Summer '08
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 04:19 — The Johnson Group
Welcome
Merry Christmas, and welcome to the summer edition of The Johnson Group newsletter.
With the election over and a new government in place, we now have the certainty of an exciting policy programme. Experienced, skilled public servants will be needed to put these plans into action – which is where The Johnson Group comes in.
As the only recruitment firm to specialise in public sector placement and advice, we’re so convinced of the future strength of the public sector that we’ve chosen this time to expand. We’re delighted to welcome Campbell Hepburn onboard in our newly-created role of General Manager (read more about Campbell below). With Campbell on the team, I’ll have more time to focus on senior recruitment and developing the business.
With a change of government, there’ll be a strong demand for quality candidates. The focus will be on capability, rather than capacity.
We talk to hiring managers in all parts of the public sector, and we’re happy to share that information with you to help you plan your career development. Call us today to discuss where you’d like your career to be heading in 2009.
Leigh and Campbell
Code of Social Responsibility Award Winner
We’re delighted to announce that The Johnson Group has won an award from the RCSA (Recruitment & Consulting Services Association) for Corporate Social Responsibility for Best Development Initiative in the Small Business category. The award was presented at the ‘State of the Industry’ dinner in Melbourne which also celebrated recruitment companies’ efforts to help the environment and the community.
This award recognised our work with Victoria University’s Skilled Migrant Programme. We’re passionate about helping migrants find appropriate, meaningful work, and about increasing employers’ access to the global talent pool.
On the subject of awards, Leigh and Melissa recently attended the EEO Trust Work & Life Awards in November. The entry we submitted was also based on our involvement in the Skilled Migrant Programme.
While we didn’t win – the standard of entries was exceptionally high - we received very positive feedback on our work.
Campbell Keen to Attract Talent
Campbell Hepburn, our new General Manager, has specialised in government and IT&T recruitment. He has spent the past 13 years working in recruitment in Wellington, most recently as National Manager of a global recruitment firm.
He is passionate about developing future leadership capability and attracting talent to New Zealand. “I admire the enormous commitment public sector agencies have to New Zealand’s future,” says Campbell.
“This is an exciting time for the public sector, and it’s good to be part of a business that has earned itself a strong reputation for giving candidates the advice and support they need to plan their career transitions.”
Out of working hours, Campbell enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, keeping fit and gardening. He has a particular interest in environmental issues and Maori culture.
The Public Sector Under National
We remain upbeat about employment prospects in the public sector. “We think the public sector labour market will favour those who can bring increased capability,” Leigh says. “And this in turn means more challenging opportunities for candidates of high calibre.”
The National government has a range of new initiatives it wants to pursue, and it’ll need highly knowledgeable public servants to make these happen. Active self management of your professional development will put you in the driver’s seat. We recommend that you do a stock take of your skills, capabilities and experience, work out which ones you need to develop or improve and then progress a plan to make sure this happens.
If you’d like to talk to us about how to develop your career, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.
IPANZ Celebrates Public Sector Excellence
IPANZ has been receiving nominations for awards to recognise excellence in the public sector.
The IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards celebrate projects that have achieved great results in one of five categories: developing capability, managerial leadership, Crown-Maori relationships, joined-up government, and working together. For more details, go to www.ipanzawards.org.nz
Aussie Exodus to New Zealand
Growing numbers of Australian workers are opting to make New Zealand their home.
More than 75,000 left Australia permanently over the past year, which is the country’s biggest annual exodus on record. Of those who left, the biggest group – of about 14,000 people – came to New Zealand.
The number of Australians moving to New Zealand permanently has almost doubled in the past decade, according to Council of Trade Unions economist Peter Conway. For more details, go to http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719478a11.html
Leigh says the Australian experience shows how mobile careers have become. “You can gain experience in other parts of the world, and gain great transferable skills that are very valued if you choose to come back to New Zealand.”
Fill a Christmas Box
Wellington City Mission is The Johnson Group’s corporate charity, and we’re encouraging our candidates to help the mission with its Christmas appeal.
This Christmas, the mission will supply food and toys to many thousands of adults and children who would otherwise go without. It will also give food and toys to other social service agencies providing emergency and temporary housing throughout Wellington.
You can help the mission by donating toys (unwrapped), cash or food – particularly Christmas foodstuffs such as Christmas puddings, mince pies, cakes and chocolates. If you’d like your workplace to get involved, pick up one of the mission’s decorated Christmas boxes to fill with seasonal cheer.
For more details, phone Dan Boyd on 477 5966/mobile 027 355 5222, or email dan@wgtncitymission.org.nz
Improve Your Writing Skills
Using clear, concise language in your CV can help put you ahead of the competition.
Chris Travers, of Write Group, says CVs should be written in language that is as clear, simple and powerful as possible. CVs can include technical language appropriate for the job, but should not be full of jargon.
Write Group is promoting a new document quality mark, called the WriteMark, to encourage the use of plain English. For tips on writing clearly and concisely, go to www.write.co.nz
On the Move
Congratulations to Johnson Group candidate Reid Hodges, who has taken up a role as an analyst with the Tertiary Education Commission.
Reid spent the past two years at the Ministry of Education, most recently in a project management position as a New Schools Facilitator. He decided to concentrate on educational research after leaving university because he felt he could make more of a difference there than in the classroom.
“The TEC is a very stimulating environment,” says Reid. “Everyone is passionate about what they do, so they are constantly taking on new challenges.”
We Need Your Clothes
The New Horizons for Women Trust is holding its fourth annual Pre-Loved Fashion Sale next March to raise money to help women with no qualifications to embark on tertiary education for the first time, and to fund research into issues of interest to women.
If you have good-quality, contemporary items of clothing that you can spare – including bags, scarves and even jewellery – please email lynnmckenzie@paradise.net.nz with your address and phone number.
The sale will be held from 9am to noon on Saturday, 21 March at St Andrew’s on the Terrace church hall in Wellington.
Quarter of Online Time is Personal
More than a quarter of the time workers spend online at work is for personal reasons, according to a new survey.
The most common websites visited by web surfers at work were online trading sites, chatrooms and peer-to-peer sharing sites. The survey also found that 80% of emails sent by volume in the workplace are personal.
For more details, go to http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10534055
Job Doctor
“As a job candidate, is there any advantage to me in being asked to take a psychometric test by a potential employer?”
Jay, Newtown
Psychometric testing is a fairer way of assessing a candidate’s qualities than relying on an interviewer’s subjective opinion, according to Sue Sommerville, of OPRA Consulting Group.
“In interviews, it’s tempting to hire someone who is like you, rather than someone who fits the role. And if a candidate answers the first question well, the interviewer tends to judge them entirely on the basis of that answer rather than the answers to other questions,” says Sue.
“Giving everyone the same tests means that everyone has the same opportunities. There’s far less room for error and bias.”
Sue believes psychometric testing can also help candidates with their personal development. Candidates tested through OPRA are given feedback that helps them identify their strengths and the areas they might choose to develop in the future to follow their career path.
To try out some sample psychometric tests, or, for more information about testing, visit www.opragroup.com
And Finally...
We’re upbeat about the future. In the current economic climate, there are advantages of being in the public sector rather than the private sector, and there will be many exciting new opportunities ahead.
The Johnson Group is committed to public sector values, and to helping you manage your next career transition. Call us and arrange to come in for a coffee and a chat if you’re a policy analyst, planning and reporting advisor, strategic planner, data or information analyst, project manager, researcher or evaluator, or hold a related position.