I have been a terrible blogger, but I promise to do better!

When I started this blog it was at the request of my boss. Our company does a lot of work in the Web 2.0 (by the way, I hate that term) space and wanted me to blog as a way to show how Web 2.0-ey we are. Since I already have a pretty active personal site he felt I would be the perfect person to be a blogging maniac.

That hasn't worked out quite so well.

My personal site is clicking along nicely and I get a fair amount of hits. The trick is that it is much easier to think of things to write about over there because over there I can talk about absolutely anything. This site is supposed to be all professional and stuff so that makes it much harder. I try to think of things that are relevant to recruiting and HR. That gets tricky because I am, generally speaking, the kind of person that does my best blogging on completely inane and often snarky stuff. I am not sure HR is supposed to be snarky. At least not in public.

Yesterday I got an email from a colleague that reminded me of a couple of things:

1. The internet? It's forever. Once you put something out there is takes on a life of its own. That is either really, really cool OR really, really terrifying.
2. People do actually read what I write and some of them? They LIKE it! Whee!

So, I have to say a big thank you to Howard for pulling me back into the land of professional blogging. I am going to do my best to post at least once a week on this site. You just have to promise not to form a torch-bearing mob if I don't make it happen Every. Single. Week.

If anyone has recommendations for topics that are of interest please let me know. I may not know everything about recruiting/HR, but what I don't know I can certainly make up! Hee!

I have organizational skills...you just don't get my filing system!

I am messy.

There. I said it.

I am a messy worker.

My desk is a pile of papers and folders and half empty water bottles and pens with no ink and random items buried under the piles of paper and folders.

Don't believe me? Well, take a look:

That's just one half. Here is the second half:

It isn't that I try to be messy, but in the course of an average day I have about 6 seconds that can be devoted to cleaning up the chaos. I tend to use that time to go to the bathroom. Sue me.

Anyway, even thought I am not the neatest person on the planet I do want to point out for all the other recruiters out there that this is not the optimal desk situation. For one thing, if I get hit by a bus, it is unlikely anyone else will be able to decipher my unique filing method. Secondly, it can sometimes make for awkward pauses when a caller asks me a question and I am digging for the piece of paper I scribbled the answer on.

"Ummm...hang on a second...(nervous giggle)...I know it's here somewhere...(tick tock tick tock)...so...how's the weather? (dig dig shuffle shuffle)"

Not always the professional, sharp, prepared, ready-for-anything image most recruiters (me included) like to present to candidates and clients. As an example of a desk that is likely to produce needed documents quickly I present you with Exhibit A:

In my own defense I have to point out that all employee files and other documentation I am responsible for as the HR Director is very carefully filed in a legally compliant manner so all the auditors out there just back slowly away from your "ticket books."

The problem for me is the stacks of things I need to read, edit, review, call about, give to someone else, etc...those items tend to get stacked and stacked and stacked.

Last week my admin actually drove me from my desk and closed my door. When she let me back in my desk was spotless. It was beautiful and shiny and I think I actually heard angels weep. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a dang thing and in the 6 seconds I would normally use to go to the bathroom I managed to return it to the original, "threw up on itself" state it is normally in.

Not the most effective or efficient manner for me to operate and I strongly encourage all recruiters to develop a filing system, in/out system that works for them and try and keep their work space as clutter free as possible. I promise to try and practice what I preach.

I am sure my admin will thank me.