Our Mission
is to help companies hire better and help job-seekers land their dream jobs.
Why Shift?
For years, I worked in recruiting and sat helpless as candidates and hiring managers made simple mistakes. I couldn’t feed them good answers. I couldn’t slip them a list of insightful questions to ask. And I certainly couldn’t give them any negotiating tips. I decided that what I wanted to do was teach people on both sides of the table how to interview.
Anna Papalia, Founder, SHIFT
An Interview With Anna
Can you tell me a little about your background?
Want to learn more about Anna? Download her resume.
By The Numbers
200+
3200+
30+
3200+
2500+
Our Coaches
Anna Papalia | Open Diplomat
Coach, Consultant & Keynote Speaker
Experience and Education
Drawn from her 10-plus years of experience in corporate recruiting, talent acquisition, training, and human resources she has developed the SHIFT profile an industry leading assessment, for jobe seekers and hiring managers to identify their interview style. Since launching SHIFT in 2011, Anna has served both private clients on an individual basis and large consulting projects with universities and corporations including Lincoln Financial Group and Temple University. She has helped students, entrepreneurs, senior executives, and job seekers of all ages shift into meaningful careers, gain confidence, prepare for interviews and negotiate job offers.
Anna has designed a life on her own terms. Independent since age 15, she went on to earn a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Her keen intelligence, inner strength, and people skills led to a thriving, decade-long career in the insurance and finance industries. Prior to founding SHIFT Philadelphia, Anna spent several years at Conner Strong & Buckelew, which ranks among the largest insurance brokerages in the country. As Manager of Recruiting and Workforce Development, she supervised the company’s recruiting efforts and was responsible for placing $7.2 million in salary dollars in just two years. After being promoted to Director of Talent Acquisition, she added an intern program and saved $2.2 million on recruiting fees. Prior to Papalia’s employment at Conner Strong & Buckelew, she was a contingent recruiter, securing and placing accounting and finance executives in Fortune 500 companies and privately owned businesses across all industries.
As a former corporate recruiter, Anna has an unparalleled window into what it takes to land not just any job—but the right job.
Why do you coach?
I love the process of helping clients discover what they want and being the person that helps them make it happen. My goal is to always get my clients where they want to go. Some clients don’t know where they want to go and I help them figure that out. Some clients know exactly what they want but keep failing to get there and it’s my job to dissect the reasons why. I think of myself as a human GPS. I act as a friendly reminder of what you want for yourself.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+ I am direct, no nonsense and I get it done.
+ I have taught thousands of clients how to interview. I know what it takes to get a job.
- I am incredibly focused and driven and achieving my goals takes over everything. Some days I tell myself the goal is to just relax.
- People tell me that they were intimidated when they first met me but once someone gets to know me they learn pretty quickly that’s not the case.
Personality Question: What's your spirit animal?
I would be an elephant. They are wise and have a great memory. They are protective and strong. They live in a supportive tribe and care for each other. And talk about confidence, elephants are so bold without saying a word. Have you ever seen an elephant that wasn’t impressive?
Deirdre Murray | Reserved Diplomat
Interview Coach
Experience and Education
Affectionately known as “the corporate social worker, Deirdre Murray has used her education and work history in social work as the foundation for her career in Human Resources. Her HR career includes experience in recruiting, HR Information Systems management, Data Analytics, Compensation, Employee Relations and her current passion – Coaching & Career Development. During the first half of her career, she counseled children and families whose lives were interrupted by criminal justice and foster care interventions. Working with children who had been removed from their homes fully prepared her for a career specialty of working with individuals in crisis – both in their personal and professional lives. Today, she provides counsel to leaders and employees who are experiencing conflict, individuals who are looking to grow in their career and business leaders who need support with Organizational Design and improving Team Dynamics.
Why do you coach?
It is a passion. Social work trains individuals “to meet your clients where they are”. It’s where all true transformation begins. All of us have the capacity to grow and do more than we ever dreamed possible. Deirdre’s goal as a coach is to be the conduit for people to transition their dreams into reality.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+ Communication and empathetic listening. People often walk away from conversations with Deirdre feeling heard and understood in a way that is unique.
- I am Focused on the now, some may see that as a low sense of urgency.
Personality Question: What's your spirit animal?
A wolf. Wolves are loyal and protective. Wolves raise their young in a pack practicing the adage of “it takes a village.” And I really do believe that is takes a village to change the world – and I have always wanted to save the world. I actively seek to make this world a better place in my pack of big hearted wolves.
David Orsi | Reserved Examiner
Data Analysis Consultant
Experience and Education
David comes from the suburbs of Boston, MA. He has held Actuarial positions at QBE and Liberty Mutual. He works as a Data Analysis Consultant at Shift and is the man behind the scoring and programming. A wizard with numbers, his dream job would be to run a sabermetric website.
What does David do in his spare time?
David is a member of a dozen fantasy sports leagues including multiple fantasy football leagues (he’s the commissioner in two), a fantasy basketball league, and a fantasy golf league. He loves to watch sports and study sports data.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+An excel guru
+Highly motivated
-Detail oriented loses sight of the big picture
-Tends not to review his work because he is too eager for the next task
Personality Question: If you wrote the autobiography of your life what would the title be?
Find me at Fenway.
Becky Davis | Open Diplomat
Interview Coach
Experience and Education
Becky has a B.A. in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University’s College of Education. Her training allows her to effectively coach adults in professional settings, design change management processes, facilitate group decision making, and develop organizational training programs. Becky began her career managing the exceptional teams of some of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants. Her experience staffing for this high turnover industry allows her to effectively help job-seekers position their skills and stand out among the rest.
Why do you coach?
I coach because I truly enjoy helping people navigate the interview and job search process, gain confidence in the skills they have, and get one step closer to their dream career. I have a first-hand understanding of how grueling this process can be, and I am committed to giving people the tools they need to make it less taxing and more fun.
Strengths and Weaknesses
+ My ability to make meaningful connections with people along a wide range of backgrounds. I enjoy making people feel welcomed and comfortable with their authentic selves.
+My customer service skills. From years of working in hospitality, I've learned creative ways to resolve difficult situations and understand guest issues.
-My biggest weakness is that I have a difficult time asking my colleagues for help. Because I value autonomy and independent thinking, I fear coming across incompetent or needy when I ask for assistance from someone else.
-I can be obsessed with efficiency and this makes me impatient. I'm learning to understand that there is a lot to learn from more detail-oriented peers.
Personality Question: If I were a type of pasta I would be?
Rainbow pasta salad. This dish allows for endless possibilities for creativity, works well as a side dish or an entree, and can be tailored to suit evolving taste palates.
“Anna has a natural ability to bring out your inner confidence. She gets results, too. I landed my number one job choice because no fear or anxiety held me back, thanks in no small part to Anna.”
-Temple University Fox School of Business Graduate
