There’s a large cohort of people who no longer view their jobs as a long-term, once-in-a-lifetime commitment. Rather, a job is a project, a short-term dance, says Neville Aitchison. He quicksteps through the benefits of projects but warns to check how good your partner is at leading.

When Mars NZ first entered the annual JRA Best Workplaces awards, the company didn’t make it into the top 100—now it’s the best in the country. Nigel Carter finds out about the family structure and principles that lie behind this success.

Many workplaces have taken their focus off managing their workforce to concentrate on day-to-day survival. Julie Saddington says they do so at their peril. Developing and implementing a sound people management strategy is critical during and emerging from a recession to ensure long-term sustainability.

What better time than the beginning of a new year to think about a possible career change? Some of you may even be thinking about taking the plunge and embarking on life as a self-employed HR consultant. We asked a group of people who are already working as consultants for their tips on making a success of it.

Whether it’s for recruitment, promotion or development, a well-designed and well-executed assessment centre wins hands down over more traditional selection methods for predicting future job success, says Gus McIntosh. He examines the benefits—and why it makes sense for executive roles.

As we begin to put the GFC behind us, New Zealand is now moving swiftly into a global talent crisis, says Paul Robinson.

The age of dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini had lessons not just for politics but for businesses, says Gordon Davidson. He examines the cult of the “great leader” and explains why a leadership team is a safer bet for business success.

It’s not just job-seekers who can sometimes be economical with the truth, says Dr Joe Ungemah. Employers often conceal information too. He talks to Jackie Brown-Haysom about the importance of mutual honesty for successful recruitment.

Failure to investigate a complaint about sexual harassment leaves an employer vulnerable to a claim, say John Hannan and Natalie Shaw. They discuss some recent cases and provide some take-home lessons that will help avoid a publicity bungle.

While there are a lot of enthusiastic and reliable people looking for work, there’s also a growing number of workers who are unemployable—and it’s a problem New Zealand has to tackle, says Mike Huddleston.

What rights does an employer have when an employee posts comments on a social networking site about colleagues or the employer? Jennifer Mills and Bridget Smith discuss a recent case which sheds light on the issue.

Changes to the Employment Relations and Holidays Act come into effect on 1 April this year. The Department of Labour’s chief adviser employment relations Craig Smith outlines what they may mean for you.

Kristen Cooper looks back on her two years as national president of HRINZ, celebrates the enthusiasm and vibrancy of the volunteers around the country, and also muses about what’s in store for the organisation in the coming year.

It’s important every organisation has a talent pipeline of future leaders who are capable of performing at higher levels, says Karen Boyte. She outlines some key steps to ensure this happens and that your company is ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

In today’s tight job market, it’s tempting for job seekers to embellish their CVs in order to get a role. This makes it more important than ever to have a thorough checking process in place, says Gay Barton.

Progressive organisations are building the profile and reputation of their managers to create beacons to draw in talent. Kate Billing explains about the pulling power of personal brand and how it works.

An early childhood teacher accused of assaulting a child successfully challenged her dismissal because the procedure adopted by her employer fell well short of the acceptable mark, says Paul Robertson.