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Maturity Works Society is
dedicated to support and inform all persons over 40 years of age concerned with
employment and career options in our rapidly transforming socio-economic
society.
Congratulations are in order for
Lynn Hedley and CEDCO. Lynn, our VP of
MWS is the new Project Coordinator for the Tools of Change program and an
excellent resource person for training and development for staff and
individuals.
Coaching Works announced
it's partnership with CEDCO Victoria in
July to offer a Coaching Clinic, Corporate Coach U's Certificate Program.
This two day seminar was held in Victoria BC. It was designed for supervisors,
managers, planners or other leaders who want to add coaching to their
leadership repertoire. Seminar facilitator and professional coach Cresswell Walker, M.A., CEC, a Royal Roads
University certified Executive
Coach and certified licensed trainer of Corporate Coach University Coaching
Clinic.Check out future dates or more
information with Lynn Hedley, Project Coordinator at (250) 360-0852. resources@cedco.bc.ca
Spectrum
Job Search on Douglas St. is continuing with their excellent Reach Back
program for assisting persons over 55 in breaking through the job search market
to sustainable income earning. The
funding of these programs from government coffers has not allowed an easy
stability but the staff at Spectrum continue to serve our community on a very
“mindful basis” or one quarter at time.
We send our support and congratulations!
PES is the
new Pre-employment Services Program offered jointly by Back to Motion Rehab.
Inc. and the West Coast Group. It is
designed to help people with disabilities improve their life skills, explore
employment options and work towards great independence. Claudia Mimick heads the program, based on referrals and intakes are every two
weeks. Her number is 384 9283 or cmimick@wcginternational.com or stop in 427
–1150 Douglas St.
The ever popular Dave’s Job Club at Workstreams on
Alston St in Vic West is continuing over the summer. The new intake is on the second Friday of each month and they run
for two weeks, hence July 11th and August 8th This has
been a very successful venue for many Victorians heading back to work or in new
career directions. Call #381 2113.
For another popular Job Club under the able leadership of
Neil Jones, call the Salvation Army Community Services on Quadra at 386 8521
Are
you able to work in a team, a tight team with a esoteric code and purpose? BC Corrections is looking for mature
applicants for upcoming vacancies. This
is not a job for everyone…talking with people who work in the area say you must be a dedicated team player, able to
be there for your members whenever the need rises. They want people who are mature, with a varied life of experience,
able to be aware, fair and reliable. A
six week Institute of Justice course, at your cost and 6 weeks of study will
get you to the door.
The Interview Series: “Asked the Experts":
By Michelle QuiliciHcareers Reporterhttp://www.hcareers.com **************************************"TO WHAT EXTENT DO FIRST "IN-PERSON" IMPRESSIONS REALLY PLAY A PART IN THE HIRING DECISION?"**************************************Expert #1 "I have found that the first 30 seconds of an interview are critical. This is what largely sets the tone for the rest of the interview. Because communication face-to-face is extensively non-verbal in nature, I find myself subconsciously 'reading' the candidates presentation by way of facial expression, handshake,demeanor, eye contact and dress. The impact that initial impressions play in the hiring decision is somewhat depending on the type and level of the position. Forexample, my expectations are different for a Director of Sales than for a Housekeeper." Glen Goddard,CHREDirector Human ResourceRamada Inn Worcester / Auburn(Pyramid Hotel Group)Expert #2 "A great first 'in person' impression is probably the most important aspect at every stage of your career. Impressions about a person are generally made within the first 2 - 10 seconds of the first introduction, and can set the tone for the interview. In the hospitality industry, this is no exception. Our business is focused on our guests. The first few seconds of greeting a guest will have a lasting impression, and will affect the overall experience the guest has. Your appearance, attitude, and guest service skills are factors that will be remembered by the guest. A prospective employer will be looking for these soft skills, so when you go for an interview, be sure to have a clean, well-groomed appearance, and maintain eye contact. Christy HoodHuman Resources ManagerCalgary Marriott Hotel http://www.marriotthotelsofcanada.hcareers.ca Expert #3 "Do 'in person' first impressions really count? Lets face it the answer is always going to be yes. If they didn't then face-to-face communication would never take place - recruitment would happen by phone or correspondence and black/white, pink hair/brown hair, fat/thin the process would be free from discrimination and stereotyping - wouldn't it? It is a well-known fact that first impressions are usually formed within the first 30 seconds of meeting someone - a bit of a whim when you consider that a candidate's future is at stake. We all want to employ people that we think will look and fit the role in question. From an HR perspective, the trick is to use objective recruitment tools and best practice procedures that remove the bias, look beyond the person sitting in front of us, and focus on their skills and abilities." Stuart CrawfordHuman Resources ManagerMelia White House, Regents Parkhttp://www.meliawhitehouse.hcareers.co.uk
Romana
Frey: Founder of the Co-operative Enterprise Centre
Cathy La France
Romana
Frey is a true visionary when it comes to building stronger communities through
facilitating the creation of co-operative enterprises. In 2001, she won the
Victoria YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurship in recognition of
her innovative work in the co-operative sector. She was also nominated for The
Labour Market and Career Information Association of BC Career Development Award
of Excellence.
In August of 1999 Romana founded The
Co-operative Enterprise Centre in Victoria, BC. Recognizing that there was
a gap in support services for individuals that are interested in becoming
entrepreneurs, but who are not prepared to “go it alone” through a sole
proprietorship or corporation, she designed and implemented the Co-operative
Employment Program and the Co-opportunities Program. Funded by Human Resources Development Canada, the Co-operative
Employment Program is intended for individuals that are unemployed and eligible
for employment insurance, while the Co-opportunities program was targeted for
people living with disabilities.
The programs at the Co-operative Enterprise
Centre are founded on the premise that no one person is equally good at, or
passionate about, all aspects of managing and operating a business. On
the other hand, every person is blessed with her own exceptional nature, skill
base, and unique mission on earth.
Whereas a self-employed business owner
is required to have strong business acumen in all areas of business management,
and thus, carry the sole responsibility to succeed unassisted, co-operative
businesses thrive by encouraging and enabling each member/owner to do what they
are best at and what they love most. By pooling the resources, abilities,
and information of a diverse team of people, the potential for victory is
multiplied exponentially while dispersing the risk of business failure.
Since
its initial launch in 1999, the Co-operative Enterprise Centre has supported
the development of nearly 30 co-operative enterprises. This also means that
close to 100 individuals have become member/owners of their own businesses
through a co-operative structure.
Romana
has achieved this through applying a unique model of co-operative development
called the 12 Components of Co-operative Enterprise. Beginning with Ernesto Sirolli’s Trinity of
Management, Romana expanded upon Sirolli’s model to include components of group
development as well as personal growth and fulfillment. This model is used throughout the
Co-operative Enterprise Centre’s capacity building opportunities, which
includes workshops such as “The Power of Working Co-operatively” and “The Power
of Marketing Co-operatively.” It has proven to be an empowering business model
that supports both economic growth and community based social goals.
The Rubber Eventually Hits the Road by Tom Oaks
Three
years ago I completed my teaching degree at the University of Victoria. At 44,
then, I was ready to emerge from the health care worker identity I had long
held. I had heard before and throughout my teacher education that there were
jobs ahead for teachers in this city. Not true, as it turned out.
So,
in the Fall of 2001, I headed to North Central BC to teach the children of the
Nisga’a. This was a great experience. To take this assignment I left my wife
and three daughters back in Victoria. Ten months of that separation was more
than enough!
In July
of 2002, just over a year ago, I came back to Victoria, determined to find a
way to support my family working in my own town. It took the better part of the
Fall for me to accept that teaching in public schools was not going to happen.
As an English specialist I was not in a high demand category and I could not
crack the on-call lists of local school districts.
I
did the rounds of the employment programs that my EI claim made available to
me. One week of Career Exploration, a three week Introduction to Independent
Business, and a two week Job Finding Club. In these programs I gained some
valuable skills and ideas, but not a job.
I
did the right things; I networked, I conducted information interviews, I
dabbled in volunteering. Interviews began to come my way. I got a job! Albeit a
casual one which could not provide me the income I needed to support my family.
Still, I earned some income and a big boost in spirit. I continued the
exhaustive and exhausting search.
And,
in April, I got a hot tip from Chris, the "Steps to Employment"
counsellor who had been meeting with me periodically throughout the desert-dry
months of my search. He put me on to Theresa Mayoh of the Mid-Island
Re-Employment Center who was starting up a pilot employment program based in Nanaimo
geared at workers 45 years and older. Theresa Mayoh was looking for someone to
present and facilitate her program. My teaching background, and the job finding
skills I had honed through my own intensive quest paid off, I got the job!
I
travel a lot. This is a contract, so I have very little job security. And now I
am laid off for six weeks until the next five week session starts in Duncan.
But I love my job!
Re-Employment
45
is a Nanaimo based Federally-funded program that has been successfully getting
older workers back on the job for eight years now. My co-facilitator and I are
taking this successful program into the communities of Cowichan Lake, Duncan,
and Parkville. In the five week intakes we cover the gamut of career
exploration, learning about the local labour market, transferable skill
assessment, coping with job loss, resume development, interview skills,
accessing the hidden job market, and much more. In five weeks the 10 or so
participants become a supportive community, helping each other get out and face
the unfamiliar challenges involved in an effective job hunt. The results are
dramatic and, for me, very gratifying.
In
Nanaimo, a smaller labour market than Victoria, there is always a waiting list
for the Re-Employment 45 program. And, as I say, this program really works in
terms of helping older workers find there way back into the work force. My hope
is that one day soon this unique and successful program will make its way to
the Victoria area. In the meantime I am content to drive the Malahat to provide
assistance to mature workers who, like myself a short time ago, have yet to
find a way to get there rubber on the road.
For
more information on Re-Employment 45 e-mail Tom at oak154@hotmail.com
or call toll free at Phone # 1-877-714-0471
Coming up in the Fall is a MWS Member-ship Drive and a real effort to place people on the Board with the time, energy and imagination needed to carry MWS into the next year. Our Board members have all done a great job and a few are now willing to step into other areas of our society for building up the committee work and project development ideas. Personally, I have gained so much as a Director. It not only looks good on a resume, it has meant something vital by being active and involved with Victoria’s working community. Really, it has provided me something similar to… a co-op college program …such as in the areas of business development, marketing and public relations. Experience is the key to success. Also, publishing a Newsletter allows a person to grow and develop so many skills and yes, a sense of satisfaction Now I need to step out of the Directors chair to allow new ideas & direction for the Society.
Looking forward to your new ideas and sharing
of values and wisdom, contact us at (250) 383 5144 extension # 1548 or email me
at brigitkoleary@canada.com and be part of the new generation of MWS!
Brigit O’Leary, Director