I was recently asked to recall any memorable appointments made over my time with Sportspeople Recruitment. The short answer was “𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵?” Since 1996, we’ve had the privilege of placing incredible talent across the Australian and New Zealand sport sector, from executives and high-performance specialists to essential support staff. Each […]
What’s in a name?
In 1996, Sportspeople was launched with big ambition of becoming an athlete management agency. Liz Ellis, a formidable presence on the netball court, became my very first client and I had the privilege of working with Liz, as her Agent, from 1996 and beyond her retirement in 2007. Liz’s profound influence has continued off-court, emerging […]
CEO:Chair Relationship
A call I received today from a highly respected, successful CEO, underscores the importance of a robust and positive CEO:Chair relationship in sport. Among other things the discussion highlighted the benefits of being transparent and having trust, respect, good communication, clear roles and openness to ensure a strong CEO:Chair relationship. This is a two-way street, […]
Update on AU NSO CEO mix – better, but not good….
The upcoming Vicsport “Growing a Career in Sport” has a great mix of prominent & successful SSO CEOs, including Sportspeople Recruitment Alumni Andrea Pearman, Lisa Hasker OAM (She/Her) and Jennifer McIntyre, while our very own Angelique Everett will be on the panel. The line-up prompted me to take a quick look at the current mix […]
Executive search and how to cut through the marketing puff.
Last week a post popped up in my LI feed that tweaked my interest. I’d read that following an “extensive, global search”, undertaken by no-less than “a global specialist, executive search agency” with offices pretty much everywhere, the Acting CEO had been appointed. Lots of congratulatory LI posts followed.It made me think about what a […]
School sport carnivals are becoming elitist
My 9-year-old grandson was looking forward to his school swimming carnival in 2024, completely aware he may not be competitive, but just wanting to have a go and perhaps cheering on others in his school house. So, it was a real surprise to be informed over the weekend, he and most of the other kids […]
Sport Employment Talent (SET) Grant – $150,000 – announced
READY – SET – GO! Unlock your Winning Team with Sportspeople Recruitment! Are you ready to elevate your team to best in market? Look no further! Sportspeople Recruitment, the industry leader in sport management talent acquisition, is thrilled to introduce our exclusive 2024 Sport Employment Talent (SET) Grant. What is the SET Grant? It’s your […]
Fixed term Contracts – new rules from 6 December, 2023
Did you know new rules for Fixed Term Contracts come into effect 6 December, 2023 (Australia)? The new obligations include …. fixed term contracts not being longer than 2 years, including extensions and renewals; no longer having the option to extend or renew the contract making it longer than 2 years or extend or renew […]
Pay secrecy still a thing in 2023.
In December 2022 new Australian pay secrecy laws were passed within a broader set of reforms aimed at promoting gender equity. The bill proposed that through the elimination of pay secrecy clauses, employees will be able to determine whether the pay they’re receiving is reasonable and fair in comparison to the pay of the co-workers. […]
November 2023 – change is in the air!
As a full-scope agency, Sportspeople Recruitment has remained busy through 2023 successfully filling roles from entry-level and middle-management, while continuing to be the trusted, first-choice recruiter for employers looking for an executive search partner. Right now we’re working with Netball NSW, NT Cricket, City of Canterbury Bankstown, Dandenong Basketball Association and The Royal Sydney Golf […]
2022 – that’s done!
This time of the year I’m always asked what the highlight was for the past 12 months. I usually struggle with a response as there always seems to be so much that happened, most of which I probably hadn’t anticipated this time last year. Each month, maybe each week in 2022, came with its own […]
Who got that job? Recent appointments in sport and recreation
Congratulations to the following recent appointments where Sportspeople Recruitment assisted in the process:Wallabies Assistant Coach – Lineouts – Rugby Australia – Geoff ParlingJuniors Administrator – Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club – Callie Wood-CollierHead Tennis Professional – The Royal Sydney Golf Club – Mattia StoissaHead of Rugby (Union & League) – The Rockhampton Grammar School […]
Unemployed doesn’t mean unemployable.
The unemployment rate has fallen to 3.4% – a 50 year low according to new data from the ABS released today. If you’re working & not seeking a new role this may not be of any particular interest to you. If you’re a job seeker or an employer you should be very interested in this data. […]
Top level executive search credentials
I’ve always relied on the facts rather than marketing puff when it comes to what we do at Sportspeople Recruitment. It’s served me well in 26 years of business. That’s why I’m so very pleased the facts show more employers in the Australian/New Zealand sport sector continue to trust Sportspeople Recruitment for their executive & general search than […]
2021 – just was.
It must be something about getting older, but the years just seem to be getting shorter. Celebrating our 25th anniversary was certainly a milestone for all of us involved with Sportspeople Recruitment & despite the tough economic conditions, we’ve had one of our best years ever across both our executive search & general recruitment divisions. It’s certainly […]
We all want to be liked
Wanting to be liked is a basic human trait and conversely, we usually don’t enjoy the experience of rejection. All of us at Sportspeople Recruitment understand the emotional investment every candidate makes when they decide to apply for a role and how important the job will be to their future. That’s why we spend a […]
Recognising traditional, First Nation place names
Thumbs up to Australia Post for the launch of new parcels marking traditional, First Nation place names. What a simple, yet powerful act during NAIDOC 2021 where Heal Country! is the theme. You know those moments when you read or hear something that makes perfect sense & wonder why it hasn’t been done before? Earlier in […]
Act quickly in the 2021 candidate market
obs in the sport, fitness & aquatic sector hit record numbers this year, with more roles available across more employers than ever before. This is consistent with broader economic data released this week by the ABS showing job vacancies in Australia hit record highs in the May 2021 quarter to be 57% above pre-pandemic levels. […]
Handshake withdrawal
A handshake is just one of the long held habits that appear to have fallen victim to COVID. Before COVID I had relied on a handshake to convey the many stories about the giver of the said shake. Now I’m simply overwhelmed by research indicating a handshake is a primary vector for disease. I can’t […]
Replying to Job Seekers a simple courtesy
I was recently sent a copy of an email a candidate had received after unsuccessfully applying for an executive role with Sport Australia. While they were not questioning the decision, they were upset by the inability to seek any feedback on why they were unsuccessful. The email stated. …”Please note that due to the number […]
We missed out on the job – but there’s always next time.
Sportspeople Recruitment has just commenced working on our 220th CEO assignment – an off-market process via our executive search division. In filling these CEO and thousands of other entry-middle management roles, we’ve been the trusted first choice partner of employers & Boards of all size and profile. For many of these roles Sportspeople Recruitment was […]
IWD 2021 – outstanding women in sport, recreation and health sector.
A big shout out to the outstanding women Sportspeople Recruitment has had the pleasure of placing in the sport, recreation, health & fitness sector. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality. […]
So, that was 2020? A year to remember for sure.
And while it may be contrary to the general theme of posts I’m reading on LI, before we set our sights on the year ahead my sense is we should be celebrating all things 2020. Whatever your circumstances, you’ve made it the end of the year. That’s an achievement in itself. It’s even more impressive […]
Media still failing the public interest test when naming names
Early 2020 I regenerated an article first posted in 2015 – “Media still failing the public interest test when naming names” Media still failing the public interest test when naming names Speculation on who has applied for a role, ill-informed posts by sycophants of people not even under consideration & the reckless act of publicly […]
Applying father-daughter thinking to recruitment
I’ve been thinking about the role of a father and the impact we have on our daughters & the daughters of others. The day our daughter was born I wrote a letter to her & kept it tucked away until her wedding day 32 years later. The essence of the letter was a promise I […]
JobMaker Scheme and age preferences
Here’s an important update regarding the recently announced JobMaker Scheme in reply to an earlier question whether employers can use the age of candidates when advertising and/or selecting candidates. See post here: https://lnkd.in/gBustpK In case you missed it here’s the link to the JobMaker Scheme https://lnkd.in/gb6-xpM The Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (ADA) includes a number of […]
$50,000 milestone reached for Sportspeople Recruitment Employer Assistance Package
Back in mid-April when the Australian and New Zealand sport and recreation industries had all but stopped, Sportspeople Recruitment announced a $100,000 Employer Assistance Package to assist organisations as they plan their recovery from pandemic restrictions. We’re pleased to report 4 months later we have allocated over $50,000 along the way providing meaningful and immediate […]
Sport Business Continuity Plan – a quick, affordable plan to recovery
User-friendly business plan for sport organisations, delivered in 3 weeks 50% fee reduction (limited time offer) An unprecedented period of crisis management brought on by the COVID19 shut down has forced most sport organisations to implement a series of necessary, short term tactical and ad-hoc change. For most organisations these sudden changes have been transformational, […]
Find time to thank a coach.
In a recent podcast interview I was asked to identify two people who I felt had the greatest influence on my career. That’s always a hard question to answer and probably one of the reasons I’ve asked the same question thousands of times when interviewing candidates for a job we’re recruiting. My reply was Dierdre […]
Join our Talent Network.
Sportspeople Recruitment is adding to its Job Seeker Talent Network. If you are the absolute best at what you do, for a new job now or possibly some time in the future, please send your CV to talent@peoplerecruitmentgroup.com […]
Sportspeople Recruitment announces $100,000 Employer Assistance Package
At Sportspeople Recruitment we’ve been fortunate to work in this sector for nearly 25 years, along the way assisting more employers and job seekers than any other agency. Over this time we’ve seen the peaks and dips of the job market but nothing like the sudden shift over the past month. The news today that […]
Can there be an upside for sport post-COVID19?
With so much change over the past 3 weeks, my brain hurts thinking how quickly COVID19 impacted on the wider economy generally and the sport sector specifically. I’ve been asked a lot of questions about my view on the shape of the sport management sector post COVID19. The short answer is, like others, I really […]
Job Seeker? We’re here to help you as well.
Like many other organisations, across a multitude of business sectors, the Sportspeople Recruitment team is experiencing a significant shift in business right now. And like so many others, we have decided to meet these challenging times head on. At Sportspeople Recruitment we’ve enjoyed 24 years of business continuity as the first, and market leading, specialist […]
Sportspeople Recruitment announces Fee Reduction and Free Staffing & HR advice during COVID-19
At Sportspeople Recruitment our highest priority is the health and well being of our people, our clients and the sector in which we provide our services. We have recently implemented a number of measures aligned to the Australian Government COVID-19 guidelines and New Zealand Government COVID-19 guidelines which safeguard our team and clients while embedding […]
Social distancing – how to handle job interviews
So, here we are in a time where we are told to keep a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and others, avoid hand shaking and let’s face it, basically do all things necessary to keep the COVID-19 curve as flat as possible for as long as possible. Our clients are asking whether they should […]
Plan before applying for a new job.
Spending time thinking about whether the job is the right opportunity for you and whether you are what the employer is looking for are two of the important considerations in a job application process, best done before you hit the send button. Before you start applying for jobs do some planning: Develop a list defining […]
An Effective Resume: Where Facts Replace A Good Story.
While it is true some 60% of jobs in the sport industry are filled without advertising, the challenge of preparing a resume will be faced by most of us at some stage during our career. While not intending to understate the value of a resume, it is vital to remember a resume won’t necessarily get […]
The Top Ten Interview Questions.
In our previous instalment, the importance of well-prepared resume was discussed and a few helpful tips in preparing an effective resume were offered. While not intending to understate its value, it is vital to remember a resume won’t necessarily get you the job. An effective resume should aim to get you an interview. Now, let’s […]
Winning Interview Techniques.
In our previous article in this employment series, the top ten interview questions were outlined along with some useful strategies in preparing for a job interview. C.P.R. of a different nature was suggested – Consolidate your documents; Prepare for the interview by researching the organisation and Rehearse for the interview by practicing commonly asked questions. […]
The Job Seeker Rejection Cycle.
Wanting to be liked is a basic human trait and conversely, we usually don’t enjoy the experience of rejection. All of us in the People Recruitment Group of companies understand the emotional investment every candidate makes when they decide to apply for a role and how important the job will be to their future. That’s […]
The Herald Sun’s decision to close comments is a win for the trolls.
Last week I read The Herald Sun had switched off comments on articles about AFLW stating the measure was taken “because of the constant trolling, harassment and disgraceful commentary by some members of our community.” I can’t help but think this is a huge mistake and more importantly, hope it doesn’t set a precedent other media follow. […]
Media still failing the public interest test when naming names
Back in 2015 I felt compelled to write a piece as a comment on what I saw as misplaced, irresponsible and blatantly incorrect media speculation on pending executive appointments in sport. We have all seen the great misinformed claiming “reliable sources” naming names but invariably getting it horribly wrong. What is overlooked is the likely […]
CEO carries the public burden of key decisions whether right or wrong.
You will have been living under a rock not to have heard about the Rugby Australia – Israel Folau unfair dismissal claim. It is not my place to comment on what really went down at RA Headquarters, so I’ll leave that to the misinformed. My interest has been focussed not on what decisions have been […]
active CEO Podcast #70 Miles Stewart – A Lifetime Chasing Results
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Miles Stewart about a lifetime of chasing results, winning an ITU World Triathlon Championship, the challenge of transitioning out of sport, lessons learnt in managing people and being CEO of Triathlon Australia. We also delve into the detrimental side of corporate […]
active CEO Podcast #65 Todd Greenberg – More Than A Game
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Todd Greenberg about focusing on more than a game, the importance of EQ as a leader, choosing character before talent, CEO loneliness and life under intense public scrutiny as CEO of NRL – National Rugby League. We also delve into Rugby […]
CEO carries the public burden of key decisions whether right or wrong…
You will have been living under a rock not to have heard about the Rugby Australia – Israel Folau unfair dismissal claim. It is not my place to comment on what really went down at RA Headquarters, so I’ll leave that to the misinformed. My interest has been focussed not on what decisions have been […]
active CEO Podcast #62 Amanda Jacobs – She Leads With Empathy
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Amanda Jacobs about She Leads With Empathy, empowering women in sport, working at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the ultimate elevator pitch. We also delve into entrepreneurship and working in corporate life, performance leadership at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, balancing family life, […]
active CEO Podcast #57 Lisa Hasker – Life Education Through Sport
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Lisa Hasker about life education through sport, building sport capability and capacity, improving diversity and inclusion on Boards, and getting people to be more active, more often. We also delver into employee and coach wellbeing and performance, her collaborative and coaching […]
active CEO Podcast #53 Leigh Russell – Diving Into Human Potential
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Leigh Russell about her fascination with human performance, being an authentic leader, the power of mentors and diving into human potential. We also delve into how career counselling at a school led to a role at AFL Players Association, thriving as […]
active CEO Podcast #49 Alex Baumann – High Performance Leadership
On this episode of the Sportspeople Recruitment active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Alex Baumann about overcoming tragedy to win two Olympic Gold swimming medals; transforming coaches of high performance into high-performing coaches, high performance leadership High Performance Sport New Zealand and Sport Canada; and his new role as Chief Strategist High Performance at Swimming Australia. We also dive into being […]
