This Week in Talent (12th July)

TWIT Blog Naomi Paik

Greetings fellow TWIT readers!

I had one of those life-flashing-before-your-eyes moments on Monday. I left the gym and my mind was preoccupied with thoughts on repeat about job applications – what am I doing wrong? Did I spell that word correctly in the email I sent? Why is this taking so long?

I was so distracted that I nearly stepped in front of a ute.

I am incredibly lucky that the gentleman waiting to cross the road behind me was paying attention, and yanked me back to safety. No joke, I felt my jacket brush against the ute as it zoomed past.

Its a fairly poignant reminder to firstly be safe, slow down, be more aware of our surroundings and try not to sweat the small stuff – even when they feel quite big at the time. The job hunt is hard, getting hit by a ute would be harder.

I’ve also been reflecting on the importance of listening – particularly in the realm of talent acquisition. Take a moment to be completely honest with yourself… have you ever made a decision in haste without listening to all the viewpoints of individuals or departments concerned?

Some of the best managers I’ve worked with are incredibly curious and highly adaptable. They have also regularly asked for feedback, as hiring managers and internal stakeholders are not always forthcoming with the absolute truth. Let’s not be afraid to encourage them to be brutally honest and respectfully critical – and open our ears to hear them.

Here’s some food for thought I’d like to share with you this week:


The ITA finalists for 2024 have been announced

Internal talent is looking dazzling this year and its time to celebrate its awesomeness. Congratulations to all the finalists – maybe host the celebrations in Perth next year?

What Caused The Massive Recruiter Layoffs of This Year?

We’ve all been thinking about AI and how it might impact talent acquisition teams… time will indeed tell!

How to (Actually) Change Someone’s Mind

Whether or not you’re in a leadership position, so much of what we do in talent acquisition requires us to convince, persuade and gather allies. The Harvard Review provides three handy targeted strategies you should consider using next time one of your stakeholders challenges you with a flat out ‘no’.

Is it Time for a Mid-Year Review of Your Career?

It’s only natural we spend most of our time supporting others with their career aspirations… but when was the last time you sat down and reflected on your own career? New financial year, why not revisit your goals, change your preferences, simplify things, start networking or consider new ways to develop yourself (professionally and personally)?

What’s Happening with the Australian Economy 

Some of you love data and some may not. I personally believe it’s useful to keep an eye on key market conditions – as these inevitably impact job seeker and employee behaviour / decisions. Unemployment rate is down to 4.0%, wage growth remains soft and spending remains soft.

Introducing Udemy! learn almost anything!

If you haven’t yet checked Udemy out – you totally should! Free and paid online courses endless topics, and not just in the professional arena.

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