Autumn '09
Tue, 04/28/2009 - 21:49 — The Johnson Group
Welcome!
Welcome to the autumn edition of The Johnson Group newsletter.
The Johnson Group celebrated its fourth birthday on April 1, and we’re showing our commitment to our future growth by strengthening the team. We’ve hired two new public sector recruiters, Dave Wish and Heather Haines, and we’re planning to hire another recruiter later in the year.
The election and the recession have made the past few months a time of uncertainty for many people, but we’re now getting a clearer sense of direction around policy programmes. We’re seeing an increasing demand for contractors, and in recent weeks we’ve had more requests for candidates to fill permanent positions.
To meet the needs of their new work programmes, managers need trusted advisors with strong skill sets. As the only recruitment firm specialising in public sector placement and advice, we’re ideally placed to help you plan your next career move.
Leigh and Campbell
Advisory Board Appointment
Doug Bailey, a public law consultant with Russell McVeagh, has been appointed to The Johnson Group’s advisory board.
A specialist in policy analysis and government relations, Doug has almost 30 years of experience with the state sector and its successive political administrations. His knowledge and experience make him a valuable addition to the team.
Warning on Public Sector Cuts
Job cuts in the public sector could result in an overall loss of capacity and organisation memory, Public Service Association National Secretary Brenda Pilott has told The Johnson Group.
“Most people don’t think the recession will last for a very long time, so the public service should be thinking about how we can get through the next year or 18 months without losing those people who have been trained and are capable,” says Pilott.
“In a recession, the community is under pressure and is putting more demand on services - which makes it an odd time for the government to be thinking about cutting jobs. The reality of the public sector is increasing demand and decreasing resources.”
IPANZ Events
The Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ) is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting informed debate on public sector issues. Its membership comprises a wide range of professional advisers and managers in the public sector, university students and teachers, and interested people from the private sector.
IPANZ arranges regular seminars to provide information on and facilitate discussion of important questions of public policy and management. These events are a good way to learn about the diverse range of work that is taking place in the public sector and their implications for New Zealand. For more information on IPANZ events, visit their website.
The Johnson Group is a proud supporter of IPANZ.
Kiwis Working Fewer Hours
New Zealanders’ working hours fell by almost 3% in 2008 – the largest annual fall since the 1991/1992 recession.
StatisticsNZ’s household labour force survey also found that labour force participation rate rose to 69% in the December 2008 quarter, the highest recorded in the survey’s history.
The Johnson Group’s Campbell Hepburn says his team has not seen a significant reduction in working hours for permanent staff, although there has been a reduction for contractors. For more details on the survey, go to www.stats.govt.nz
Social Marketing Takes Off
We’re increasing our social marketing, which is proving a useful way of forging relationships with candidates and adding to our bank of talent.
After introducing the micro-blogging service Twitter, we’ve had candidates contacting us to say they’ve heard tweets (updates) about The Johnson Group. Our postings on Facebook and, in particular, LinkedIn are also gaining momentum.
You can add The Johnson Group to your twitter at @thejohnsongroup or join our communities on LinkedIn.
Long-term Opportunities
Reports that public sector heads have been asked to identify cost savings of up to 10% before the May Budget may not necessarily be bad news for candidates, The Johnson Group believes.
“In some cases, the savings may be made by deciding to accept that jobs that have been vacant for a long time are not going to be filled,” says Campbell Hepburn. “We believe there is still capacity in the market to soak up most people, and there will be evolving opportunities over the long term.”
Support for Skilled Migrants
The Government says it may stop issuing or renewing temporary working visas, but doesn’t plan to follow Australia’s lead in cutting numbers of skilled migrants.
We’re pleased the government appreciates the importance of skilled migrants to the job market. Victoria University is now in the middle of the intern intake for its skilled migrant programme, and the calibre of migrants applying this year is exceptionally high.
The Johnson Group finds job placements for the interns, and we’ve been very encouraged by how much support we’ve had from employers and from people working alongside interns when they’re on their placements.
Job Doctor
“I’d like to look for a better job. Given the recession, should I look now or wait until the economy improves?”
Dave, Brooklyn
This may not necessarily be the right time to change jobs, but it is certainly time to take a good look at yourself.
Consider doing a stocktake of your career. Assess your productivity and performance, explore the future needs of the job market, then ask yourself if you have career goals and if you’re networking with the right people.
We’re increasingly focusing on career management, so come and talk to us if you’d like some help discussing your future career path. We can also introduce you to one of our associated career development partner organisations.
And Finally...
While the past few months have been uncertain for candidates working in the public sector, there’s now clearer direction about the government’s priorities and we’re seeing more movement in the job market. We’re expecting even more clarity by the middle of the year, which will mean new opportunities for permanent workers as well as contractors.
The Johnson Group is committed to public sector values, and to helping you manage your next career transition. Call us on 04 473 6699 or email rachel@thejohnsongroup.co.nz 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.