Advice

Paralyzed HR, Active Progeeks

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So yesterday, I mentioned that, based on what I've been reading and seeing in people I know doing a job search, the HR/recruiting system of many companies is essentially locked up:

  • When there is a system, it often is disempowered, has mixed duties, and either outsources a lot or isn't sure what to do.
  • Some companies have just turned to recruiters and tossed out some requests, making things more confusing.
  • In the wake of a rather paralyzed HR scene, some smart young companies are trying to jump into business – a sign there's easy pickings.
  • I hear constant complaints from everyone, a sign the whole HR/recruiting scene is not working for people – including those in it.

So my take?  It ain't working.

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Cause and Effect – The Power of Hobbies

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As you may have guessed if you've . . . well read most anything I've written or published in the last few years . . . is that I'm big on how people's hobbies can lead to and enhance careers.  I'm always exploring the power of hobbies and how we can leverage them as part of the big picture of our life – and our careers.

Usually I focus on things like skills or networking, or occasionally the psychology of things like confidence-building.  But there's something I've noticed recently as I've talked to fans and profans, as I've explored people using their hobbies in their careers.

Our hobbies teach us about repercussions and connections, of cause and effect.

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Make Sure You Use The News

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We post a lot of news here.  That's part of the service we provide to our fellow geeks, after all – calling out and analyzing news for people.

So I want to encourage you to do something WITH the news.  The news here.  The news elsewhere.  Whatever method you get news, you need to act on it and need to get in the habit of acting on it.

What do I mean?  Well it's easy to get news.  We geeks have news feeds, RSS, aggregators, social media, Twitter, and everything else.  We're constantly getting news – good news, relevant news, news that's important.

But getting news is one thing.  It's acting on it that makes a real difference.

So get into the habit of acting on news:

  • If you see a story you should read, don't just read it – ask what it means for you, and perhaps act on it.
  • If you hear about a company that sounds good then check their job listings, and send them a resume, or pass the lead onto friends and family.
  • For that matter if a story is relevant, just pass it on.
  • If the story links elsewhere, follow.  If you want to learn more go do a web search for a few minutes.
  • Does it mention a good book?  Download a sample or buy the thing.

Simple?  Sure. It's all stuff we think we should be doing – but we have to get into the habit of using that news.

So get active – news is only news you can use when you use it.

– Steven Savage