to come with supply chain disruptions and what your company can do to mitigate risks and capitalize on the chaos that’s still to come!
Are continued supply chain disruptions creating chaos for your company?
Could you use the timely, expert insight into what lies ahead in the supply chain and how to create opportunities?
Are you concerned about being overstocked as the market turns?
Listen in to tackle all these issues and opportunities to grow your business!
Episode Twenty-one:
Grow Your Personal Identity and Career with LinkedIn Whisperer Anne Pryor!
Gain expert advice on how to tell and live your authentic story to work joyfully!
Listen in to a special episode with LinkedIn Whisperer, Anne Pryor!
Discover why personal identity building is critical for your career and personal development and easy steps to get started!
In this engaging conversation, you’ll:
• Understand the difference between Personal Identity and Personal Branding
• Develop your personal identity regardless of career tenure
• Learn how introverts can overcome hesitations to build their unique personal identity
• Be able to balance priorities of personal identity building with your very busy lives
About our Special Guest:
Anne Pryor is a top globally recognized LinkedIn Authority, known as the “LinkedIn Whisperer” she is a master at facilitating meaningful connections. She specializes in LinkedIn – creating online strategies, and coaching on thought leadership for c-level executives, business owners, recruiters, attorneys, and sales and marketing executives.
Anne has been featured in numerous books and is a frequent keynote speaker at corporate events, association meetings, and events in-person and online. Her philosophy is “what happens to you happens to me; we are here to do our greatest good and we need each other to do so.
Anne Pryor is a top globally recognized LinkedIn Authority, known as the “LinkedIn Whisperer” she is a master at facilitating meaningful connections. She specializes in LinkedIn – creating online strategies, and coaching on thought leadership for c-level executives, business owners, recruiters, attorneys, and sales and marketing executives.
Episode Twenty:
How to Attract and Retain a Team of Problems Solvers to Grow Your Business!
Our impactful conversation with Kirby Sneen, President of the Manufacturers Alliance, a 500+ member organization focusing on leadership development and fostering company growth!
In this insightful conversation, you’ll learn:
- How manufacturing companies are winning with Employee Value Propositions
- How other companies are training their employees to promote engagement and loyalty
- Solve the educational requirement dilemma facing manufacturing and engineering companies.
- Why leadership development is more important than ever
Konik is a technical recruiting and staffing company focused on engineering, manufacturing and architecture.
Episode Nineteen:
Career Strategies with Expert, Sol Rosenbaum, PE, CEM!
KONIK PRESENTS The Konik Blueprint LinkedIn Live Podcast!
Sol Rosenbaum, PE, CEM, aka, The Engineering Mentor, joins the Konik Blueprint Podcast for an insightful and entertaining conversation around career advice, leadership tips, and engineering workplace trends!
Tune in for a great conversation and great Q&A session around career and leadership with Sol, Jen, and Tom!
We cover Networking for Introverts, Is College Really Worth It?, and Salaries on Job Ads!
About Our Guest, Sol Rosenbaum, PE, CEM:
Founder of theengineeringmentor.com
Energy Engineer for 20 years
Master’s Degree, Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
Episode Eighteen:
AMA! LinkedIn Live Podcast | Competitive Pay | How to Stand Out | WFH!
This episode takes us to LinkedIn Live where Jen and Top cover timely topics including working from home, how to stand out as a candidate and how competitive pay information!
Episode Seventeen:
Advice for Interns! How to Prepare for Intern Success!
In this episode, we want to talk to our listeners preparing to apply and interview for internships. The tips we are about to share are the result of working with hundreds of entry-level and student candidates. What they did right and where improvement could be made, with tangible how-tos and takeaways throughout today’s discussion.
Episode Sixteen:
Counteroffers Covered! The Pro‘s, the Cons and How Everyone Can Avoid this Uncomfortable Situation!
Let’s talk about Counteroffers! As the job market continues to improve and candidates have multiple offers, companies are likely to offer upgraded compensation, benefits, and titles to keep their critical employees!
In this episode, Jen and Tom discuss preventing the Counteroffer situation that’s uncomfortable for everyone involved. We discuss why accepting an offer to stay isn’t a great idea, but also why employees do accept counter offers and the authentic reasons why employees entertain counteroffers.
Learn from the experts on how employees and candidates can still get what they want from their current employers before starting their job search. You’ll gain invaluable insight on preventing the situations and how you can improve your career in the process!
Episode Fifteen:
How to perform your best work and collaborate effectively with Workplace Social Spaces Expert, Caitlin Wolff!
Workplace Social Spaces Expert, Caitlin Wolff!
As a degreed interior designer from UW-Stout, Caitlin has spent the last 11 years tackling nearly all aspects of our industry including Perkins & Will and Target Corporation. Today, Caitlin is a Social Spaces Specialist at Haworth, one of the world’s largest furniture manufacturers. A furniture nerd to the core, Caitlin loves hosting conversations that guide organizations to rethink their space as a destination for people to gather, connect and restore. She’s a Jill of all trades personally and professionally with interests in stop-motion photography, marketing, podcasting, calligraphy, and renovating her 100yr old home in Saint Paul with her husband and two toddlers.
In this educational episode, we cover:
- Why are social spaces important in the workplace?
- Resiliency in the workplace explained!
- What are the trends in workplace design right now?
- What are the top three home office design tips?
- What is the future of the office?
- Lightning Round Questions!
Episode Fourteen:
Grow Your Career with Dunwoody College! A conversation with Rob Borchardt!
On this episode of The Konik Blueprint Podcast, Rob Borchardt, Director of Student Life and Career Services at Dunwoody College shares his insights into the esteemed college of technology and what makes them different. You’ll learn so much about the college, their philosophy on Education, and how students enter and build their careers with Dunwoody!
- What is the difference between a degree from Dunwoody Technical College and a liberal arts college?
- What are the trends in new programs? For instance, we are starting to get requests for mechatronics.
- What precipitated Dunwoody’s evolution to four-year degree programs?
- What efforts does Dunwoody take to reach students of color and women to both enroll and support them during their educational careers?
- Can high school students choose Dunwoody as a PSEO option?
- What is the job market like for Dunwoody graduates?
Episode Thirteen:
Adam Naryka, Eagle Group of Minnesota Veterans
Adam Naryka, President of Eagle Group of Minnesota Veterans joins the Konik Blueprint Podcast for a very insightful and powerful conversation with Jen and Tom! Adam is extremely passionate about his work with the group and shares his thoughts with us.
We cover a wide range of topics and questions including:
- How does a veteran’s job search differ from that of a civilian?
- What resources does Eagle Group of MN Veterans have available for people?
- The Eagle Group also has a Women’s Leadership Task Force. Can you tell us about their mission and the work they are doing?
- How has the organization had to pivot over the last year and a half due to the pandemic?
- What should someone expect of the meetings once back in person?
- How can people connect with or support the organization?
Episode Twelve:
The Interview Follow-Up! Keep the Post Interview Convo Going!
Episode 12! In the final three-part series, Jen and Tom discuss the art of following up after your interview and keep the conversation moving towards your offer!
- The Thank You Letter: Paper letter or email?
- How to ask an internal referral about interview feedback.
- How to call the interviewer to discuss the next steps.
- What to do if you have not heard back from the manager when you’d hoped.
Episode Eleven:
How to Prepare for Your Interview! Expert Advice to Land Your Dream Job!
Episode 11! Jen and Tom focus on preparing for the interview to land your dream job!
You’re the subject matter expert in your field and role. Focus on your strengths and b relaxed heading into the meeting.
The Hiring Manager wants you to get the job! Knowing the manager wants you to win changes your mindset heading into the meeting.
Practice visualization: Think thru your interview and imagine what questions you would ask and answer these questions to help you prepare.
How to research the interviewer to learn common interests and backgrounds
How do you prepare differently for a Zoom interview vs. in-person?
Episode Ten:
Expert Resume Tips! How to Optimize Your Resume for Success!
Episode 10! Jen and Tom dive into a three-part series including The Resume, The Interview, and The Interview Follow-up!
In the first of three episodes, Jen and Tom have a great discussion around The Resume and share tips, tricks, and how to optimize your
- What makes a great resume?
- What are resume pet peeves for Recruiters and Hiring Managers?
- How long should a resume be?
- Should References be included on the resume?
Episode Nine:
LinkedIn Whisperer, Anne Pryor! Fire Up Your Job Search and Networking Results with LinkedIn!
On this episode, we have a blast with the “LinkedIn Whisperer” Anne Pryor! Anne is an engaging and high-energy guest, and gives you a TON of useful tips to enhance your profile. Whether you want to improve your online personal brand, or get serious about your career search, this podcast has great takeaways and to-do’s in store!
Episode Eight:
Fractional Operations Leader, Bruce Roles!
Bruce Roles, Fractional Operations Leader, joined us to discuss the world of fractional work! He walks us through exactly what this is and offered great insights and tips for this rewarding career path.
We discussed what fractional leaders need to consider when starting out, and how to work with companies who need experts on a fractional basis. We also covered what companies can do to ensure a successful working relationship when hiring a consultant.
Episode Seven:
Mental Health: How to Seek and Ask for Help at Work
Tyler shares actionable advice that both employees and leaders can do to improve overall health and wellbeing in the workplace. Having the courage to seek help when you need it and lean on your manager and peers for help are critical steps everyone can take.
Episode Six:
Meet the Konik Recruiting Team!
Jen Fitzke visits with the recruiting staff and gets to know each on a personal level!
At :25, Ian Rada, Technical Recruiter talks about his background and his niche recruiting areas at Konik!
At 4:30, Katelyn Herrera, Technical Recruiter, share’s what she’s most looking forward to for the remainder of the year!
At 6:05, Colleen O’Neil, Senior Technical Recruiter chats about her 23 years with the company and her focus on architecture, interior design, and structural engineering roles. She shares about meeting Kathy Carlsen and Troy Harper and how her role has changed over the years!
At 11:10, Sam Rima, Senior Technical Recruiter, shares what he loves about his role and why he joined Konik. Sam chats about how the company’s focus on our community has impacted his work enjoyment.
Episode Five:
Meet the Konik Sales Team and our Business Manager!
At :25, Account Executive Billie Darkenwald talks about joining the company and what she’s most looking forward to this year!
At 6:35, Business Development Manager, Tracy Barnacle discusses what appealed to her about Konik and how our Response-Ability Campaign inspires her!
At 13:00, Business Development Manager, Nick Pino discusses his background and his role with Konik! He shares his experience starting with a new company and role during the pandemic.
At 24:20, Katty Peterson, Business Manager, discusses her background with the company and the many changes she’s experienced during her time with Konik! Katty chats about what she loves most about her role.
Episode Four:
Meet our Director, Chanell!
Learn more about our Director, Chanell Leach-De Steno, and why she joined Konik!
Chanell visits with cohosts Jen Fitzke and Tom Goettl and shares the biggest lessons she’s learned over the past 1 1/2 years during the pandemic and working remotely. She shares the challenges of managing a remote team and why it’s incredibly important to not miss one-on-one meetings.
Episode Three:
Konik VP, Tom Goettl! Get to Know the Cohost!
Tom Goettl discusses with Jen Fitzke and Brad Konik his journey to finding the company and why he returned for a second time.
Tom shares his thoughts on acquiring PrimeStaff, the biggest changes in the recruiting industry and in the company.
Episode Two:
Konik President, Brad Konik! Elevate Your Vision and Impact More Lives!
In our second episode, Brad Konik speaks with Jen Fitzke and Tom Goettl about elevating Konik’s vision and what impact this has on not only our contract employees, internal employees, and customers, but our local community.
Brad reminisces on his father, George Konik, and how he impacted him and the company.