Economy

Debt. It’s a hell of a drug.

I owe the bank loads of money. In fact, apart from a year long holiday back in 2014, I've owed the bank lots of money since 2004. Unlike our parents, the amount I owe the bank did not start high in 2004, dwindling to almost nothing today. Instead, I (believing I…

Sean WaltersMay 8, 2026

Employment Recruitment Technology Work

Down the River: The Fall of Hudson Australia

This blog was hard to write. Not because I have a particular affinity with any global recruitment brand, but because I have a new laptop and have forgotten all my passwords, including the one for WordPress where these things are crafted. More on this later. The plight of the global…

Sean WaltersMay 1, 2026

Politics Recruitment Uncategorized

Nobody wins a Mexican Standoff

Three Mexican fellas. All with guns. At least one is played by the always-excellent Danny Trejo. Everyone pointing at someone else. Nobody moves. Nobody wins. Perhaps a tired movie trope, but one that 2026 can’t resist playing out time and time again. I’ve avoided blogging about Iran to date because…

Sean WaltersApril 23, 2026

Employment Human Resources Recruitment Technology

Accordant Group needs $5m (but don’t we all?)

I've been following a story which has perhaps slipped under the radar of most recruiters. Not because I'm any smarter than the rest of you, I just have to churn out a blog every Friday as part of my pact with Beelzebub. For those of you who have an irrational…

Sean WaltersApril 17, 2026

Employment Politics Recruitment

Job Hugging (and why I prefer “self-love”)

“…and trust me, we’re going to be dealing with many more w@nkers once the market improves” I find myself saying to Claudia during her annual review this week. This is my version of wisdom. Or motivation. Or both. Of course, calling candidates (and some clients) “w@nkers” is frowned upon in…

Sean WaltersApril 10, 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 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