summer 2012

R.Johnson

overcoming job search ageism

owen birda shining example

does date of birth dictate

career?

win a day at the spa!

success Stories

what’s in a name?

top reasons why employees

are fired

2

Overcoming Job Search Ageism

Age discrimination in the workplace appears to be on the rise, and will continue to be a dominant issue, particularly in the federal civil service and nationally regulated industries. Employers may feel that hiring job applicants who are too inexperienced will require them to provide extensive training and constant supervision. Employers may also have concerns about hiring overly qualified applicants, because they may be unwilling to adapt to change or have problems accepting the authority of supervisors.

The best strategy for overcoming job search ageism is to avoid getting branded by these common stereotypes in the first place. A functional resume is better at downplaying chronological age. Also consider leaving out university and high school graduation dates so that age is not the first thing that comes to the hiring manager’s mind. Instead of focusing on years of experience, emphasize more on your skill set and ways that your experience can benefit the growth of the company.

When writing a resume or filling out an employment application, a candidate with extensive experience may consider presenting only recent and relevant years of employment. During an interview the candidate should be able to exhibit high energy and enthusiasm.

Showing interest in the company’s growth and mission will demonstrate to the hiring manager

that the candidate is not just looking to coast into retirement. It is important to make sure clothing is professionally appropriate and not dated or out of style. Finally, as most positions require computer literacy, it is necessary to keep up-to-date with electronics and computer applications. The more technology savvy a candidate is, the more likely they will be kept in the running for a potential job offer.

During an interview, a junior or entry-level candidate should focus on specific and relevant academic or professional experience. It is a good idea to highlight scenarios that demonstrate a good work ethic, previous accomplishments and professional advancement. The candidate’s behaviour, dress and language should depict a mature and professional attitude. It is also seen as an asset to be well prepared and organized.

The uncertainty of our economy has left many qualified professionals unemployed or underemployed. By dealing successfully with age discrimination, you may be able to extend the peak earning years of your career. Develop skills and productivity levels that make you an irreplaceable employee, as measurable results can often overcome many discrimination issues.

As professional recruiters, we do not support any kind of discrimination in the work force. We understand that discrimination is an ongoing issue and therefore we strive to give our applicants the necessary tools and resources that will help them find success in their careers.

Please help us welcome the newest addition to join the R.JOHNSON team, Nina Erickson. Her role as Office Coordinator includes managing the day-to-day operations of the office, scheduling appointments and answering telephone inquiries. Nina studied at Vancouver Island University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Criminology. She has recently returned from travelling abroad and enjoys yoga in her spare time.

Our Team Has Changed!

Nina Erickson

Enter our Contest to Win a Day of Pampering at the Spa!!!

Share your funny or embarassing workplace gaffes with us and your story could be featured anonymously in the next issue of our newsletter! For a chance to win a

$300 Spa Utopia Gift Card please send your story to:marketing@rjohnsoncorp.com by September 10, 2012.

3

Owen Bird – A Shining Example –

One thing that sets Owen Bird Law Corporation apart from other firms is the length of tenure employees enjoy at the firm. With a 43-year history, Owen Bird has four employees who have been with the full-service mid-sized law firm for more than 30 years and four who have worked there for more than 20 years.

The first articling student ever hired by Walter Owen and John Bird, Robin Macfarlane, is still practicing at the firm full time. In addition, one of the first associate lawyers to be hired into the firm, William Ireland, is also still at the firm and practicing full time. Many of Owen Bird lawyers have carried out their entire careers with the firm, moving from summer hires, to articling, and eventually to full associates and shareholders. In fact, 98% of all summer hires end up continuing their careers with the firm. For a Vancouver law firm, that is an amazing fact!

All of this long-term service leads to a very collegial atmosphere at Owen Bird. Everyone has worked together for so long that it couldn’t be any other way. A buddy system was even adopted in order for new employees to make a smooth transition into the firm’s culture. But it’s not all work and no play at Owen Bird. From boat cruises to ball games, staff members take part in an annual family friendly summer party. They also participate in regular activities throughout the year, such as the Vancouver Sun Run. Achievements in the firm don’t go

unnoticed either – all weddings and new babies are celebrated at an annual shower, articling students swear their Oath in style with a call party at the firm, and Staff Appreciation day is marked with breakfast, games and gifts.

Human Resources Manager, Susan Spalding, has been working in the legal industry for almost fifteen years and five of those years have been with Owen Bird. In that time she has noticed a shift in the competitiveness within the niche market industry. Today, the job market is very challenging for applicants, as the number of candidates with exceptional credentials has increased exponentially. Susan attributes part of what it takes to be successful in a legal career is to have a good personality mesh between lawyers and legal staff. She notes, “You can always teach skills but you can’t change personality conflicts.” The best advice she has for candidates who are in the market for a new job is to evaluate whether or not the company and position they are applying for is the right fit. Many candidates are so focused on finding work; they will accept any opportunity that comes their way. Susan relates finding great employment to buying a new dress; “Sometimes you have to try on a few before you find the one that fits!”

Does Date of Birth Dictate Career Path?

While studies are not conclusive enough to determine whether or not birth month influences a person’s career choice, researchers working in this area have long speculated that that birth order is an important determinant of personality, intelligence and economic success.

Younger children in any school group are at a disadvantage when compared with older children, born earlier in the year, due to their relative age and level of development. Studies show that a performance gap is most evident with the youngest children in a classroom, as they have had less infant schooling and are less mature both mentally and physically.

It has also been found that most professional Canadian hockey players were born in the early part of the year. According to the relative age theory, hockey players whose birthdays fall in the first quarter of the calendar year are the most likely to reach the highest levels of their chosen sport. A 14-year-old player born in January would have an 11-month head start in terms of growth, weight, knowledge and training compared to a peer born in November of the same year.

A British study conducted by the Office of National Statistics analyzed census data from previous years in order to examine the relationship between birth month and career choices. Here is a sampling of careers determined likely for each birth month. These findings, however, should be taken with a grain of salt.

January: General Practitioners & Debt CollectorsFebruary: ArtistsMarch: Pilots & MusiciansApril: Fairly even spread of professionsMay: PoliticiansJune: CEOsJuly: Labourers, Drivers & ArtistsAugust: LabourersSeptember: Professional Athletes, PhysicistsOctober: Fairly even spread of professionsNovember: Fairly even spread of professionsDecember: Dentists

So, how does your career align with your birth month?

More information is needed to determine the validity and conclusiveness of this particular study. However, there does seem to be a correlation between a child’s level of development, with respect to relative age, and their success in academia, sports and even future career prospects.

4

The Top Five Reasons Employees Are Fired

When it comes to getting fired, the reasons are usually pretty common, and not always within the employee’s control. People get terminated for reasons such as company restructuring, company financial setbacks, downsizing and other unexpected company problems. There are, however, plenty of reasons that people get fired that are not related to the company’s troubles, but to shortcomings on the part of the employee. Understanding the top reasons why employees get fired can reveal potential red flags in job applicants, or can help you to avoid being fired as an employee.

1. Unethical ConductUnethical conduct covers a wide range of specific behaviors, including dishonesty, theft, fraud, corporate espionage, and slander. Employees dealing unethically with outsiders can damage a company’s reputation, while employees treating co-workers, supervisors or subordinates unethically can damage internal culture, dampen cohesiveness, morale and productivity from within.

2. Poor PerformanceCompanies take the time to interview, hire and train those that they believe can and will deliver a return on their investment of time and money. It is never the first response to let go a poor performer since by that time the company has already invested a considerable amount in the individual, but incessant poor performance will result in job loss. Employment relationships are essentially contracts, wherein an employee promises to provide specific services in return for specific monetary compensation from the employer. An employee who consistently fails in his job duties, yet still cashes his paychecks, is essentially failing in his or her contractual obligation.

3. High Absenteeism RateMissing too many days of work is one of the top reasons employees get fired, and it relates back to the nature of the employment contract. Employers rely on each employee to produce a specific amount of output, in whatever form that may be for each specific job. Missing too many days of work causes individual employees’ output levels to fall behind other employees, reducing total company productivity and introducing personal resentment into team settings.

4. Non-ComplianceIn order to maximize output while continually increasing efficiency in operations, companies rely on their employees to follow all company policies and instructions given by supervisors. An employee who consistently breaks company rules, or fails to respect the requests of supervisors, may soon find him or herself without a job. Common areas of non-compliance include workplace harassment, workplace conduct, dress code, and the performance of duties not specifically listed in job descriptions.

5. Personality ConflictIf an employee has difficulty getting along with others in jobs that require collaboration, causes multiple confrontations or dampens productivity with a lack of communication or conflict-management skills, employers may have no choice but to ask the employee to leave. Hiring managers should understand the ideal personality types for each position and hire accordingly. Sometimes there is simply a poor fit in personality styles that only emerges after some time has been spent working together. Most organizations value employees who are able to work well with others. Those that feel the need to accomplish everything on their own and refuse opportunities for collaboration do not usually stand the test of time.

Stay Tuned!

Need advice? We will be launching a forum on our website very soon. Have all your

career and work related questions answered anonymously by your peers and legal industry

HR professionals.

Look for it in the coming months!

www.rjohnsoncorp.com

5

Denisa’s Corner: What’s in a name?

Recently I was reading an article in the newspaper about how a person’s name can actually induce a pre-conceived judgement on what that person will be like. The amount of influence a name has, particularly in written context, is quite astonishing. While judging somebody based on his or her name may happen on a purely subconscious level, it can also affect job-hunting success. Consider that your introduction to a company is through the first line of your resume.

Research has found that people with mainstream or easy-to-pronounce names are more likely to be favoured for a job offer or even a promotion as hiring managers may seek out applicants they feel are “familiar”. That means candidates with unusual sounding names, or even ones that are a bit longer could potentially be missing out on key opportunities. Evaluating someone’s name as part of the decision-making process is illegal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

This type of name stereotyping might also dictate a person’s occupation or rate of success. People have a tendency to follow professions that resemble their names, meaning that lawyers called Laura and dentists named Dennis are common. Studies have even found that the initial letters of physicians’ last names were significantly related to their subspecialty, for example, Raymond is more likely to be a radiologist rather than a dermatologist. George the geologist is also a likely occurrence. Does your name spell success? First names that have been typically associated with intelligence include Grace, David, Alexis, and Vanessa.

The link between surname and perceived success is stronger in older age groups, as previous generations were more likely to have been ordered alphabetically in the classroom. From role call to an invitation for a job interview, those with initials early in the alphabet were used to being first. However, psychologists note that these stereotypes tend to be shallow assumptions, and are often wiped out once you find out more about someone or meet them in person.

While hiring managers may not intend to discriminate a candidate based on their name, a name could still signal something about the applicant’s skills or background that may be relevant to the job. Job seekers should instead focus more on the aspects of their image that they can control, such as their online presence or the email address they use for correspondence. For example, an email address such as fungirl27@youremail.com is fine to use among friends, but does not come across as professional when applying for jobs.

Success Stories: Jennifer Trenholme

Why did you decide to find a job through an agency?“In this day and age, it seems that the majority of reputable employers in the legal industry use recruitment agencies.”

What advice would you give to current job seekers?“Go after what you want and never give up! You may have to apply for hundreds of jobs before the perfect one for you comes along.”

What made you decide to pursue a legal career?“Careers in the legal field are in high demand, and there are always opportunities for growth and advancement within the field.”

What do you enjoy most about working in the legal industry?“My particular experience has been mainly in litigation, which is a very interesting and fast-paced area to work in.”

How do you define success?“To me, success involves accomplishing goals and overcoming challenges despite the many obstacles that may stand in the way.”

To date, what has been the most important moment or biggest achievement in your career?“Going back to university to complete my Bachelors Degree. Education is the best gift I ever gave myself.”

Have you had to overcome any challenges in your working life?“Taking a few years off work to dedicate myself to full time studies was quite a challenge, but totally worth it in the end!” Who or what inspires you?“I am inspired by anybody who stands up for what they believe in, especially when it involves deviating from the norm or challenging the status quo.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? “The possibilities are endless! I could see myself going into Case Management, and I would like to complete my Masters Degree.” What are three important values that you live by?“Gratitude, respect and honesty.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you?“I teach spin (indoor cycling) classes – best part time job in the world!”

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Success Stories: Brenda Tsang

Why did you decide to find a job through an agency?“I felt that an agency had inside knowledge of opportunities that the general public such as myself may not have ready access to. Many reputable companies go through staffing agencies to find the talent they need and screen applications. I knew I had skill sets that were very employable and wanted them to be advocated by human resources experts who specialized in the field I wanted to get into so I can stand out amongst competing candidates.”

What made you decide to pursue a legal career?“In university, I pursued a double major in mathematics and linguistics. I became a high school math teacher for a number of years and decided that teaching in a school setting may not have allowed me to use my skill sets to their utmost potential. After some soul-searching and reflection, I found that I have natural attention to detail and a systematic approach in my work. With my background in linguistics, I have a foundation and understanding for the art of using language as a tool. So I decided to pursue law to fully utilize my strengths and education.”

Why is education important to you?“Education provides proof to people who may not know you and have never seen you work, such as your potential employer, that you have what it takes to be a star. Having

a certificate or degree shows commitment to and perseverance in your pursuit of a field of interest where you would like to demonstrate your skills and talents and give back to society as a responsible citizen.”

What do you enjoy most about working in the legal industry?“Law is very dynamic and is always changing with the climate of society. There is always something new to learn and hence I am always growing. Work is never boring since every case we deal with is unique.”

How do you define success? “Success is a combination of personal best, positive attitude and not giving up when there are setbacks. You would never know what success feels like if you quit part way. My dad and late grandpa have a lot of patience. No matter how daunting a task may be, they chip away at it a little at a time, eventually enjoying the fruits of their labour. Diligence is definitely a part of success, and though it may not be the only ingredient in the recipe for success, ultimately it cannot be eliminated or substituted.”

To date, what has been the most important moment or biggest achievement in your career? “In my first year of teaching I was nominated by the math department head to oversee the junior math department of an international school with 2300 students.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?“I plan to become a qualified Paralegal by going through the Paralegal Certificate program at Capilano University part-time. Ideally, I would like to advance and continue to develop my skills.”

What are three important values that you live by?“Trust in God, have good relationships with others, use your gifts to help others as well as yourself.”

What is your biggest fear?“I am incredibly afraid of falling. Even when I lose my balance ever so slightly by stepping on a pebble on the street, I go into high alert mode for a millisecond. Hence, all the sports I do must require me to have a stable footing, such as running and kickboxing.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you?“I learned piano and earned my Royal Conversatory of Music certificate for Grade 10. I also like to bake, especially scones because none of the ingredients have to be brought to room temperature, and they only require 12 minutes in the oven for a flakey comforting sweet or savoury bite that is reminiscent of having high tea with your girlfriends on a sunny afternoon in the west side of Vancouver.”

CONGRATULATIONS! A shout out to our recently placed candidates

U P Q N I V E K N L C I F K J A N I N EV W X T D H R C R O A A E R D N A E G CA W W Z E F A U L C R A D N A M A N I BH O I M B R R E H J R A B T Q J Y I E ES J K B O O I E X X D I H A W C Q T Z RI C I L R L Z E F A B M S S M R F S Q RL K M I A S M R E I C L K T E L W I W EA A S N H Q K C R D N I J K I Q C R T IW T I R K F H Y F N N N S A H N A H J PS H N T A N N Z E N A E E S I G A C F AI L O G V N M A R T A O R J E M W M H YN E M N E R C G T H E L M A N J E M R SN E E U G E N I A V G O Q Y K Q P G F AA N L J H T T D G L W P R I S C I L L AT N L P T C Z H M Q M P S C A M L E H TC N A S P A U M G E I Y E B H U A O Z AI I D W Y R P R C Z C O E N I A R R O DM W N C A O D B E I H D Q S I R D I A AT Z E A N L W E J F E Q Q E A T A C I YI M R T N A K Y Y E L A C M U I S P T OJ P B D A N H O O G L O V A W O H U Y OF S R O Z E L W Q V E N W J A H W T J E

We want to hear from you!If you have any story ideas or would like to have your

success story featured in our next newsletter please email: denisa@rjohnsoncorp.com