The Recruiter's Blog

by Alan Charman

"If you want to get the inside oil on New Zealand employment (and social!) conditions, forget the Department of Labour and newspapers, read this blog!"

 

5 March 2010

As I see the queues of 2500 people for a couple of hundred [mostly] part time jobs, and see people spreading their availability online, I wonder whether it's worth exploring the idea of a site specifically dedicated to helping people get back into work.

"Wouldn't you be cutting your own throat?" was the first question, but since Senior Engineers are unlikely to need to post details on that kind of site, I don't think there's much concern.

Some of the other recruiters may even use such a site to source workers themselves, which doesn't bother me at all - there are huge numbers of people looking for a job, and if I can help in some small way, I will.

See what you think by visiting www.gizzajob.co.nz

I went with the old fashioned Kiwi vernacular because it had the prime advantage of being available.

The whole thing is free and will remain so - think of it like a kind of Facebook where you post your desired job and employers who are interested can ring your cellphone.

We're sticking to first names and no e mail addresses, so your privacy is only compromised by your cellphone, which isn't too big a deal, an employer has to be able to contact you!

Charman Consulting will have no involvement in the entire process beyond managing the flow of information - we won't contact you, we won't give anyone your phone number - that's available on the site - and you certainly won't get spammed. (we don't even ask for an e mail address)

Any comments, send to me: alan@charman.co.nz

 

28 February 2010

Here we are, two months through the year already!

How are things looking now that we're past Christmas and orders have returned to normal?

To put in two words - slow improvement.

Orders show that machinery and capital purchases have re-commenced, but it's still showing only a small increase on the levels of 2009.

Given the huge hit manufacturing took in '09, we're going to need to see some significant improvement yet before we can say we're out of the woods.

I think out main problem at the moment is a lack of focus. John Key et al are tinkering rather than modelling. Key makes pipe-dreams of matching Australia in a forlorn hope to try to stem the ever-increasing tide of Kiwis migrating across the ditch.

We have a tax change which is unlikely to change much at all, a part tax on property by default through reducing depreciation and bugger all else.

What we need to do is to add value to products we already produce - wood, wool and lamb, just as Fonterra has come to be one of the top two dairy companies in the world. What progress has the Meat Board or the Wool Board made in the same time frame? None; they are still doing business in the 1960s.

Manufacturing needs to take the same approach, and we can show it pays off by looking at manufacturers like JMP and Glidepath which are making products for a worldwide market and killing the competition.

We know Kiwis can do it; we just have to make our minds up that we're going to.

We do, however, have a couple of mountains to climb first

Kiwisaver, Insulation schemes and Leaky buildings.

Kiwisaver. Dare I even mention the name? I've begun to think it's a bit like "he who must not be named" in the Harry Potter books! Even the mention of the word nowadays seems to be controversial. Schemes are losing our money faster than we're paying it in. It won't stop the directors drawing fat wages, though.

We got the insulation scheme wrong, but that was to be expected in an area where no rules exist and it comes under the same umbrella organisation (particularly apposite term, I thought) that gave us 20 billion dollars worth of leaky buildings.

These things are a drag on the NZ economy. Not just a drag, an anchor, in fact - a very large one.

The insulation scheme has cost the government $20-30 million [conservatively] over and above what it should have. The scheme has enriched a few clever companies, while allowing those same companies to install unsafe insulation. 40% of houses with down-lights were found to be incorrectly insulated.

This is the exact problem in Oz which has led to Peter Garrett being relieved of responsibility, yet here, nothing happens. Maybe when we've had a few fatalities from fires?

The leaky building saga itself is only enriching lawyers.

Those responsible - the builders, designers and developers - have taken their money and run, leaving councils and the government to foot the bill.

The very best thing from here would be for the government to admit and accept all liability as it would be absurd to make ratepayers responsible for the sins of their elected officials and their lackeys. It would also avoid fat cat shysters getting fatter on the proceeds of multiple-year suits.

 

14 February 2010

Happy Valentine's day to all three couples good old Aunty Herald outed this morning!

Being a celebrity isn't much fun during a divorce, I imagine, although it could be said that they get plenty of practice, so ought to be able to figure it out eventually.

What is it with celebrities? Why do they seem to only have relationships with other famous people? Are they all that amazingly shallow?

It's worse than soap!

Along with the Parore/Ridge split, there are apparently two hyper-rich couples about to untie the knot at great expense to each other with all parties having engaged QCs.

Given the clarity of New Zealand's divorce laws, the lawyers just love this kind of celebrity family law.

All the proceedings are secret, because the cases involve children and custody, the money is astronomical because the cases drag on for years and they're ringing the cash register every single month. I'd make a mark that each legal team will charge over a million bucks to take these cases from start to finish - if it goes all the way.

But the most beautiful thing of all is summed up brilliantly by University of Auckland associate professor Pauline Tapp who said court was there for those "stupid enough to waste their money" when almost all divorces could be resolved through lawyers.

Even better, she finished with:

"It seems to me that many of the people who go to a defended hearing either have real personal problems or mental problems. Bad relationship breakdown - they are out to get revenge."

Bravo, Pauline!

You couldn't be more right if you were Attila the Hun's niece.

And for my $0-02 worth on the equation, I offer the following odds:

Husband seeks revenge in Family Court $7

Wife seeks revenge in Family Court $1.20

Sorry, girls, this one is really your problem. I accept that the problem of women being punched in the mouth and/or killed in fits of jealous rage is mainly a male problem, but if you try to deny that the majority of cases of custodial wrangling that go to court are because of a subset of women who are just so out-and-out vindictive and spiteful, then you are either kidding yourself or lying.

Some people are incapable of letting go. Men often manifest this in suicide or violence, but women usually resort to being intractable in custodial matters.

What a pleasure to see Assoc. Prof. Pauline Tapp giving them a serve they richly deserve.

 

10 February 2010

Let's take a look at the debate on whether NZ can, or even ought to try, to "catch" Australia in some kind of economic sprint over the next ten years.

I'm with another top Alan-bloke. "Bollard" I say to those who think we can ever match Aussie's economy and earning power.

Alan Bollard quite correctly pointed out that Australia is a different type of economy to NZ's and that catching them is pie in the sky.

I can recall but a few scant years ago that NZ was being asked to become another Ireland.

That we didn't is quite lucky in the end as Ireland's unemployment rate is over double that of NZ.

The point that Key, Brash and other politician miss is that we don't need to "catch" anyone. What we need to do is the best we can.

At least the extra focus on getting people off benefits and into work is a step in the right direction. Benefit dependence is legion in NZ and we have now bred multiple generations of benefit-abusers.

And no, they're not all Maori, as nicely evinced by the head of the Harris Gang in Christchurch, who is on a sickness benefit and has been for quarter of a century because he's sick with cannabis dependence. What a horror disease!

Lucky the NZ taxpayer foots the bill for both his dope and food.

The unemployment benefit is there for people who are genuinely seeking work but cannot find it.

It seems to me that we are half-heartedly introducing Roger Douglas' tax reforms from the 1980s at last, but in such a watered-down fashion that little will be achieved. Key obviously recognises that GST is the best form of taxation, but refuses to go far enough.

 

22 January 2010

Well, it's nice to be right, but it's a case where I'd rather have been proven wrong.

The silent epidemic of unemployment in New Zealand right now - and I do NOT mean the "official" figure of 4.2%, or even the Manukau figure of 7.7%. The Herald today hasn't even figured out what's going on, although they're now aware of the symptoms.

Update 26 January - the Herald must have read this blog, because they have now finally got the idea with this article today.

I have been noting for many months that there are tens of thousands of intending Kiwis who don't qualify for any benefits, don't have any work, and don't have any money.

The doors have been open to migrants on work, student and holiday visa as we've desperately tried to fill skill and labour shortages. People have been flooding in - and are still flooding in - to New Zealand in search of the land of milk and honey. Many of them will not even have the price of a ticket home as they have expended all their money trying to find work to allow them to stay.

The real unemployment figure in NZ is far higher than the government statistics show.

We were advertising for workers for a casual job cleaning up rubbish after the Auckland outdoor events and had to take the ad down after only 24 hours, such was the response.

Getting 2500 turning up for permanent jobs is no surprise at all, and it'll no doubt be doubled today.

 

19 January 2010

The argument is finally over.

The subject of which is the best city in NZ to live in has been answered definitively.

This is a real screenshot of the weather on 16 January 2010 - feel free to contact Metservice to check the facts, the time of the screenshot is 12-09 pm.

10.6 degrees in the middle of January.

Wellington has now taken over "arsehole of the world" status from Invercargill.

 

 

11 January 2010

"Me, me, me!"

This is really funny and highlights the pathetic minds who believe that their nappies should be being changed for them, despite their 30-40 years on the planet.

Herald

How is it that being stupid enough not to read an agreement is a reason not to face consequences.

Idiot!
 

 

 

21 December 2009

As we get ready to farewell 2009, we'd like to thank all of the candidates and customers we've dealt with this year.

We've placed some excellent candidates in some outstanding jobs during 2009. Watching the progression of candidates through a company is one the most satisfying parts of a very enjoyable job.

As usual, instead of giving away Christmas gifts, we're adding another new CCF sponsorship to the portfolio.

Details will be up soon!

 

 

23 November 2009

Here we are, already in the run-up to Xmas and the break.

As always, this is a great time to assess your goals for the next 12 months. Do you want to be in the same job this time next year? If so, that's great - you obviously have a good job!

In almost 20 years in recruiting, the trend of people returning from holidays and realising they want to change jobs has become entrenched. A good break away from work often lets people see things as they really are, and there's nothing like a fresh start in the fresh year.

Trouble is, everyone is in the same boat, so how do you stand out from the crowd and get onto the dozens of orders which come in during January? Employers tell us what their needs are for early next year, but we don't usually advertise those jobs until January as we like to take a holiday as well!

The time to act is right now.

We can give you an appraisal of what jobs are going to be available in the New Year, and if we have one which suits, you can get on the short list before the job's even advertised.

 

 

Talk to us now, or forward your cv to jobs@charman.co.nz

More blogs, letters, essays and other stuff from Alan Charman

 

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