Candidates

Recruiters, Rivals & the Death Rattle of Desperation

And once again, my hands are tied. This was promised to be a blog with some juicy industry gossip, and it very nearly was. However, after a few conversations yesterday, my editor (I do my own editing) has opted to veto the scoop. The reason: once the dust has settled,…

Sean WaltersAugust 22, 2025

Employment Job Boards Politics Sourcing Technology

Drowning in a sea of candidates

Although I could use the data generated by our sophisticated CRM, I, like most recruiters, like to rely on a little thing known as gut-feel. Let's be real, who needs solid, defensible, researched and reasoned information, when we can provide anecdotes, hear-say, speculation, and rumour. If you're an agency leader…

Sean WaltersJuly 25, 2025

Employment Recruitment Sourcing

How far is too far?

I had a call yesterday from an old candidate down in Wellington. I missed it as I was out peddling my wares to a prospective new client. Before I could call him back, I received the following text from them: "Let me know if you want a topic for your…

Sean WaltersMay 30, 2025

Employment Human Resources Recruitment Uncategorized

Ugly clients rear their ugly heads

It's only just occurred to me that this is my last blog of FY24/25. "Thank God" I hear you sigh. And don't worry, the feeling is mutual. This year has been the toughest in a long while for most of us, and it's no easy task writing 700 words each…

Sean WaltersMarch 28, 2025

Employment Human Resources Work

Weighing in on the “open to work” debate.

Yes yes. I know I am very late to the table on this one. Those who know me however will realise that it is within my contrarian nature to intentionally avoid any topic that any normal person may be interested in at any given point of time. Instead, Luxon’s desire…

Sean WaltersMarch 21, 2025

Employment Human Resources Recruitment

Easy come, not-so-easy go

There’s something in the water currently. No, not fish. Or faeces. I mean something that is bringing out some very aggressive, spiteful, and vindictive behaviours. You may remember that a couple of months ago I wrote this blog about a particularly nasty, inconsequential Christchurch firm who were bullying a former…

Sean WaltersFebruary 14, 2025

Star Wars Stormtrooper figure holding a flower

Recruitment

A New Hope: Internal Recruiters Return to Agency Life

Here we are, 6 Fridays into 2025 and, without jinxing it, doing pretty well. You never really know what "things are starting to pick up" means, and up until the very last week of December, I don't think it meant much. But fast forward a month, and we are seeing…

Claudia Dawson-JennerFebruary 7, 2025

Employment Recruitment Work

Those who can, do. Those who can’t…..recruit.

Back in the 90s it was socially acceptable to be a bit mean to teachers. Before he succumbed to scurvy, one of my old man's favourite adages was "those who can, do. Those who can't, teach". Why he hated teachers so much we'll never know. Society has moved on from…

Sean WaltersJanuary 24, 2025

Recruitment

A New Year’s Resolution: Meet more candidates

Merry New Year - as they say in countries who speak English as a second language. If you're reading this, you're one of the seemingly few who decided to start your working year on the 6th of January, and not the 13th. Hopefully everyone is well rested, although if your…

Sean WaltersJanuary 10, 2025

Employment Human Resources Job Boards Recruitment Work

2024: A Year.

I've asked a few recruiters of late how 2024 has been for them, and comments have ranged from "worse than the GFC" to "f*ckin' sh*te mate". Thankfully, it is all but over. SEEK were kind enough to buy me a few beers and some lovely socks this week, and overall…

Sean WaltersDecember 20, 2024