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Works
Newsletter
August/September 2002
maturityworksvictoria@canada.com Phone (250) 383-5144 ext 1548
Maturity Works Society of Greater Victoria is dedicated to inform and support all
persons over the age of 40 years concerned with employment and career options in our society.
MATURITY WORKS UPDATE
As
might be expected, Maturity Works has slowed down a little over the summer as
the members enjoy holidays in one of the nicest summers on record. We have however, been busy on several
fronts.
Paul
Fryer has been hard at work creating our first web page to be found at
http://maturityworksvictoria.50megs.com.
As Paul notes on the page, it is still very much a work in progress, but
thanks to Paul we are now filling in the blanks on the page in order to create
easier lines of communication with our members and potential members.
Brigit O’Leary has been
very busy on two fronts. First, she has
been meeting with employers to assess their views about the merits of hiring
older workers. One result of this research
appears in this issue of the newsletter headed Employee of the Month. Brigit
has also been very active in bringing new individual members to the
society. As a result, we are now almost
twice as large as we were three months ago.
Obviously, the more members we have, the more we can lighten each
member’s work load. As well, each new
member brings new ideas and approaches that we can explore.
Susan Kirk and Connie
Fraser did an outstanding job in organizing the first (and hopefully not last)
Maturity Works garage sale on September 14.
Thanks to Connie and Susan’s efforts, we were able to raise over $500.00
from the pre-owned treasures that we sold.
Thanks also to Canada Safeway and Thrifty Foods for their generous
donations to the event. Part of these funds will be used to sponsor a trial
“social evening” where older workers and older job seekers can meet to exchange
ideas.
Early Retirement:
Choice or Coercion?
By B. Collins
I have often heard people counting off their days to retirement. How happy and productive employees can they be? How healthy a working environment can it be when many just “want out”? Yet in the stressful environments in which we work today, it often seems preferable to “retire” than to continue working
We potential retirees are people with careers for which we have worked long and hard from university, work, training, and on the job experience through reorganizations, down sizing, and layoffs. Over time we may have moved up and down the so-called ladder of success. In considering early retirement, we have to decide whether to go from being people who have identified ourselves, in large part, with our work lives to being retirees in what could be, these days, our middle, and still very productive, years.
I don’t have children, or therefore grandchildren, I don’t play golf or tennis, or have a desire to travel extensively. At the time I entered the work force it was easy to find jobs. We were fortunate in the 1950’s to have choices about where we wanted to work. As a result I had some wonderful work experiences. In 1997 I was caught in the provincial government downsizing at age 57 and was completely taken by surprise. I had the opportunity to bump someone else in order to “hang in there” but the working environment was so stressful that between work and other areas of my life I had acquired some health problems so I opted for early retirement. It was unfortunate that my last job before retirement was not a happy experience.
Retirement has not been as easy as expected. I question the phrases we often hear such as “I am busier than ever before” or “I’m happier than ever before”. It requires much self discipline to change from having your days programmed to having to make conscious decisions about what you will do and whether you will feel productive or not. I have tried various types of volunteering, some of which have given me satisfaction, others of which haven’t been a fit for me at all. Generally, retirement has been a major adjustment and has often been quite lonely after the camaraderie of workmates. Most of my friends are younger and/or have families to support and they are still out there being “busy”.
My experiences are not everyone’s. There are many people who have planned for retirement and appear to be enjoying it. Many fill their time with hobbies, (cont.page 4)
THE QUIET ONES
Michael Bourque
They can be the employees who come to work earlier than others, don’t attend office functions very often and leave later than others do. They don’t interact any more than they have to and they generally avoid crowds. They are the temperamentally reserved or shy ones and their numbers are increasing.
Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo states that when he began studying adult shyness in 1977, 40% of adults surveyed said it was a problem. Today it is about 50% and rising 1% a year. “Adult shyness is a complex issue that can have many sources, from low self-esteem and fear of rejection to the temperament we are born with.” Zimbaro says. The fact that it is on the rise suggests that we are being increasingly isolated from social contact
that gives us the confidence and skills for meeting new people. Zimbaro and Edmonton psychologist Jim Bateman both agree that technology is de-socializing us. We spend too much time in front of a monitor, relating less interpersonally and sometimes less honestly.
So, for the reserved person who suddenly finds him/herself out of work after being in a comfy job for a decade or two, job search can be especially traumatic. Shy people do less well in job interviews and do far less networking in their quest for a job. This makes job search stressful and difficult.
What can a reserved person do? They can enroll in a self-esteem self-help program or they can talk to a friend or family member about their shyness. It is proven that the more you push your social
envelope the easier it is to overcome shyness. Start with a small circle and expand it as you gain confidence. “The anxieties that you feel in certain social situations are quite normal for most people,” says Zimbardo. “Knowing this can certainly help.” Force yourself to make conversation and you will find it almost always turns out to be a pleasant experience. Become a good listener. Make eye contact and focus on what the other person is saying and respond with words and body language Most people are flattered when strangers want to know about them.
All
this will help in that all important job interview. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend. Just because you are reserved doesn’t mean
you can’t talk about your skills and abilities with others. Remember to listen first and conversation
will follow. Don’t let the “shyness”
label
get in your way of getting a job.
WAL-MART EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH AWARD
Brigit O’Leary
Victoria and Langford Wal-Mart stores share the employer of the month award in recognition of their progressive attitudes towards hiring workers of all ages. The key hiring preference of Wal-Mart, explain Human Resources personnel Kathy Goodman and Jen Jang, is maturity, followed by skills, and then experience.
Wal-Mart is not involved with any government hiring initiatives. Rather, they have a unique in-house training program, which allows them to absorb people into the company culture while maintaining a personal, individual approach.
Maturity and stability are attributes that Kathy and Jen see as important in their selection of employees. Wal-Mart is happy to hire 40+ because most display these two key qualities. Other key considerations are positive attitude, the ability to think and follow through in one’s duties while focussing 100% on customer service.
As a retail store, they point out, workers do not start at a high rate of pay; however, there are career tracks open for anyone who wants to move in the corporation.
Lucy Proctor is a fine example of this. Lucy has worked for the company for 21 years. For most of these years she was a cashier, but as her children reached adulthood she wanted to expand her career. This was noted by the administration and as a result, Lucy is the human resources manager of the Langford store which opened last November.
Kathy’s advice for mature workers seeking employment?
“Go to the interview with a positive attitude and talk about what you can do. Do not give negatives.” Jen, her assistant in human resources added, “Also be willing to accept a new or different way of doing things. We have our way, we just ask you to work with us now.”
Thank you Kathy, Jen, and Lucy, for your time and advice.
Retirement (from page 3 )
travelling, or continuing to work in an adapted fashion. My retirement was not planned in this fashion. I believe that if you haven’t planned to retire early and the possibility catches you by surprise, you should give it much thoughtful consideration before you take the leap.
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GO NORTH MATURE WORKER?
By Rose Von Schilling
For those looking to try greener pastures outside Victoria this article will give some useful information and work and life (yes, it is possible to have a life!) in the Northwest Territories.
Things are booming in the NWT. For July 2002 we are first overall in Canada with an employment rate of 72.4% and an unemployment rate of only 5.3%! For people with skills and education there is lots of work here. Mining and construction are driving our economy, with a big spin-off effect on the businesses that provide support to these industries.
Everyone else in Canada has forgotten that we have 2 diamond mines in the NWT, with DeBeers sniffing around for a third. There is oil and gas exploration in the McKenzie River Valley with hopes of an oil pipeline in the future. Skilled construction workers are in high demand. The North desperately needs health care workers, teachers, and people who work in social services. If you want to fly planes, move to Yellowknife and apply at one of the smaller airlines – you will move up much faster than you can in southern Canada.
Skills level requirements for office administration work are lower than they are in Victoria and better paying, too. If you have Corel or WordPerfect for Windows skills, you increase your options as the Federal government is a large employer in the north.
The service sector has a very difficult time attracting and keeping good employees as the wages are lower and there are so many other options. It is not unusual to see a 12-year-old working at a fast food place.
Generally, educational requirements for positions are much more flexible here. There’s no-one else to hire! The stability and wisdom of mature workers is appreciated here. The emphasis is on what you can do (or are willing to try). The population of the North is younger in general but the number of people 50+ is increasing. There is a number of retired people who work on a contract basis in Yellowknife because they have the skills and there is no-one else who can do their work!
Networking is very important in finding work in the North, so if you come, prepare to carry out your job search by talking with people about what you can do. They are happy to talk and happy to help.
The minimum wage for adults is $7.00 per hour “on the highway” but most entry level employers pay more than that - $10. - $12. The exceptions are the franchise chains which must try to keep their prices in line with those in the south. Your wages are also supplemented by “northern living allowances” and you become eligible for the Northern Residents’ deduction at tax time.
“But,” you say, “I’d have to live in the North!” It’s not that bad, honest! The downsides are that it is really hard to find a place to live and the cost of living is high. A one bedroom apartment is $1100. per month if you can find one and you can count on paying three times the amount for utilities that you do in Victoria. Groceries cost more than in Victoria, but some consumer goods are cheaper as we have no sales tax except the GST.
And, of course, it is cold in the winter. Yes, the winters are cold and long but you dress for it. And it is not dark 6 months of the year! We get midnight sun “dusk” in the summer in the southern Arctic, and in winter we get five hours of real daylight a (usually sunny and cold) day. If you like hunting, curling, fishing, snowmobiling, or cross country skiing, the North has plenty of opportunities for recreation. Check out www.yellowknife.ca
Other helpful websites:
www.gov.nt.ca: a listing of territorial government positions available. It can be difficult to be a successful candidate from the south, but if they cannot find a qualified Northerner for a position, they will hire from the south.
www.jobsnorth.ca and www.workboot.ca : a website linking Northern employers and Northern job seekers. You cannot register if you live south but you can check out what’s being offered.
So there you have it, the Northwest Territories, the land of opportunity. Start networking and find someone to live with while you do your job search. Sorry, you can’t stay with me! Our place is too small.
Wishing you the best in your job search!
VIEW OF THE TOWN
By Brigit O’Leary
Techniques, a dedicated employment service provider, will be closing their doors in December. We understand that government cuts and downsizing were a contributing factor. We would like to extend our appreciation to the staff and directors of Techniques and wish them every success possible in the future.
Congratulations! The new job club, at the Salvation Army,
Family and Counselling Services Centre on Quadra began its first program the
end of September with a class of
10. It is “individually focussed” to
assist
and support persons going through the stress associated with job
search. We commend the initiative under
the direction of Major Scott Hewlett and staff. For further information contact (250) 386-8521.
New Maturity Works member Frankie Best will be taking the position of membership chair for our society. Frankie is most interested in planning our future social events and we look forward to her initiatives. Thank you, Frankie!
Our wayward “charter member” Mary Gavan is soon returning to Canada after five months in Britain. A palliative care nurse and personal growth counsellor, Mary will be again in the job market. We look forward to her craggy sense of humour. Over e-mail she sends an Irish homily: “Life is a bag, get out there and squeeze it!”
Our employer survey program is well under way. Over the next few months we will be reporting information of interest to 40+ workers. Wal Mart gave us a great reception and we thank them for it! Also, bouquets of thanks to Home Depot and Harmony Health Care for their interest in our aims.
Maturity Works Society profile page is currently being set up in the Greater Victoria Library resource center’s Book of Community Associations. The book is also available
at their website.
Thanks again to Thrifty Foods and Canada Safeway for their generous support of our highly successful garage sale. We would like also to thank Work Streams for their location, the drivers who helped out and, of course everyone who took home treasures at bargain prices.
Contributors
Michael Bourque is the creator and manager of www.seniorsforjobs.com.
Beth Collins is a former provincial government worker now retired in Victoria.
Brigit O’Leary is founding member and community relations and development officer for Maturity Works.
Rose Von Schilling is an employment counsellor and college instructor in Yellowknife.