View of the Town

by Brigit K. O’Leary

‘Fair thee well’, Romana Frey and colleagues of the Co-operative Enterprise Centre as your doors close in early summer and in new aspirations while all moving on. Over 100 business cooperatives found their way to life and various levels of prosperity so far thanks to you. Congratulations for a job well done and a real contribution for Victoria. Thank you from the members of MWS.

Looking for excellent health advice? Treat our advancing lifestyle & health challenges with a visit to the Vitalife Shop at University Heights Shopping Mall, off McKenzie by Shelbourne. Keith or Judy are there to help you and have one of the best and varied stock of goods on the island. Wonderful resource centre we’ve have found.

Seniors for Jobs.com is an internet based company set up to assist persons over 50 find work, to suit their interests and needs. It is also unique in that it also assists employers in finding mature workers, yes with all those with the skills and experience so precious for good service and quality workmanship. Contact Mike at 380-6777 and set up an appointment. He is able to assist you in posting your resume or advertising the particular project you need personnel for. Email mike@seniorsforjobs.com

What’s New with Spectrum?

The Spectrum Restart Program was extended to July 16, 2003. This allowed Restart to provide job search and placement services to another group of participants between 55 and 64 years of age. There must be a demand for these services because it only took two weeks to recruit enough people who were interested in getting assistance with their job search! This is now the sixth program session that Spectrum has provided. The new priority is to serve those who have been impacted by the Softwood Lumber dispute. Spectrum can now accept people who are in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits - which they could not in the first year. Keep up the good work!

Inquire in person or by phone, Spectrum Job Search Centre is located in the heart of Victoria, 1405 Douglas or call #381-9074

Attending to Pension Stuff? Ah so?!

What do you know about your pension funds? What? OK, we are referring to the Canada Pension Plan and all the other add-on’s that people are not aware of. Richard Stebeck, client service officer for Canada’s Income Security Program clarified for us in a very pleasant, yes one could say even “entertaining” talk at the CEDCO Board room on May 15^th. The audience was surprised and pleased with the session.

We really encourage people to attend, or even set up, an informational session with Richard. There is no cost and these may be booked evenings as well. While this you might feel this subject may not be of concern for you as your own retirement plans could be all sown up, but you may have a relative, friend or neigbour who is having a tough time and not knowing they fit in an extra funded plan…all it takes is applying for it! We who attended all agreed this information could greatly benefit some one we know.

There are monies set aside for people that is just not being accessed because people do not know about them. Also people are not generally aware of the formulas that are in place for figuring your benefit package on retirement. For those of us baby boomers …who have abroad, raised children, divorced, been in and out of the work force most of our adult lives, we do need to know about these formulas and funding programs. Choices can be made with being informed, ignorance is not bliss, friend.

To make an appointment, call Richard at (250) 363 0172. or fax: (250) 363 - 0243 email: richard.stebeck@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

NEED A JOB? HERE IS HELP !

Bill’s a heavy duty mechanic. Mary’s a legal secretary. Joe is a refugee. Sally has just finished a computer program-ming course. Jack’s a labourer and Mike is near retirement age. What do they have in common? They are all looking for work and their getting help from the Salvation Army Job Club Program, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursday morning from 10:30 to 11:30. It is located at 2695 Quadra, the intersection with Hillside. Some members come twice a week, for mutual support, net-working and job coaching as required.

Under the able stewardship of Neil Jones who has a long history in the people helping business, and the generous support of Major Hewlett director of the Community and Family Services, and councelling staff. The new Job Club is already providing a much needed service in our hard hit labour/ employment community. There is no cost for this service and most importantly, it is not aliened with any government agency. All are welcome!

The Job Club is for all individuals, including those who are not on EI, EI Reach Back, or Social Assistance, for those not in these categories are often shut out of programs. Yes prejudice reigns in today’s system born by officialdom. Hence the SA’s Job Club can help those feeling isolated and alone in a complex society. Often those who do not fit into neat slots are ready, willing and able, and that means talented, skilled and holding their own!

The Job Club has search skills training, resume workshops, job search counselling, interview preparation and leads to unlisted jobs. Neil refers the later as the “Hidden Job Market.” and this concept includes networking with others and sharing the job leads and program information in the group. “I may not fit this job, but it sure sounds like you!” Lots of jobs come this way! Note too, resumes are always improved upon and there is extra practice for interviews as well as support. You are not alone here! Give Neil Jones a call at #386 8521

The Mature Times is indeed in the works and is due to hit the printers the end of the September. The Board of MWS is very encouraged with the planning and development of the new social enterprise venture, putting middle-aged and talented workers back to work and filling a much needed niche in the news market. Congratulations to the new Co-op!

Got an Interview? Good Heavens! By Brigit K. O’Leary

Does that little voice run through your mind, “like how can I screw this one up?” Hold on now, would you really? Just cause you did not get the job? Seriously, just consider you actually had all your guardian angels lined up, yes like ducks in a row, saving your butt from “the supervisor from hell” and that is why you did not get that job! One of my finest horror interviews was with 7 people, and it ran for over two hours! Like it was just for a “gopher” like job! Oh a great title mind you: Lifestyles Coordinator. Don’t you just love it!

The job was: a one year contract, with the designation of “part-time; with a three page job description and responsibilities and skill requirements (a mile long), with the need to fill in weekends and overnights if called upon and work between 4 sites, deal with government agencies, clients, staff, and relatives, and the maintenance of the society’s vehicles, no authority though.

No, I did not get the job. After the two-hour interview I was so glad, I not only survived, but I also came out in one piece, after I returned some very good questions. I call them the “interview terrorists. They were not “bad”, they were just all wanting to get in the act and have a piece of the victim. No, I did not want the job and yes “There is a God” cause all my “angel” ducks were lined up that day. Indeed I won by a loss

Now, faced with an interview? What is the most sensible and realistic thing we have to do? First I suggest, do you want the job? What do you know about it? Have you done your homework? Yes? OK. Now lets prepare. From the Job Hunting for Dummies text, yes one of MWS’s library collection (and no reflection on my colleagues!) I submit the following excepts and call on your passion:

The art of effective answering: remember savvy interviewers pay attention to more than your responses, the verbal skills account for about 38% of the interview but so does your enthusiasms, honesty past experience and poise/self confidence. Keep your sense of humour, preparedness and professionalism about you like a wrap, with eye contact and even breathing part of the stance. Lots to remember right?

Many of us prepare with research, write out some questions… and answers as to how your experience and ideas would fit with their mission. This preparation is not just about getting down your facts; it is putting your confidence up several notches. We can only face things emotionally well by having confidence and also, keeping a balanced and focused perspective. Note my need to relate my stories with both humour and honesty, that is the only way I can really survive. .

Jason Richardson, Bellman with the Grand Pacific Hotel says attitude is so important all the way through, even afterward, follow up with that thank you note, regardless of how your felt the interview went. Everyone knows you are nervous, so what counts is how you respond even after all is said, its not all done…get a thank you note in and give a call even should a rejection letter comes, because we need to know how to do it better. I hate that, but I have made it better by giving them a written report too. Just do not send it. I wish you well and smile, always a help!

Doing it on your own, Eh,!?

Phrases for inspiration for the job hunter -sprinkled “Cdn. Wisdom”: by Connie & Brigit:

1. Affirm your purpose in job searching. (translates: what am I doing here?)

2. Use Calendars to jot notes to use later. (clues later!)

3. Have a time goal and focus on that with no inter-ruptions. (FOCUS guys!)

4. Read newspapers and get ideas from them. (Ads too)

5. Keep a clear perspective. (meaning: stay cool mate!)

6. Try to improve speaking and writing skills on the journey. (watch the EH’s)

7. Make lists of ideas, dreams, hunches. (intuition is good)

8. Just do it.!!

9. At the end of each week ask THE question “Have I progressed this past week?” If yes, give yourself a warm fussy and carry on. (Girl talk)

10. (Men, that a later bit means crack a beer and watch a ball game, eh?)

MWS Society Update: Its been a ride, stay tuned!

MWS Newsletter is soon coming to the end of its sponsorship from the City of Victoria and our need to thank Mayor Lowe and City Councillors must be expressed in the most gracious means. It is with the their endorsement of our cause, the support and advocacy of the mature and employable Victorian. We so appreciate the help and support of Workstreams, the employment support provider Alston St, especially Dave Kelley the inspiration behind MWS. Thanks Dave. We are moving in areas of further challenges but will always be grateful to you all.

Throughout the year Canada Safeway and Thrifty Foods has supported our public events. We have taken pictures of their staff and expressed our gratitude at each of these events but that is barely enough. We would also like to thank the community at large for attending our dance last June, our very successful yardsale in August and we also hold firm our gratitude to Unity Church on Quadra Street for generously our public launch

Spectrum Job Search, our first official Bronze level Corporate Sponsor, you picked up the support ball and ran with it in 2003. Following our commitment to the Quality of Life Challenge, CEDCO has come forward with support in further development of the society’s goals. Most appreciated Bill and staff, and inspiring. It is great to be Victorians!

Maturity Volume 1 Number 10

View of the Town

by Brigit K. O’Leary