Charlie Duff: Editor's Blog

Dear HRzoners

It's hard to begin this, but I have to inform you that this is my last week as Editor.

You've been a wonderful bunch and the team here at Sift Media have been the best. But it's time I moved on.

You'll be pleased to hear I have not been caught up in the phone hacking scandal, rather, I will be continuing in my community-minded line of work in another position.

Thank you, all, for reading articles, commenting on articles, contributing articles, submitting blogs, starting discussions and generally being jolly nice to each other and making my life pleasant and sometimes, giving me moments where I just want to scoop you all up and actually hug you. Even if that might make you slightly uncomfortable.

Some of the best things about the HRzone community, in my opinion, is that when you think someone has overstepped the line, you march in, together. Someone needs advice? You are there. An unfair work practice? You defend the victim. I don't expect any member to agree with or love every aspect of the site, but the way in which the community responds to us - and each other - makes it a very special place.

I've throughly - seriously throughly - enjoyed The Apprentice this year. I don't even know exactly why it is, but I don't remember a series where it's been so clear who is a winner and who is a loser.

My colleague Dan Martin over on BusinessZone is hosting a live chat throughout the two-hour special episode alongside small business superstars who definitely know their net profit from their operating - and, Jim, their hundreds from their thousands. Join them here during the final. In the meantime, here's my verdict on the final few.

Who's left?

Jim - Jim can talk the hind legs off a donkey, then sell the legs back to the donkey, even though he can't speak donkey and the donkey doesn't know what money is. But as was pointed out on the Firing Squad, he's a one-trick pony, a specialist. If you want a salesman, I suggest you hire him. But a businees partner, Alan? Stay clear, me old plate.

It has been interesting to note as Bill Boorman's #tru events have developed, how they have matured. Regular attendees know each other well by now and there was always a danger that we were going to repeat ourselves. But actually each seems different.

Today Monster launched BeKnown, something which I said could change the face of Facebook. But of course, it's not the first recruitment type app - there's also BranchOut, which I completely failed to mention in the article.  It seems BranchOut are not too happy about this new competition...

At #TRULeeds last week we talked a lot about social networks and platforms but I don't recall anyone mentioniing BranchOut. And I didn't know about BeKnown at the time. I have, of course, heard of it - James Mayes spammed me a lot with BranchOut requests when it came out and it filled my feed for a while. I have a lot of friends who are recruiters and they love this stuff, for obvious reasons.

Do you have kids? Do you worry about when they have to grow up and find jobs? The HR Headmistress has had an idea...

I talk to people a lot about employment skills, education, workplace learning and their children. I find parents are a constant source of funny stories and dilemmas regarding their kids - how much sugar you let them have, which schools to send them to, the other parents...

I think parents worry about the futures their kids will have. It's enough worrying about your work, health and family, but then the economic situation looks bleak and the future of work looks very different to the way it did five, ten, twenty years ago.