If you’re a recruitment professional, or aspire to be, a quick search of the web will reveal an extensive selection of blogs, written for recruiters by recruiters. However, one of the biggest challenges, due to the sheer volume available, is deciding which ones are worth your time!
To help you narrow your search, your friends at Agency Central have compiled a list of 20 recruitment and HR bloggers that we believe offer the very best in news, insight and commentary. Whether you’re general or niche, agency or in-house, we’re confident you’ll find your go-to recruitment blogger somewhere on our list!
Are you sitting comfortably? Then let us begin…
Alexander Kjerulf – The Chief Happiness Officer Blog
Who is the Author?
Alexander Kjerulf is the founder of Woohoo Inc. – a company dedicated to creating happier workforces through seminars, workshops and training. He is an acclaimed author, speaker and expert on happiness and wellbeing in the workplace, having delivered conferences and workshops in almost 50 countries – with notable clients including Hilton, IBM, Microsoft, Shell and IKEA.
Alexander is the author of five books, including ‘Happy Hour is 9 to 5: How to Love Your Job, Love Your Life and Kick Butt at Work’ – an international bestseller available in 11 languages. His work has featured on TV (BBC, CNN) and in the press (The Times, New York Times, Times of India).
His Blog in a Nutshell
If you want to find purpose and happiness in your work, bookmark Alexander’s blog – we’re sure you’ll find plenty of helpful advice and insights! From challenging misconceptions such as the customer always being right, and that money is always the best incentive to offer your workforce, to the best strategies for employee engagement, Alexander offers readers a refreshingly positive take on key workplace topics, whilst remaining realistic.
Why Follow Him?
Most social platforms, particularly LinkedIn are littered with inspiring stories of hard work and the success it can bring. Although often impressive, what is achieved in these stories isn’t always attainable, realistic or relevant to everyday professionals who simply seek a fulfilling career.
Alexander’s blog offers the perfect tonic to this. Rather than drawing on extraordinary rags-to-riches stories, he offers readers friendly advice on how to build a career around their personal goals and priorities to boost their own happiness and life satisfaction.
When it comes to leadership, Alexander believes putting the wellbeing and morale of employees first is the key to achieving more, and shares real-life examples of companies getting this right, as well as his own practical advice on the subject. What’s more, he never shies away from discussing uncomfortable truths, or challenging damaging myths about what defines success and happiness in the workplace.
So, if you’re looking for inspiration with a little more substance than your run-of-the-mill LinkedIn post, Positive Sharing could be exactly what you’re looking for!
Recommended Reading:
The Cult of Overwork is Killing Startups
Social Media:
Suzanne Lucas – Evil HR Lady
Suzanne Lucas is a popular author and speaker with a focus on HR and business issues, drawing on 10 years’ experience in corporate HR. Today, Suzanne works with managers, helping them to better understand their workforce and navigate leadership challenges, as well as advising professionals looking to overcome career obstacles.
Her work has appeared in numerous business publications, including Inc, CBS Moneywatch, The New York Times and Cornerstone’s Rework.
Since starting her blog, Evil HR Lady in 2006, Suzanne has built a dedicated following of HR leaders and other professionals seeking sound advice on challenging workplace issues.
Her blog in a nutshell:
As the title suggests, Evil HR Lady examines some of the most arduous HR, career and employment scenarios with a hint of wry humour! Having served on the frontline of corporate HR for a decade, Suzanne aims to challenge the misconception that HR leaders are ‘evil’, and demystify the discipline for both HR leaders and laypeople alike!
Why follow her?
The ‘Evil HR Lady’ delves deep into many hot-button issues, including whether ‘bossiness’ can be considered a legitimate leadership trait, how performance reviews can be utilised to help a company and its workforce, and the future of HR tech. Bookmark this blog if you want to read the perspective of a time-served HR influencer on these issues, and many more!
Whether you’re a HR leader yourself, or a non-HR facing a challenging time at work, you’ll rarely find more honest, practical advice than from Suzanne Lucas!
Recommended Reading:
The Consequences of Unfair Pay
Social Media:
Mitch Sullivan – Fast Track Recruitment
Who is the Author?
Mitch Sullivan is a 25-year veteran of the recruitment industry, having cut his teeth as a contingency agency consultant, before progressing to the role of manager, then troubleshooter, working for a couple of large sales recruitment specialists in the UK.
In 2009, he set up Fast Track Recruitment, drawing on this experience to offer in-house and external recruitment services, in addition to bespoke training to help agencies develop their star talent.
In 2017, Mitch published a book entitled, ‘On Recruitment’ in which he shared many of his hard-won insights from his time in the industry. You can read many of these tips and observations for free in the Fast Track Recruitment blog, which has been active since 2013.
His Blog in a Nutshell
Whether you’re a trainee recruitment consultant, middle-manager, or running an agency of your own, you’ll find plenty of career inspiration and common-sense advice within the Fast Track Recruitment blog.
Mitch writes candidly about a variety of industry issues, including the frustrating challenge of working with too-vague job ads, why recruiters need strong sales skills and how to handle ‘lowballing’ clients.
Why Follow Him?
When Mitch got started in the industry, there was very little in the way of online recruitment resources. He has since amassed a career’s worth of wisdom and life lessons so you don’t have to. Mitch’s writing is direct, honest and entertaining. If you want to drive your recruitment career forward and avoid the pitfalls, the Fast Track Recruitment blog is your friend!
Recommended Reading:
Do passive candidates read job adverts?
Social Media:
Alison Green – Ask a Manager
Who is the Author?
Alison is a leading expert on workplace and management issues and the author of the successful Ask a Manager site, which was recognised as Forbes’ Most Influential Careers Site and receives 2 million visits each month. Her work has been featured in many online and print publications, including USA Today, Inc, The New York Times, Buzzfeed and many others.
Her book “Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and the Rest of Your Life at Work” was published in 2018.
In addition to blogging and writing, Alison runs a management hotline, helping managers succeed at everything from hiring the right talent, to delivering difficult feedback.
Her Blog in a Nutshell
No matter which industry you’re in, it’s highly likely that at one time or another, you’ll encounter a workplace issue that’s stressful, uncomfortable, or just puzzling. Even the most experienced professionals can find themselves stumped by such dilemmas, yet Alison has advised thousands on how to overcome obstacles, survive and thrive in the corporate world!
Whether you’re struggling with an over-zealous candidate, have been asked for references from colleagues you didn’t get along with, or are locked in a disagreement over which candidate to hire, you’ll find clear, reasoned answers from someone experienced in all aspects of management and hiring!
Why follow her?
Whether you’re a recruiter, manager, or HR professional, Alison’s blog has plenty of wisdom to offer to help you handle some of the trickier scenarios working life can throw at you! She rarely fails to provide practical solutions to problems that would throw lesser managers into a panic – and all with a helping of humour!
The Ask a Manager blog is also essential reading for hiring managers and recruiters who want to better understand their candidates’ challenges and needs to deliver a better candidate experience.
Recommended Reading:
What to do when a new hire isn’t working out
Social Media
Jim Stroud – Exploring the future of work, life and everything in between!
About the Author
Jim Stroud is an award-winning blogger, podcaster and public speaker. His specialised topics include sourcing, recruitment strategy, HR and the future of work. Over the past 10 years, he has built a reputation as one of the leading thinkers in the recruitment field.
He has authored numerous books, including ‘Musings of Man and Machine: How Robots and Automation Will Change Recruitment’ and ‘Resume Forensics: How to Find Free Resumes and Passive Candidates on Google.’ Jim has had a finger on the recruitment-tech pulse for many years, so his books and blogs are great resources for any industry professional wanting to stay ahead of the curve!
Since 2014, Jim has served as the Global Head of Sourcing and Recruiting Strategy for Randstad Sourceright US.
His Blog in a Nutshell
The Jim Stroud blog offers an impressive back-catalogue of articles, podcasts and videos, exploring a wide spectrum of HR and recruitment topics, from using company culture to attract passive candidates to sourcing strategy and the issue of diversity in business leadership.
Why Follow Him?
Jim is a keen futurist, fascinated by tech and the role it will play in the recruitment industry of tomorrow. If you’re a tech-minded recruitment or HR professional, you’ll find plenty of thought-provoking ideas here, from imagining a world without typing, to pondering what rights should be afforded to robots and the consequences of big data.
Social Media:
Jessica Miller-Merrell – Workology
Who is the author?
Jessica Miller-Merrell is an author, blogger, trainer and speaker with a strong focus on HR and talent acquisition. She founded the highly popular Workology blog and website in 2005, and has written extensively on topics such as recruiting, social media, business leadership, career development and the workplace challenges faced by the Gen Z and millennial cohorts.
She has featured in many leading business publications, including Fast Company, Forbes, The Economist and HR Magazine, and was also named a top 50 Most Influential Social Power User by Forbes.
Jessica is an expert in digital marketing for recruitment and HR businesses, and acts as a consultant, helping startups develop winning marketing strategies. She often travels around the world, delivering talks on the latest HR, recruiting and technology topics.
Her Blog in a Nutshell
Workology is a vast resource for HR and recruitment professionals who need practical, jargon-free advice to help them navigate the various challenges their work presents. Professionals in the recruitment industry will find many helpful insights, including how best to utilise content marketing to drive candidates to websites, prioritise workloads effectively and how to leverage video in recruitment strategies.
Those in the HR camp can benefit from Jessica’s advice on tackling such challenges as creating a job description for a recruiter, personal leadership development and the balancing act of driving performance whilst maintaining staff morale!
Why follow her?
Workology is one of the most comprehensive free HR and recruitment resources on the web, with more than a thousand high-quality articles at your fingertips. There are articles tailored to all levels of professional experience, from intern to executive, so no matter what challenge you’re facing at work, there’s a good chance you’ll find answers within the pages of the Workology blog.
Recommended Reading: How to manage, hire and lead your remote workforce
Social Media:
Maren Hogan – Red Branch Media
Who is the author?
Maren Hogan is an accomplished marketer and online community builder operating in both the HR and recruitment industries. In 2006, she founded Red Branch Media – a full-service B2B marketing agency, which today serves both Fortune 500 companies and SMEs around the globe.
Maren speaks and writes on a variety of subjects, including recruitment, career development, marketing, technology and social media. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the HR industry and has consistently advocated next-generation marketing techniques.
In addition to writing for the Red Branch Media blog, Maren also contributes articles to several other leading sites, including Recruiter, ERE, Undercover Recruiter and HR Examiner.
Her blog in a nutshell:
The regularly updated Red Branch Media blog is packed with ideas to inspire any HR, recruitment or marketing professional. Maren and her team tackle a wide range of topics, from how to cultivate an effective employer brand, to B2B marketing best practices, how to harness the power of Instagram for recruiting and strategies for connecting with candidates.
Why follow her?
Maren is passionate about technology, social media, productivity and inclusive workplace practices. She writes openly about many of the challenges, successes and failures experienced throughout her career – and shares the lessons learned.
In her regular #6ThingsYouNeedtoKnow series, Maren offers her perspective on key issues in the workplace conversation, including the future of work, how interns contribute to the workforce and retaining millennial talent.
If you have even a passing interest in HR issues and recruitment marketing, bookmark the Red Branch Media blog and learn from one of the best!
Recommended Reading:
The First Rule of Feedback Club (and Five More Rules)
Social Media:
Jonathan Fagan – Legal Recruitment
Who is the author?
Jonathan is the MD of Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment – a UK-based consultancy serving solicitors and recruiting for permanent and temporary roles within the legal sector. The company famously donates 10% of its profits to charity. Jonathan has also taught legal CV writing and interview practices to postgraduate law students at Huddersfield University.
His blog in a nutshell:
The award-winning Legal Recruitment blog is the only one on our list to focus almost exclusively on the legal industry. Jonathan is passionate about both the legal and charitable sectors and has invested a lot of time and effort into his blog, which has been regularly updated over the last 10 years. You’ll find a wealth of resources here, with posts on everything from legal CV writing to reference checks and how to avoid recruiting bad candidates!
Why follow him?
Jonathan is honest to a fault and brings his readers a rare glimpse into the many challenges faced by legal recruiters. He also offers free careers advice for new and aspiring legal professionals, with wisdom attained from outside of the confines of the lecture hall!
Recommended Reading
Brexit and the effect on legal recruitment in the UK
Social Media:
Kristina Martic – HR Tech Weekly
Who is the author?
Kristina Martic is currently Head of Marketing and Branding at TalentLyft – a leading recruitment software company. She is also a regular contributor to HR Tech Weekly, sharing insights on everything from recruiting to social media marketing, SEO candidate engagement, AI, HR and recruiting analytics.
HR Tech Weekly is a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in the more technical aspects of recruiting and employment, and Kristina has established herself a prominent industry voice.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Kristina offers helpful insights on a variety of hiring, HR and tech challenges, such as getting the most out of the interview process, reducing hiring times, and selecting the right recruitment software for your agency.
Why follow her?
Technology is revolutionising the world of recruitment and the workplace in general. As such, many business leaders and professionals justifiably fear being left behind.
In her blogs, Kristina presents a refreshingly clear, tech-focused view of the changing worlds of HR and recruitment. They’re packed with common-sense advice and proven strategies, made simple with the help of concise numbered lists.
Social Media:
Joe Burridge – Senior Recruiter at Electronic Arts
Who is the author?
Joe is a Senior Recruiter at sports performance analysis company Hudl, creator of Joe Blogs and a regular contributor to the LinkedIn Talent blog. He has established himself as an expert in a number of topics including technology, hiring and recruiting, interview practices and CV writing. Joe also recently spoke at Premier Talks.
His blog in a nutshell:
Joe offers his readers fresh insight into the worlds of recruiting and job hunting. The main focus is on the tech industry, though the wisdom found in many of his blog posts is universal. Topics covered include creating perfect professional social media profiles, lessons learned in recruitment and how to pass an interview with a recruiter!
Why follow him?
Joe’s sardonic wit, straightforward approach and in-depth tech recruiting knowledge make this blog an engaging read for any recruiter or jobseeker.
Social Media:
Gemma Dale – People Stuff
Who is the author?
Gemma Dale is a trusted HR, communications and social media professional, blogger, speaker and freelance writer.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Gemma blogs on a variety of workplace and recruitment topics including corporate culture, employee engagement and relations, hiring practices and employment law. Other posts share her digital and social media expertise.
The #SocialLeaders series features profiles of leading social media experts and is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to get better acquainted with the latest social media trends and practices.
Why should I follow her?
Whether she’s blogging about workplace issues, emerging employment trends or lighter topics, Gemma’s posts are always full of insight and inspiring ideas. She has a rare talent for examining the human side of recruitment and business relationships, and is passionate about improving the world of work.
Social Media:
Bob McHugh – Bullhorn
Who is the author?
Bob McHugh is the Content Marketing and Social Media Strategist at Bullhorn – a software developer providing cloud-based CRM solutions to meet the needs of relationship-driven businesses.
He has a strong background in writing and digital marketing and a superb knowledge of the current recruitment market and its emerging trends.
His blog in a nutshell:
Bob is a regular contributor to Bullhorn’s blog and his posts often touch on recruitment topics such as creating a positive candidate experience, recruiting passive candidates and the future of recruiting in an AI-driven digital marketplace.
Why follow him?
Although this blog is used to market Bullhorn’s product line, there are also plenty of helpful resources for professionals who want to learn about social media recruitment or better organise their recruiting processes. Thanks to his experience in digital marketing and recruitment software, Bob is able to identify the pain points affecting recruiters and candidates and provide practical, time-saving solutions.
Recommended reading:
How to build candidate engagement into your recruitment agency’s DNA
Social Media:
Lisa Jones – Barclay Jones
Who is the author?
Lisa is an experienced recruitment, IT and digital marketing professional, the founder and director of Barclay Jones, and was named 2016’s ‘Agency Influencer’ of the year by UK Recruiter.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Lisa’s blog is a humorous, colourful, insightful survival guide for anyone in the recruitment business! She delivers a fresh perspective on all manner of recruitment challenges, from candidate attraction to leadership, choosing the right tech for your business, content marketing, how to deliver the best return on investment and much more besides!
Why follow her?
With a strong focus on the digital side of things, Lisa cuts through the jargon to bring you practical advice to help you create a winning recruitment strategy. She keeps you in the picture about the emerging industry trends that matter…and those that only hinder your progress!
Recommended Reading:
A 9-minute HIIT for Recruiters Who Need to Get on the Phone More
Social Media:
Neil Morrison – Change-effect
Who is the Author?
Neil is Director of Strategy, Culture and Innovation at Penguin Random House UK and an accomplished HR professional with experience in a range of disciplines, including organisational development, talent management, strategic resources and employee relations.
He is also an advisory panel member for the Good Recruitment campaign – an initiative designed to help organisations optimise their recruitment strategies and attract the best candidates.
His blog in a nutshell:
Neil’s blog, Change-effect, examines working, hiring and recruiting practices and considers how they could be optimised to benefit employees and employers alike.
Many posts also touch on recruitment practices, making this blog a worthwhile read for recruiting professionals who want to get the bigger picture.
Why follow him?
Neil is passionate about workplace issues and helping businesses create a positive culture. His experience, wisdom and warm humour shine throughout the blog and he offers a fresh, nuanced perspective on many HR and recruiting issues.
Recommended Reading:
5 interview questions that you’re asking (but probably shouldn’t)
Social Media:
Greg Savage – The Savage Truth
Who is the author?
Greg Savage is a veteran of the recruitment sector, having owned and managed staffing businesses around the world. Performance coach Ross Clennett named Greg as the most influential person in the recruitment industry in the last 60 years, and he was also named the most influential Australian business person on Twitter by Brand Data.
His blog in a nutshell:
Greg draws on a lifetime of recruiting experience to bring his readers practical advice on everything from starting out as a recruiter, to building a successful online brand and candidate strategy. On occasion, he also takes a sideways glance at the lighter side of the industry!
Why follow him?
Greg’s far-reaching recruiting experience allows him to equip his followers with the tools and strategies they need to get ahead – and warn them about the pitfalls to avoid! With more than 35 years’ industry experience and five successful businesses on his portfolio, Greg has few equals in his field, which is why recruiting professionals at all levels should pay attention to what he has to say.
Recommended Reading:
12 Crucial Recruiter Tips (In 10 Words or Less)
Social Media:
Katrina Collier – The Searchologist
Who is the author?
Katrina is a renowned expert on social media recruiting (having trained HR and Recruitment professionals at all levels around the world), an acclaimed blogger and keynote speaker.
Recruiting trends and practices are constantly changing, but Katrina has more than 10 years’ experience in full-cycle and social recruiting, and is experienced in helping recruiters discover the latest search techniques to attract the best candidates.
Her blog in a nutshell:
The Searchologist blog provides expert advice on a wide range of recruitment issues, from the recent changes to LinkedIn to optimising candidate response rates, recruitment strategy and even recruiting through Instagram!
Why Follow Her?
Katrina is a seasoned social recruitment professional and has up-to-the-minute knowledge of the latest social media developments and trends, so whether you’re already digital-savvy or relatively new to the game, her blog is well worth following.
Recommended Reading:
Your Easiest Talent Attraction Tool: Employee Engagement
Social Media:
Laurie Ruettimann – Writer, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Podcaster
Who is the author?
Laurie Ruettimann is a former HR leader, speaker, writer and entrepreneur. She is an active blogger and the creator of The Cynical Girl and Punk Rock HR (no longer active). Laurie also sits on the advisory boards of numerous firms, providing support with learning analytics, employee engagement and big data.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Laurie’s blog is a treasure trove of insight and resources for anyone interested in HR, workplace culture and career development, although it’s also a worthwhile read for any recruitment professional, as many of her posts cross into the industry. There’s also the occasional post focusing on wellness, health and lifestyle and how to achieve a good work/life balance.
Why Follow Her?
Laurie is recognised as one of the top five career advisors by both CareerBuilder and CNN. Her blog is a great read for recruiters who want to put themselves into the shoes of candidates and employers, and understand the common issues they face.
Recommended Reading:
Introducing the Recruiter Accountability Spectrum
Social Media:
Sharlyn Lauby – HR Bartender
Who is the author?
Sharlyn Lauby is the president of ITM Group Inc. – a training and human resources consulting firm based in South Florida and author of the widely-read HR Bartender blog. Her areas of expertise include organisational development, workforce training, employee relations and job design.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Although the core focus of Sharlyn’s blog is HR, many of her posts cross into the realm of recruitment, approaching the topic from an internal perspective. The posts are always friendly, sometimes lighthearted, always informative and discussion is encouraged.
Why follow her?
Recruitment and HR professionals alike will find plenty of useful resources here.
Sharlyn is a true expert in her field and the recruitment focused articles are thoroughly researched and packed with industry knowledge and wisdom. She considers the perspective of both employers and candidates, offering valuable insight to recruiters that are keen to expand their knowledge.
Social Media:
Louise Triance – UK Recruiter
Who is the author?
Louise is the Managing Director of UK Recruiter – one of the web’s leading resources for recruitment professionals, and a regular contributor to the site’s blog. She is experienced in many recruiting disciplines from research to consulting, networking, advertising, online and social media recruiting.
Her blog in a nutshell:
Throughout her career, Louise has garnered a wealth of knowledge and insight, which she regularly shares with her readers. You’ll find smart, considered posts on hot topics such as candidate attraction, social media engagement, niche recruitment – and even how to start and run an agency!
Why should I follow her?
Louise’s blog is a superb resource for recruitment professionals at any level. She often sets aside time from her busy schedule to write about the topics that really matter to recruiters!
Recommended Reading:
3 Steps to Use Instagram to Recruit Top Talent
Social Media:
Kris Dunn – HR Capitalist
Who is the author?
Kris is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Kinetix and is experienced in a number of disciplines including HR, recruitment, market research and project management. He’s also an active blogger and the founder of HR Capitalist and Fistful of Talent – two of the most respected and widely-read blogs among HR and recruiting professionals.
His blog in a nutshell:
Kris’ blog covers a broad range of topics including HR best practice, technology, recruiting, performance management and optimising business results. Although skewed a little towards the HR side of things, the blog features too many intelligent, thought-provoking posts on recruitment topics to be omitted from our list!
Why should I follow him?
Kris has a disdain for jargon and empty words:
“My eyes get glossy when HR people start talking about being strategic without being specific,” he writes on his biography page.
Thankfully, Kris’ blog gets right into the specifics of many of recruiting and HR’s most challenging topics. His posts are clear, concise and packed with actionable strategies and advice to help his readers achieve their career goals.
Recommended Reading:
MONGO LIKE CANDY: The Psychology of Submitting Candidates To Hiring Managers
Social Media
And, with that, we reach the end of our list of must-follow recruitment bloggers. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together; if you did, please take a moment to like or share this blog. Thanks!
Our research showed us that the recruitment blogosphere is currently alive and well, with prolific posters worldwide sharing their wisdom on candidate attraction, HR, digital marketing and everything in between. So much so that it wasn’t easy to decide who to include on our list! If you feel there’s anyone we’ve missed out, or, if you’re an up-and-coming recruitment blogger and would like to introduce yourself, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!
Remember, if you’d like to keep up to date with the latest trends and developments in recruitment, employment, HR and digital marketing, stay tuned to our blog – we’ll be back before you know it with a brand new post.