How HR robs us of good leaders

Agencies say that they are working in your best interests. This is not true. You are working in your best interests. Anything that acts as a gatekeeper is to be avoided at all costs.

Golden rule #2: use whatever means necessary to get the name of the client who has hired the agency – and then cut the agency out of the picture.

Nepotism beats merit

Incompetence, uncommunicativeness and laziness are mere venal sins compared to nepotism. In today's modern age could it be that some employers will engage the services of a recruitment agency simply to give the veneer of transparency when really, they already have the successful candidate picked? You bet.

The public service and some universities sometimes advertise a position to be seen to exercise transparency of process (if not deed) even though they already have the candidate all but sitting in the chair. It's one of life's little ironies that the reason they have to do that is to stop nepotism.

What's wrong with a little nepotism? One rationale supporting our education system is to create a meritocracy through individual academic excellence, where one's labour is rewarded by entering a university, gaining a scholarship or getting a job. It supports the notion of progress by promotion and recognises achievement.

In recruitment some say that nepotism is just 'networking writ large'. That's like saying that lying is a post facto reconstruction permissible only when you can get away with it. Every little justification in recruitment covers a bloody spot where ethics used to proudly stand.

Getting a job in a rural city

While the tree or sea change seems like a fine idea, beware of trying to pick up a job in places such Adelaide, Darwin, Bendigo, Byron Bay or the Gold Coast as these are examples of 'closed shops'.

By 'closed shops' I mean there are only limited amount of jobs (usually in retail as a casual) and most jobs are allocated by 'who you know'. If you come from a large city, have post graduate degrees and have senior management experience and are expecting wage parity with previous employment – forget it.

People with less experience, fewer qualifications and with less national or international experience will consistently beat you to positions.

The reasons are relatively simple: