Job interviews tend to hold a special place in hell for introverts. Small talk, self-promotion, over-stimulation. . . the list of challenges is long. Can quiet folk triumph against the odds? Liz Willoughby-Martin says yes. Introversion has undergone a HUGE makeover since Susan Cain’s Quiet came crashing tiptoeing onto the non-fiction scene in 2012. But despite massive changes […]

  Cover letters, eh? I’ve written three this week (so far) and it’s starting to feel like going into battle. So, how can we ensure our hard work will actually pay off and our cover letters will blow the enemy’s  future employer’s ships out of the water? It’s time to get combat ready! Here are ten […]

For some, setting goals is a piece of (organic, vegan) cake. But what if you don’t know what you want? If you’re having problems identifying your goals, Liz has five tried-and-true techniques for you: Outwardly, 2013 looked like a solid year. I was working for an awesome social enterprise, I was in a relationship with […]

We’ve all heard of 5 Year Plans, but how many people actually have one? If you’re looking for inspiration to set long-term goals, we have just the thing. Create a 70 Year Plan with Simon Jarvis and work towards sustainable fulfilment.  5 Year Plan? Pah!  Experience has shown I’m more likely to book a trip […]

Draft that novel? Puh-leese. Get a 5k raise? Hell yeah. Finish that master’s degree? Amen! It’s a new year and we’ve got big, BIG goals. So how do we turn these goals into reality? Liz takes a closer look at five ways to ensure we get sh*t done… Last night I woke at 3am, with […]

While we promote the notion of there being magic in working in a do good environment, it is different when talking about the value of magic itself. Science gives us clear answers to deal with challenges. Which is all well and good – except that we’re not very scientific creatures. Our brains have this funny […]

Our digital devices are so dominant in our lives. We endlessly scan social media sites, constantly check emails, obsessively text and message – and in the process haul around serious digital baggage that wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies. There’s a pretty good way to tell whether taking the opportunity in the upcoming break […]

  Guest post: Lyn, StrategicPay. — With the settlement in April 2017 for care workers, organisations in the not-for-profit sector directly affected will face some interesting challenges over the next 12 months and further into the future. This settlement affects 55,000 employees spread across many organisations, but is concentrated in the Health Sector. The initial […]

Figuring out what you are worth used to be a dark art. Thanks to the internet and ready access to salary surveys, you can be armed with the correct data to know what you are worth when negotiating a new job salary, or seeking a raise. Here are some resources for helping you assess your […]

  Guest blog: Lyn Brieseman, Senior Consultant and Strategic Pay — As an employer how do you know how much to pay your people? Strategic Pay surveys not-for-profit organisations on what they are paying their people as part of our regular survey of what is being paid across the whole market. Our recent survey in May 2017 […]

With this month’s theme on Mental Health we wanted to share Twice Podcasts chat with Marianne and Murdoch, as they discuss Mental Health, Refugees and Beer. Get the inside and authentic stories of two fine sorts driving people-powered change and working to double NZ’s refugee quota. With beer on the side. Marianne is a self-described […]

One in five New Zealanders will experience mental illness this year.   That means that right now, you or someone in your workplace is likely to be affected. People drawn to purposeful work at not for profits are usually interested in contributing to a cause they believe in and are willing to invest in making […]

With this month’s focus on social enterprise, I dug into Twice Podcast’s treasure trove of chats to bring you a story about Ants and Silvia – makers and doers of good business – and members of Enspiral. Enspiral is a decentralised network of people ‘working on stuff that matters’. They share frank and useful learnings on their journeys […]

Last year I purchased some beautiful diaries for a range of friends and contributors to Do Good Jobs. I loved the fact that my purchase also meant a child somewhere in New Zealand also received a notebook at school too – win-win! Since then I’ve become mildly addicted to my FRANK diary, a diary that […]

Following on from last week’s blog with Good Sort, Anake Goodall, we asked for his thoughts on Kiwi examples of a really good social enterprise.

If someone in Aotearoa New Zealand was to be given the honorary title of godfather of social enterprise, Anake Goodall would be pretty high on the list. The Christchurch based ‘doer’ self-describes as “bringing what I can to wicked problems.” “I’w really interested in governance for social change, and being a driver at the community […]

From roadie wannabe to accounts superstar, and now the People and Capability manager at Fred Hollows – working to ensure there is a solid team in place to ensure no one stays needlessly blind in the Pacific. I chatted with Good Sort Becca to get her thoughts on the not for profit space, HR insights […]

How to cope with a new boss Your boss has left, and a new one is on the way. You might be grieving the loss of your old boss, or be grateful that the new ‘relationship’ brings new opportunities for you in the workplace. Naturally there’s nervousness, expectation, hope and possibly resentment….along with a host […]

So, you’ve got the job. You obviously made a great first impression on the people interviewing you, but how do you make a good impression when you turn up for day one at your new job? We asked two HR experts, Lucy Boomer,  the People and Culture Advisor for Greenpeace New Zealand, and Becca Harvey, the People […]

Being in a governance role on a board or steering committee is a great way to support the charity sector and give back to the community. It is also an ideal way to nurture your leadership skills. Driving a fast-growing charity or NGO engaged in groundbreaking social change work can be exciting. Good governance is […]