Summer '08
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 04:31 — 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.
If you have vacancies, this is an ideal time to find the right person for the job. Last year, we did a great deal of recruiting in January, and had many roles filled by the end of the month.
We have some innovative recruitment strategies planned for this January as well, so talk to us before Christmas to ensure that your team is at full strength as early as possible in the new year.
Leigh and Campbell
Campbell to Develop Workforce Capability
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 a National Manager within 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 equipping agencies to recruit the talent they need to deliver on their programmes.”
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.
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.
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 towww.ipanzawards.org.nz
Fill a Christmas Box
Wellington City Mission is The Johnson Group’s corporate charity, and we’re encouraging our clients 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
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 tohttp://www.stuff.co.nz/4719478a11.html
Leigh says she’s seeing increasing numbers of candidates from Australia and Canada who have excellent transferable skills and can share international best practice.
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.nzwith your address and phone number, or call us here at The Johnson Group. Someone will contact you, and arrange to pick up your donations.
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 tohttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10534055
Recruitment Coach
"Can you tell me what the advantages are in using psychometric tests in job interviews? And are there any other ways I can use psychometric tests to develop my team members?”
Janice, Lower Hutt
Research has confirmed that psychometric assessments are one of the most reliable predictors of job performance, according to Sue Sommerville, of OPRA Consulting Group. She says psychometric tests make it easier to identify a candidate who will be a high performer, and give clients a more complete picture of how a candidate is likely to behave at work.
“They’re also excellent tools for team-building and leadership development,” says Sue. “You can use them to figure out team members’ strengths, and the areas they need to develop.
“For example, if testing reveals that someone is particularly good at developing relationships, you’d be better off having them work with clients rather than developing proposals.”
For more information about psychometric testing, visitwww.opragroup.com
And Finally...
We’re upbeat about the future. In the current economic climate, it’s far better to be in the public sector than the private sector, and there will be many exciting new opportunities ahead.
We’re committed to public sector values, and to continuing to help hiring managers build better teams. Call us today to find out how we can ensure you go into 2009 with the strongest possible team.