I spent the first twelve years of my career working in recruiting and HR departments. Then I spent nine years writing and speaking about HR, recruiting and technology. Working in HR makes you skeptical, and the first part of my career made a formative impact on my worldview. Whenever I hear a story about anything…
Every June, I run a half-marathon in Raleigh. It’s very hilly and hot, but it’s the last race around here until autumn. Last year’s race was when I totally blew out my hip and groin for what I hope will be the final time. I spent months resting and doing physical therapy, which is a…
I’ve spent the past nine years of my life working on my public speakings skills. Professional speakers do a lot of things right, none of which I knew at the beginning of my journey. I once spoke at SHRM, and I totally blew it. I knew it from the moment I opened my mouth. And…
There are two types of American HR departments. The first is a younger, recruiting-focused department that uses technology to build a case for change. (Does that sound like jargon? Yes, yes it is. These talent-minded pros use jargon to talk about what they do.) They don’t care about reporting to the CHRO or VP of…
Hi, everybody. I’m back from a multi-city tour that took me all over America. I had fun at my last stop — an event hosted by a recruiting company called Greenhouse. You might wonder, “What is a recruiting company?” Well, hang with me. When you apply for a job online, there are several distinct categories…
Lots of HR professionals want to know how to deliver value and build trust in organizations. (Like there’s a ten-step plan for being a better human being, too. Whatever.) People are always looking to experts when the answers reside within themselves. Drives me crazy. In as much as a blog post or a conference can…
Want to know how to close the wage gap in pay? Here are three ways. Close it. It’s nice when people talk about the complexities and nuances of the labor market and then fold in a discussion on intrinsic motivation and capitalism. Those people are avoiding an honest conversation about accountability. If you want to…
There’s a conspiracy theory out there that the CIA has been involved in drug trafficking since the 1960s. Starting with America’s involvement in Southeast Asia (remember that old war?) through our current conflict in Afghanistan, people on the internet believe that the CIA moved drugs across the globe to impact political outcomes while simultaneously working to distribute crack…
I live in North Carolina. It’s a beautiful part of the country with mountains, beaches, and rolling meadows of wildflowers in between. My city, Raleigh, is one of the fastest growing towns (and tech towns) in America. We are a hub of innovation, and unlike every other city that makes the same claims, it’s true.…
I’m the queen of helping vendors put on better conferences, but nobody asks me to touch the obligatory CHRO panel. That’s too bad. A CHRO panel looks the same at nearly every event. The interviewer always asks Chief HR Officers about policy and culture with an eye towards a “holistic bigger picture” that is never…
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