Work Broker Changes Lives

Jim Hughes used to regularly earn $100,000 a year selling information technology.

One year he made $200,000. Now he earns a quarter of that amount and couldn’t be happier. Jim is a work broker based at Work and Income’s Newtown office in Wellington.

“Getting a person a job solves so many problems. It changes people’s lives. That’s why this job is worth doing.”

Jim has been in the job five years and is also the PSA delegate for 28 other work brokers in the Wellington region.

He immigrated to New Zealand from England with his wife and three children in 1979.

“I wanted to go somewhere different and had a choice of New Zealand or Papua New Guinea. I think I made the right choice,” he says with a wry smile.

His first job in Wellington was with the State Services Commission running its computer division. He moved to Norwich Union, ICL, which became Fujitsu, and then on to Data Com, which he helped build into New Zealand’s largest computer company.

He found he had a gift for sales and for 16 years earned big money selling “large scale IT solutions.” But it was a high-stress job and one day he resigned. His plan was to take a break but when he tried to get back into IT sales he was told he was too old.

He then drove a taxi for two years and enjoyed the change. One memorable fare involved talking rugby with All Blacks coach John Mitchell from Wellington all the way to Upper Hutt.

He also did some work on a census and was the returning officer for Wellington Central during the 2002 general election. He then saw an advert to become a work broker. He got the job, found his sales background was a real asset, and in five years he’s helped around a thousand people into jobs.

“If you get one person into a job and it saves a benefit of $200 a week that’s around $10,000 a year in taxes that you’ve saved.”

“But I think it’s worth a lot more than that. If people are in work they’re paying taxes. The dairy owner on the corner is getting their custom. Their family life is better. The flow on effect is huge.”

Unemployment has fallen from 5.4% when Jim started work in 2002 to a record low of 3.5% in September this year. Jim says that means more work is required to get people into paid employment. He says the people he works with now often need help acquiring skills so they can get a job or need help improving their English because they’ve arrived from another country.

“We work them hard for the first 13 weeks they’re on the unemployment benefit. They come in twice a week for seminars. We get their CV sorted. Make sure they have a cell phone so we can contact them.”

“If they can’t get a job in the first 13 weeks we put them into other courses for skills training.”

Work and Income is also putting a lot of effort into helping people move off sickness and invalids benefits into the workforce “The targets I have from my manager are about getting more people from those categories into work, “ says Jim.

He says the beneficiaries he helps want to work and it’s a case of getting employers to recognise their particular needs.

“A diabetic may not be able to stand on their feet all day or may have to work a shorter day.”

Finding work for skilled migrants can also be a challenge. Jim recalls helping an immigrant from eastern Europe who had a degrees in mechanical engineering and statistics but had a strong accent. “I got his wife a job first but he just couldn’t get work and got pretty desperate.” He eventually did get a job, but not in engineering, and every Christmas he emails Jim thanking him for his help.

Jim also enjoys helping people set up their own business through an enterprise allowance scheme. He says for some people this is the only way they can earn a living.

“For instance they may have aspbergers syndrome and find it impossible to get through a job interview but they have a talent they can turn into a business.”

Work and Income helps them compile a business plan and puts them through a ‘be-your-own-boss course.’ It also provides $5000 capital and a $250 a week allowance for six months.

The scheme has been very successful in the Wellington region and has a much lower failure rate in the first year for its new businesses than the national average.

Jim clearly loves his work. He says at 60 it’s great to have a job where he makes a positive difference. “I can look in the mirror in the morning and say: ’is my job a job of worth?’ and the answer is always yes.”

Authorised for the PSA by Brenda Pilott, 30 Prospect Tce., Johnsonville, Wellington

Member




What's at stake The work we do Benefits to NZ Fairness at Work What parties say What Kiwis say Just the facts Contact Us	Work Broker Changes Lives Jim Hughes used to regularly earn $100,000 a year selling information technology. One year he made $200,000. Now he earns a quarter of that amount and couldn’t be happier. Jim is a work broker based at Work and Income’s Newtown office in Wellington. “Getting a person a job solves so many problems. It changes people’s lives. That’s why this job is worth doing.” Jim has been in the job five years and is also the PSA delegate for 28 other work brokers in the Wellington region. He immigrated to New Zealand from England with his wife and three children in 1979. “I wanted to go somewhere different and had a choice of New Zealand or Papua New Guinea. I think I made the right choice,” he says with a wry smile. His first job in Wellington was with the State Services Commission running its computer division. He moved to Norwich Union, ICL, which became Fujitsu, and then on to Data Com, which he helped build into New Zealand’s largest computer company. He found he had a gift for sales and for 16 years earned big money selling “large scale IT solutions.” But it was a high-stress job and one day he resigned. His plan was to take a break but when he tried to get back into IT sales he was told he was too old. He then drove a taxi for two years and enjoyed the change. One memorable fare involved talking rugby with All Blacks coach John Mitchell from Wellington all the way to Upper Hutt. He also did some work on a census and was the returning officer for Wellington Central during the 2002 general election. He then saw an advert to become a work broker. He got the job, found his sales background was a real asset, and in five years he’s helped around a thousand people into jobs. “If you get one person into a job and it saves a benefit of $200 a week that’s around $10,000 a year in taxes that you’ve saved.” “But I think it’s worth a lot more than that. If people are in work they’re paying taxes. The dairy owner on the corner is getting their custom. Their family life is better. The flow on effect is huge.” Unemployment has fallen from 5.4% when Jim started work in 2002 to a record low of 3.5% in September this year. Jim says that means more work is required to get people into paid employment. He says the people he works with now often need help acquiring skills so they can get a job or need help improving their English because they’ve arrived from another country. “We work them hard for the first 13 weeks they’re on the unemployment benefit. They come in twice a week for seminars. We get their CV sorted. Make sure they have a cell phone so we can contact them.” “If they can’t get a job in the first 13 weeks we put them into other courses for skills training.” Work and Income is also putting a lot of effort into helping people move off sickness and invalids benefits into the workforce “The targets I have from my manager are about getting more people from those categories into work, “ says Jim. He says the beneficiaries he helps want to work and it’s a case of getting employers to recognise their particular needs. “A diabetic may not be able to stand on their feet all day or may have to work a shorter day.” Finding work for skilled migrants can also be a challenge. Jim recalls helping an immigrant from eastern Europe who had a degrees in mechanical engineering and statistics but had a strong accent. “I got his wife a job first but he just couldn’t get work and got pretty desperate.” He eventually did get a job, but not in engineering, and every Christmas he emails Jim thanking him for his help. Jim also enjoys helping people set up their own business through an enterprise allowance scheme. He says for some people this is the only way they can earn a living. “For instance they may have aspbergers syndrome and find it impossible to get through a job interview but they have a talent they can turn into a business.” Work and Income helps them compile a business plan and puts them through a ‘be-your-own-boss course.’ It also provides $5000 capital and a $250 a week allowance for six months. The scheme has been very successful in the Wellington region and has a much lower failure rate in the first year for its new businesses than the national average. Jim clearly loves his work. He says at 60 it’s great to have a job where he makes a positive difference. “I can look in the mirror in the morning and say: ’is my job a job of worth?’ and the answer is always yes.” Authorised for the PSA by Brenda Pilott, 30 Prospect Tce., Johnsonville, Wellington