NZ Recruiter

Going forward in your career in the IT Market - Podcast with Illegal Argument

I had a good chat with the guys at Illegal Argument , a discussion group on anything Java/JVM with an Auckland/NZ focus.

Are you truly going forward in your career? Thinking of contracting versus perm? Product dev versus services? For some candid insight into the New Zealand IT market and career development from experienced senior IT perspectives along with a recruitment perspective - listen here at Illegal Argument Podcast 59. 

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Are you a software developer in Auckland open to opportunities? Click here

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Roll up your sleeves: Auckland Startup Weekend - April 1st - 3rd !

Been walking around with that lightbulb above your head, thinking to yourself, "What if?" "How could I?" "Where do I even begin?" Save those questions in your back pocket and gear up for the Auckland Startup Weekend coming up on April 1st - 3rd!  What is this? From Startupweekend.org: 

 54-hour events where developers, coders, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and create startups!

. . . weekend-long, hands-on experiments where entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs can find out if startup ideas are viable.  Most events have about 75 attendees, half of which have technical backgrounds and the other half have business backgrounds.

With access to mentors and collaborators to really give life to your ideas, or for you to be a part of an incredible startup project, this is worth a try. After all,  the winner of last month's LA StartupWeekend raised $1M in three weeks! Perhaps Rod Drury of Xero was right in saying in Computerworld that Silicon Valley careers can be had here in New Zealand.

Keep updated on Twitter and follow @AKLSW and organiser @JasonArmishaw. 

Beating the Aussies in "Bling" @ CeBIT

Link: Computerworld > Kiwis ‘out-bling’ Aussies at Hannover’s CeBIT show.

Let's face it. Anytime New Zealand beat the Aussies in anything is time for celebration. Be it sport, IQ, or technology. So there's no holding back when sixteen innovative Kiwi technology companies "out-blinged" them with our ICT presence at CeBIT.

Kudos to Zephyr Technology for being featured on the BBC Technology website. They're a leader in Smart Fabric sensor technology, developing physiological monitoring products for the medical, sports and wellness and defence markets. They look like an interesting company with a growing niche - which seems to be a trademark of home-grown technology companies that embark on the global playing field.

NZ Government Spends $1.15 million on Job Board For 2 Jobs

Link: New Zealand Herald.

Yet another fantastic effort from the govt. in wasting money on a project that really shouldn't be spent on. Have a look and see for yourself at NetworkZonline.govt.nz. Hmm. $1.15 million. Notice the very first line where they misspell their own name "NeworkZ Online". This is followed by two type-o's in the second line (there are only 2 lines of text.) Aside from the fact that there are only 5 current job vacancies listed (3 up since the Herald article!), it really isn't very attractive to jobseekers who are browsing. No job descriptions or any details provided, unless you register. Nor would it be attractive to employers to post their openings - if no one else is on there - there most likely aren't any jobseekers utilising it. And come to think of it, why aren't all government jobs listed in the job board?

Now I'm not putting in a plug for Seek or Trademe or Search4jobs, but hey - these are real online job boards that work. Why "compete" against them - NZ enterprises that employee hundreds or thousands of Kiwis? If the ultimate goal is to attract and recruit skilled migrants - I'm sure the fastest way to put them off NZ is with an interactive jobsite that has 3 jobs and doesn't work. Makes NZ look even smaller!

Recruiting and marketing is all business - and should be run like a business - not like a government expenditure. Business problems should be addressed with business solutions - not just technology solutions, like an online jobsite. Positive and effective policy and procedure changes in Immigration for working visas and family visas as well as changes in taxation or any kind of perks would probably do a lot more to attract skilled migrants than a rate-payer funded job board.

Lie on your CV? Lie detector will sort you out

Link: Lie detector software catches e-mail fibbers-News-UK-TimesOnline.

Hmm. Here's a sequel to the Skype Lie detector test. Apparently this software, which is still in development, can catch people in their lies written in email. It examines patterns in language - such as length and types of phrases and words used or avoided. While this software could be used in checking emails from "sick" employees, or emails from cheating girlfriends or boyfriends, I wonder how useful this would be in email correspondence and even resumes and cover letters from job applicants.  I doubt the indicators used by the software would be applicable in CV forms - but who knows?? I still think the best way to call out the liars is through thorough questioning and asking for evidence - basically clear examples of performance, references and background checks.

Just to note some top business leaders who have lied about their credentials (and got caught):
Forbes.com - Did you Lie on Your Resume?