NZ Recruiter

Will You Be Changing Jobs in 2010?

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Are you a software developer in Auckland who wants to be happier at work? Click here!

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It seems 2010 is going to be a massive year of career shift for many people. Surveys in most developed markets point to massive numbers of skilled candidates intending to change jobs this year. Some of the results include:

• 60% of US Workers intend to leave their jobs in 2010 (link).
• 25% of employees believe organization morale is low (link).
• 20% of workers plan to switch careers and/or industries within two years (link).
• Only 45% of US employers are satisfied with their jobs in 2009 down from 61% in 1987 (link).
• Only 53% of Singapore financial workers are satisfied with their jobs (link).

It makes you wonder what really happened with all these people, what is it that causes them to have so much suffering at work? I talk with a lot of people in regards to their situation at work, most will admit to wanting more of something. Sometimes when we flesh it out their needs are quite realistic. Other times they are looking for an easier path to a better reward, which unfortunately, rarely exists. Meshing reality with what the person wants is often the biggest part of understanding whether someone really needs to make a job change in order to improve their satisfaction.

This can be really difficult to do alone, even for the most experienced candidates. After all, if you're good at your job you are busy doing that, not analyzing the marketplace and/or your skills and abilities to see whether you are ready for a big move. In order to make the decision on whether the time is right I recommend answering a few of the following questions. Be honest with yourself, anything else is pointless.

• What are my biggest achievements in my current position?
• How have I grown in the last 2 years?
• Am I giving 100% of my effort to the work I'm doing?
• If not, why am I holding back?
• If yes, then is the work satisfying me?
• If it's not satisfying me despite my effort, what are the areas that are holding me back?
• Can I improve on those areas in my current position?
• If I made a job change what are all the areas I need fulfilled to make me happy in a new position. 
• Being that nowhere is perfect. What would I be willing to give up/take on to make that move anyway?

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Are you a software developer in Auckland, want to be happier at work? Click here!

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Job outlook for 2008

First off, I'd just like to wish you all an exciting and adventurous 2008! I think this year will be a challenging one for everyone but there are great opportunities out there and I think it's probably a really good time for those of you considering what you want out of your career to take stock and make some decisions. You might want to try asking yourself the following five questions to start the year:

1. What did I achieve in my career last year? (give yourself a pat on the back).
2. What would I really like to achieve in the next year? (push yourself).
3. How can I achieve that where I am now? (planning for it).
4. What is the long term goal that achieving this will support? (big dreams).
5. How can I achieve my long term goal where I am now? (more planning)

The best thing about planning like this is it will help you keep a weather report on whether or not your current employer is helping you achieve your dreams. If it becomes increasingly difficult to plan to achieve what you want where you are, then you need to start considering new places to work. Don't be overly keen to move though, the ability to creatively develop your job in any workplace can give you some very valuable skills as well. You also need to factor in some other important points that may be just as valuable as you getting the chance to achieve your goals. Good examples of that would be, the quality of mentors you have around you, and also the growth prospects of the company you are with. Both these factors can sometimes out weigh your goals because of the huge opportunities they can provide.

With all this in mind, rest assured you've got plenty of opportunities out there as companies look to increase staff, according to the latest Hudson survey of over 1700 employers. So reflect, take stock, and plan.

NZ Start-up Optima makes a name for itself Overseas

Link: Software start-up Optima scores big deals overseas - 27 Mar 2007 - NZ Herald: Technology News from New Zealand and around the World.

I love hearing about Kiwi firms kicking butt overseas. Optima Corporation, developer of resource allocation optimization and management software, has been making a name for itself overseas, primarily in emergency services with their Siren Predict and Siren Live software, and in the aviation industry with their Global Pairing software.

What's great about this company is the history and the niche that it's taken hold of. They started as a group of maths research students and lecturers from the University of Auckland. With the help from venture funding and funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, they have been able to commercialize their software to markets overseas.

One thing to think about: their biggest barrier to growth is finding and recruiting good developers. As with all companies, their greatest competitive advantage is its people.

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.

2nd Annual IT Architecture Summit: March 15-16, Auckland

Link: Bright*Star Conferences & Training Ltd - 2nd Annual IT Architecture Summit.

If you haven't done so yet, register for the 2nd Annual IT Architecture Summit which will be held next Thursday and Friday (March 15th-16th) @ the Stamford Plaza in Auckland. Here are two great reasons why:

• First and foremost, there will be an enlightening and engaging presentation from a very experienced and savvy IT recruiter... yours truly! I was kindly invited to speak on recruiting strategies for enterprise architecture.
• Secondly, to help you to add value to your organization, this summit will address and explore in-depth case studies of effective architectural design, including expert speakers on topics such as the role of enterprise architecture, development of standards, Service Oriented Architecture, application delivery network, integration, IT security, and more.

Check here for the AGENDA and how to REGISTER

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.

ARCast NZ is live!

Link: ARCast NZ.

I just wanted to spread the word on ARCast NZ -  an official offshoot of Ron Jacobs' International ARCast. Since 2005, Ron Jacobs has been interviewing architects all around the globe and giving insight into the world of architecture. ARCast NZ is hosted by Lukas Svoboda and is focused on the software and infrastructure architecture community in New Zealand. He's planning at least one cast a month looking at relevant issues in the local NZ architecture community.

The first interview is "How to convince management that letting a Developer become an Architect is a good idea". Well worth a listen!

Morgan's new venture in talent management

Link: Warehouse deal a boost for Morgan's new venture - 19 Feb 2007 - Information technology.

Sam Morgan is at it again with startup Sonar6, a web based talent management system which tracks staff performance and potential - they  have just signed on The Warehouse with all 3000 full-time employees as a client. But what I really liked hearing was founder Mike Carden's vision in competing globally by tackling the UK and US markets rather than Australia which so many NZ companies target:

"... at this stage of the business we have to go after the biggest opportunities. Because we are a web-based business there is as much effort required for us to be successful in the UK as in Australia, and the UK is more receptive."

Great to see such kiwi entrepreneurship aiming internationally.

NextWindow is the one to watch

Link: Kiwi firm has the magic touch - New Zealand's source for technology news on Stuff.co.nz.

Great to hear about small Kiwi tech companies beating out bigger global players on BIG deals. Hewlett-Packard chose Auckland-based NextWindow for their touchscreen technology over 3M and Elo. HP's new TouchSmart IQ 770 PC which features touch-controlled software is one of the first to realise touch technology with Microsoft Windows Vista. This is one NZ company to look out for as it grows in the international consumer technology arena.

NZ Government Gives More Money to Exporters

Link: Government wheels out big guns for launch of export drive - 01 Dec 2006 - Business.

Good news for small exporters today as the NZ government ponies up more cash to encourage exporting. Personally I feel it is better if the government cut taxes on export earnings to encourage ALL companies to focus internationally. But if grants are available then companies who have the time should take advantage of it. I know of consultanting companies that deal directly in helping companies get these grants. While it is important that government follow due diligence in spending tax payers dollars I find it ironic that a small business who is already swamped trying to work their business would have to hire a consultant to get a government grant.

Good to see local GPS company Navicom Dynamics has been able to take advantage of the grants to further their growth internationally though.