Between
Starbucks and FootLocker, Taylor Calvin had 10 years of experience
in management when she walked into the Edwards Jones Diversity
Career Fair last November.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She came away a strong potential for an interview, and by January she was working in the contact management and marketing department as a service specialist.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Calvin understands how applying for a position at Edward Jones may feel intimidating without a financial background.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I didn’t know anything about equities,” Calvin said. “That’s one thing to point out. You don’t have to have experience in the financial industry. Jones is really good about training you to be successful in that position.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Edward Jones will host a diversity career fair from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the firm’s headquarters, 12555 Manchester Road in Des Peres.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>About 15 percent of the associates at Edward Jones’s St. Louis headquarters are minorities. And the financial services firm would like to attract more, said Regina DeLuca-Imral, media coordinator and member of the company’s inclusion council.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>So far, seven associates were hired as a result of last year’s fair. Calvin and her sister are two of them. Calvin remembers the fair clearly. She and her sister arrived at the beginning and had spent a good hour walking around meeting people. Calvin was taking a rest when Craig Basler, a general partner in the service division, came up and introduced himself.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“In the service division, we are looking to hire that talent,” Basler said. “It’s rare that someone comes in off the street and they already know about finance. I can train a person in finance, but it’s hard to train the personality. Her ease of relating to me and the environment was attractive as well.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As their conversation went on, Basler was able to see that her personality was a natural fit for the service department, he said. She also articulated well the different roles and responsibilities she took on at FootLocker and Starbucks.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We can teach you the financial aspect, but you are bringing these natural assets to the table,” he said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Basler recommended that she apply for a position in the department, and even helped her connect with the person who would arrange an interview.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Calvin said even though most of her interactions with people are now through phone calls, she said her years of dealing with customers face-to-face made for good practice.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The company has opportunities for professionals in finance, internal audit, service, information systems, marketing, operations, human resources, training and development and compliance.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The Diversity Career Fair is a unique opportunity to meet Edward Jones associates and leaders and learn more about the exciting careers available at the firm,” said Emily Pitts, Edward Jones’ principal responsible for inclusion and diversity.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The career fair also is aimed at attracting candidates for the financial advisor and branch office administrator roles in St. Louis and around the country.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>At 5 p.m. that evening, Edward Jones’ principal responsible for human resources, Anthony McBride, will welcome attendees and share a few words about careers at Edward Jones.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Part of our mission is to help drive the value of diversity in our home offices,” said Basler, who also sits on the company’s inclusion council of 20 members.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The whole intent of the fair was to open the company’s eyes to the networks and diversity available, he said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The career fair brings in pools of talent that I might not normally see,” he said. “You hope that talent would come to us, but we also have to go out and seek that talent, and the career fair is one of those opportunities.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Fair attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the event by sending an email to
“mailto:STLCareers@edwardjones.com”>
“text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;”>STLCareers@edwardjones.com Additionally, jobseekers may submit a resume to this address, whether or not they attend the event.
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