In a Nutshell: Five ways to make the right impression when hiring talent
Learn five essential strategies for attracting top talent: make a strong impression with seamless processes, clarify role requirements, research candidates thoroughly, assess team fit, and provide constructive feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Talent Spot: Ella Bennett, HR director for Fujitsu UK and Ireland
Ella Bennett became HR director for Fujitsu UK and Ireland in 2009, bringing experience from roles at charities Family Service Units and Mind. She has reorganized the HR function, established new leadership, and implemented social media for better staff communication.
How to reframe your performance review
Learn how to shift your performance review focus from fixing weaknesses to developing your natural strengths. This approach creates more positive, motivating conversations that help you grow your career by polishing your best talents rather than dwelling on shortcomings.
News: HR is “ineffective” and “non-essential”, say senior execs
A survey of 418 senior executives reveals widespread dissatisfaction with HR departments, with only 17% believing HR performs effectively. Executives criticize HR’s inability to support global talent acquisition, manage flexible workforces, and provide meaningful data analytics for business forecasting.
In a Nutshell: Seven songs to ensure career success
Management consultant Peter Cook draws parallels between music and business to offer HR leaders seven lessons for career success, from Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” to George Michael’s “Faith.” Using popular songs, Cook illustrates key principles like continuous learning, avoiding complacency, and articulating value effectively.
Blog: The World of HR – Today’s frustrations, tomorrow’s dreams part 1
HR leaders worldwide share common aspirations for transforming their function from traditional service delivery toward integrated business support, while managing the challenge of workforce reduction through technology and line-manager delegation. This article explores what HR wants to become based on insights from 26 HR directors across 12 countries.
Five considerations for carving out a successful HR career
Discover five key considerations for advancing your HR career, from understanding what decision-makers value to mastering table-stakes skills. Research shows career progression depends on operational excellence, business acumen, and visibility among leadership teams at different career stages.
In a Nutshell: Five tips when recruiting for a start-up
Recruiting the right team is critical for hospitality start-ups. Hilton’s HR director shares five key strategies: define your brand personality, attract people who embody your values, hire for passion and commitment, invest in employee culture and facilities, and ensure management alignment with company values.
What risk type are you? And why does it matter?
Understanding your risk type—whether you’re “Wary” or “Adventurous”—reveals how you perceive threats and opportunities. Self-awareness about these differences is crucial for executives and managers, as misaligned risk perspectives can derail effective decision-making and damage working relationships in leadership teams.
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when taking on an apprentice
Taking on an apprentice requires clear expectations, a well-defined role, and the right training partner. Jason Holt, who pioneered apprenticeships in the jewellery industry, outlines five key considerations for employers to maximize success: manage expectations from the start, define daily tasks, select a supportive training provider, provide proper induction and mentorship, and plan for the apprentice’s long-term development within your business.
In a Nutshell: Four ways to ensure that staff have a healthy work-life balance
Employers can support healthy work-life balance by increasing employee awareness of benefits, offering flexible working options, fostering team engagement through fun activities, and investing in staff training and career development. These strategies boost satisfaction, morale, and overall business performance.
Is the HR recruitment market starting to recover?
The HR recruitment market is showing steady recovery with increased vacancies across most sectors, though challenges remain at senior levels and in securing top-tier talent due to high candidate expectations and companies seeking more strategic, business-focused HR professionals.
News: 22,500 new HR jobs created over last year
The UK’s HR sector gained 22,500 new jobs over the past year as business confidence recovered, with employment rising 20%. However, the sector remains below 2006 peaks, though vacancies for senior interim staff surged 45% during the first nine months of 2012.
Blog: Creating your own Dragon’s Den to foster innovation
Create an internal innovation program inspired by Dragons’ Den to encourage employees to present ideas for business improvements. By establishing quarterly pitch sessions with recognition rewards and cross-departmental participation, you can boost engagement, enhance operations, and foster a culture of creative problem-solving throughout your organization.
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when setting up your own business
Learn essential tips for starting your own business, including distinguishing urgent from important tasks, communicating with staff, networking effectively, and understanding finances. Expert advice covers recharging personally and mastering the basics of business management.
Engaging for success: The key role of line managers
Line managers play a crucial role in sustaining employee engagement, yet many organizations fail to equip them with the necessary support and capability. Rather than relying solely on communications programs, effective engagement requires HR, communications, and managers to work together, embedding positive managerial behavior into daily operations and helping managers understand engagement as core to their role.
In a Nutshell: The five core principles of effective leadership
Effective leadership rests on five core principles: fostering continuous learning, communicating a clear vision, adapting to context, maintaining integrity and consistency, and developing leaders at all organizational levels.
Well-being at work: Learning to love what you do
Social connections at work are as important for health and well-being as diet and exercise. Building high-quality relationships through empathy, treating colleagues as equals, and finding flow in your work can significantly boost job satisfaction, productivity, and overall happiness.
In a Nutshell: Six considerations when devising an HR strategy
Develop an effective HR strategy by understanding your business and people, focusing on five key priorities, and securing broad buy-in through clear communication. Expert guidance emphasizes simplicity, measuring progress with SMART criteria, and presenting your plan in accessible language that drives actual implementation.
News: Thinktank and nurses’ leaders dispute impact of regional pay deals
A think tank claims regional pay deals could save £6.3 billion in public spending, but nursing leaders warn the move will drive thousands of NHS staff to leave, harming patient care and exacerbating existing staffing shortages.
