Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 97

i 1 Eepumic f7 i If IH' ii ii Sunday, June 1, 2008 aGentralcom SECTION EC1 Republic, mm builder weekly Hi ill! JjGi 2 azkentralcom cariif builder 3 Laugh to the bank By Alison Stanton Special for the Republic Who: Paul Johnson, 48, is chief executive officer of Old World Communities, a real-estate development firm focused on providing in-fill residential and assisted-living A weekly where CareerBuilder experts offer advancement strategies. As a job candidate, I have difficulty dealing with salary and compensation issues. What is the best way to handle the disclosure of a previous salary, and what is the best thing to say during an interview when asked about your last salary? Also, when and how is the best way to bring up the fact that you want to negotiate a salary offer? Most employment applica; tion forms require you to list your actual salary early in the hiring process. Answer the question communities, as well as commercial and mixed-use Johnson, former mayor of Phoenix, employs 30 real-estate Paul Johnson ,0 if If if I 4 i v-1 v. PHOTOS BY JACK KURTZTHE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Joel Zeff (right) gives his presentation on how to have fun in the workplace at the Laramar Communities' management meeting last month at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.

How companies lighten up Srf 'J 1- Productivity, profits rise at fun firms By Patricia Bathurst Special to the Republic Everyone has muttered "there's a reason they call it work" at least once or twice. But American workers may find the old saw less and less applicable as the wave of business consultants advocating fun at work has reached tsunami size over the past decade. The trend certainly is getting a push from workers who want a better work-life balance, but many companies also have learned that fun increases the bottom line. No kidding 'Tun at work can provide a competitive advantage," according to Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher, authors of The Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up. In fart, according to the Great Place to Work Institute, a research and management-consulting company, the stock-market value for Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" grew four times faster than the market between 1998 and 2005.

"There's been a shift in expectations from the force," said Kevin Corley, assistant professor of management with the P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, pointing to a growing insistence on "more meaningful work, social relevance and a better balance in life" from many employees and job candidates. There also are strong business reasons for companies to engage in a light-hearted approach, he said. "It's a way to stand out and draw the best people to your company," he said Battling turnover They're more likely to stick around, for one. The research firm Ipsos surveyed 1,000 employees, and those who rated their manager's sense of humor "above average" said there was a 90 percent chance they'd stay at the job for more than a year.

Dave Woodward, chief executive officer of Laramar Communities, a real-estate investment and management group based in Denver, said, "I Westcor had the Carl's Jr. dance squad in to hand out burgers. Jordan Rose, managing partner of the Rose Law Group in Phoenix, staged a water-gun fight with her team. The folks at Forty, an interactive-marketing agency in Chandler, often spend lunch times playing Wii games on the office projector. A key presenter at KPMG's last national "town hall" session was comedian Stephen Colbert.

Now that its Cinco de Mayo salsa contest is over, CB Richard Ellis' Phoenix team is gearing up for this summer's chili-dog challenge. These are just a few of the companies in Phoenix that take their fun seriously. Joel Zeff, a Dallas-based who specializes in helping companies create a more relaxed culture; said, "Don't confuse fun and humor. Fun is a positive environment, and one we can choose. "When we make that choice, it makes us better, more connected teammates.

We're more productive it's amazing what we can do when we have fun. Every time you laugh, you get a boost of adrenaline, and you're ready for the next thing." development, construction and sales professionals. Education: Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and graduated from the executive program in public administration at Harvard University's Kennedy School. Starting point: Johnson's first job was with his dad's company, Paul Johnson Dry-wall, where he worked as a framer and a drywall apprentice. By the time he was 18, Johnson had saved enough money to buy his first piece of land, where he built a triplex along with his dad and brothers.

Johnson said his father taught him a valuable trade and basic business skills, as well as "the confidence to lead, try new things and take risks. This is in part how I got into politics at an early age and why I have started several companies over the years." He says: "The mission of my company is to provide urban communities that offer city workers, police officers, firefighters, teachers, military and nurses the opportunity to rrlove into the heart of the city that is our demographic nicjie. The city must consider increasing density to assure better utilization of existing infrastructure, reduce traffic and get people closer to the employment base to slow urban sprawl. We must also clean up areas like our site in Laveen at 28th Avenue and Baseline, which is next to an auto-sal- vage yard and trailers, one of which was used as a meth lab. I don't pretend to have all the answers.

But I do intend to participate in discussions about smart growth for the metro Phoenix area and for our state." Climbing techniques: "I have found that the most valuable people in business are those who think more about their customers, investors and fellow employees than about themselves. These are people who understand that we have an obligation to someone and something greater than ourselves. These are leaders who truly provide the best in service." Aspiring advice: "Real-estate development has the combined benefits of allowing us to provide the most basic needs for a family or business with the excitement of feeling like you're at a craps table in Las Vegas. So you need to know yourself and whether you are comfortable with taking big risks or not. If you like real estate but not the risk, you should work for someone who offers a product that you can stand behind." Details: www.berkana homes.com honestly and never misrepresent your earnings.

Most companies engage in a due-diligence process to make certain you are who you say you are, and they Jack Milligan, Leathers Milligan Ol Partners may ask for a copy of your last pay stub or a copy of your last W-2, so you want to be able to back up your claims. For a number of reasons, most people don't negotiate their employment offers. Some 75 percent simply accept what they are given, and most of the other 25 percent who do negotiate do it wrong. In my experience, only about 10 percent of people engage properly in negotiations, which is the simple art of asking for more. As a coach, this is probably one of the most frequently asked questions I receive.

You need to acknowledge their question on the application but not necessarily answer it Responding "open" or "negotiable" normally is sufficient During the interview, the best strategy is to again acknowl edge the question but wait until later for a direct response. You are in a much better position if you can get them to reveal their budget or need first Kevin Tucker, C-Cubed Career Consulting The key is to keep the focus on them and your worth to the company. Once they see what value you bring to the company, they will be much more willing to talk but keep in mind; this is all before you sign the offer letter. Compiled by Patricia Bathurst Have a question? Want an Ask the Experts answer? Send it to Ask the Experts, The Arizona Republic, 200 E. Van Buren NM19, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

E-mail to expertarizonarepublic.com or fax 602-444-8044. Capitol Group Companies Phoenix Recruiting Open House: 5-8 p.m. June 10 at 14636 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Mayo Clinic Open House: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

June 11 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E. Mayo Phoenix. v. if from the annual indoor golf tourney to a recent Day," during which employees were invited to make their own specials at lunch-time. Even companies such as accounting giant KPMG are consciously developing a culture that promotes a lighter mood during working hours.

Ed Rodriguez, managing partner of the Phoenix offices, said, "At the end of the day, success is built on one-to-one relationships that build the business. "And if easier with those who have a sense of humor." Next week: how to get hired at a fun company. Reach the writer at www.writinginaz.com. JACK KURTZTHE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Zeff's approach doesn't sacrifice productivity. know a good organization with professional, happy people makes for a better bottom line.

Tm passionate about attracting, recruiting and keeping positive, upbeat people." Woodward said that, in an industry with typically high turnover, Laramar had reduced turnover by at least 5 percent recently. "We actively encourage innovation and creativity," he said, "and empower our on-site managers. I want people with passion and good humor. It makes a big difference in how you approach your work." Jade Meskill, who head Integrum Technologies, a boutique software company in Chandler, purposefully set out to "build a place I and everyone who worked with me wanted to come to every day. I like to make people laugh and have them enjoy coming to work." Integrum's open office de- ing and interviewing for the following jobs.

Collector. One or more years call-center experience required. Employer interested in fully qualified, seasoned collectors. Will contact customers to determine reason for payment delinquency and obtain payment commitment. per' year.

Job Order 309447. Customer Service Representative. Process phone calls for a major client. $9 per hour. Job Order 309379.

m' sign encourages casual conversation, and the large videogame setup allows people to take quick breaks. "We work hard and have fun at it," Meskill said. Laughing away stress At the Phoenix offices of CB Richard Ellis, commercial real-estate brokers, event coordinator Jeanne Olcott said, 'Tart of our mission statement is to provide a rewarding work environment on a company-wide basis." In a fast-paced, demanding work environment, if critical to have a culture that is positive and supportive of the employees. The Phoenix offices are a national model, Olcott said, with scheduled and "spontaneous" events ranging Administrative Assistant. High school diploma and one year administrative and MS Office programs experience required.

Answer incoming calls, set appointments, schedule couriers, run errands, prepare outgoing mail, copy material, maintain an organized filing system and post payments to accounts receivables system. Pay depends on experience. Job Order 309558. Technical Support Representative. High-school di Job fair at Gilbert One Stop Career Center attracts 41 employers ploma or GED required, associate's degree preferred.

Six months' customer service experience in a call center required. Must type 25 words per minute, be proficient in MS Windows 95 or higher and provide quality technical-support service through one-call resolution. per hour. Job Order 308207. Arrive prepared by taking many copies of your resume, dressing appropriately, and having your "elevator sales-pitch" ready.

A better job ARIZONA aSkHTtralcom By Alice Arredondo Department of Economic Security Arizona Workforce Connection's June 3 job fair at the Gilbert One Stop Career Center has been expanded because of popular demarid. Originally planned for 23 employers, a total of 41 have been accommodated. Visit with them from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at 735 N.

Gilbert Road, 134 in Gilbert. Employers will be recruit a I .1 vm urn "1 awaits. CitiiiK.buildrftiKiy 3 Republic cnreorbuilder PUBLIC f-.