Whiteboard Blog – Rice & Co

Recruiters who play God

A mental health professional once diagnosed me as being a "Charismatic Narcissist". Apparently that's a thing. Personally (which I don't take it), I put the emphasis on the first word. Others close to me, including my wife, place it on the latter. I am aware that this differing interpretation would…

Sean WaltersMarch 20, 2026

Employment Recruitment Work

Terms: A Triple Word Score

Given the number of typos I run with, you may be surprised to know that I love a bit of Scrabble. I play my wife who is a very intelligent woman, but overall, I still edge it a bit more than she does. Scrabble isn't just about spelling. It's about…

Sean WaltersMarch 13, 2026

Employment Politics Recruitment

Thanks heaps Donny

Well we’ve had a good run of it. For most of us, we’ve seen almost 8 weeks of business growth and positivity. Ignoring the two years of recession, I don’ think we can be too spiteful towards a tiny-handed, demented, nepo brat who seems intent on causing constant global instability.…

Sean WaltersMarch 6, 2026

Employment Recruitment Work

Infrawork (that’s Extrastaff to you) sells for…$56 million

Yes, that’s right folks. In case you didn’t know, last week saw New Zealand’s biggest ever recruitment acquisition when ASX-listed PeopleIN completed the purchase of Infrawork for an eyewatering $56m. Infrawork, who you’ll most likely know as the skilled trades and labour recruitment firm Extrastaff, also include an immigration firm,…

Sean WaltersFebruary 27, 2026

Politics Recruitment Technology

Proofreaders, Prodigies, and the AI Panic

As if I wasn’t predictable enough, a blog criticising the RCSA is followed by a blog about AI. One about All of Government and another taking the p*ss out of Consult will make it a full-house. However, short of a seriously lame post comparing “your next hire” with an Olympic…

Sean WaltersFebruary 20, 2026

Employment Recruitment Work

The RCSA Paywall Awards

I gave myself the luxury of starting 2026 with some frivolous blogs. Unfortunately (for everyone), I'm now back in the business of serious recruitment codswallop. Last week I noticed a few posts, some of them cringeworthy, about changes to the annual RCSA Awards submission policy. For the first time ever,…

Sean WaltersFebruary 13, 2026

Employment Human Resources Recruitment

Red Flags: A Recruiter’s Guide

Recruitment is of course getting replaced by AI. We all know this. What will be replaced last is the common recruiter’s “gut instinct”. Here’s my list of red flags and warning signs to look out for when trying to add value to an increasingly dehumanised process. Hell, apply them to…

Sean WaltersJanuary 30, 2026

Uncategorized

Recruitment Management, Burnt Garlic, and the Problem with KPIs

I want you to take a moment. Look around your office and find the best performer. If it’s you, either look at the second best, or feel uncomfortable as your colleagues stare at you right now. Now ask yourself: does the office’s highest biller recruit exactly like you do? Actually,…

Sean WaltersJanuary 23, 2026

Employment Recruitment Sourcing

Backstreet’s Back (and so is saying “No” in 2026)

"Oh my God, we're back again!" sing the Backstreet Boys in their 1997 classic. And unless you're incredibly lucky, unlucky, or rich, so should you be. The rest of the song has no relevance to the first post of the year sadly. Before you ask, my break was lovely thank…

Sean WaltersJanuary 16, 2026

Human Resources Recruitment Work

Christmas is a confidence game (and I’m all in)

Regular readers may assume that I hate this time of year. The commercialism. The inability to get a seat or pie at Vultures unless you queue. The d*ckheads in Santa hats and Hawaiian shirts. The obligation to talk to (and even spend time with) distant relatives, neighbours you hate, and…

Sean WaltersDecember 19, 2025

Recruiters who play God

Terms: A Triple Word Score

Thanks heaps Donny

Recruiters who play God

Terms: A Triple Word Score

Thanks heaps Donny

Infrawork (that’s Extrastaff to you) sells for…$56 million

Proofreaders, Prodigies, and the AI Panic

The RCSA Paywall Awards

Red Flags: A Recruiter’s Guide

Recruitment Management, Burnt Garlic, and the Problem with KPIs

Backstreet’s Back (and so is saying “No” in 2026)

Christmas is a confidence game (and I’m all in)

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