Last year, thousands of blog posts about HR, recruitment, and job seeking were published across the web. It can be hard to separate the good from the bad, especially when there's so much potentially valuable information.
To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, and with the benefit of hindsight, we’ve put together a great list of the top 10 HR posts from 2011. We picked out some important trends and topics, but other than that there's no method to the madness. Enjoy!
"I Think Therefore I am Diverse" by Charlie Judy at HR Fishbowl
Charlie makes a pretty bold statement asserting that companies don’t know about diversity. Despite the tactics companies are taking to embrace inclusion, most focus solely on diversity with respect to things like race and gender. His post eloquently and sometimes humorously defines cognitive diversity and its role in the workplace. He challenges HR professionals who are looking to build a diverse workplace to start by drawing attention to the diversity they already have.
"4 Reasons Change is So Damn Hard" by Mark Stelzner at Inflexion Advisors
After a few cocktails on a long plane ride, a senior-level executive shared with Mark Stelzner the deepest secrets of his company: that it was backwards and “destined for failure.” The conversation left Stelzner digging deep to find the reason as to why change is so hard. Reflecting on the four great tips they debated, Stelzner kept watching for his new friend to make a change. But, as he so eloquently states, “Change is so damn hard.”

"Putting Performance in Context — Not Every Three-Yard Pass is the Same" by Steve Boese at Steve Boese’s HR Technology
What starts off looking like a post about selecting the perfect fantasy football team turns into a great post about rating employee performance. Steve Boese’s football metaphor captures the essence of why context is vital, in sports and in employee performance ratings. Job stress, environment and level of competition must all be taken into consideration when rating an employee.
"Why I’m In This Game..." by Kris Dunn at The HR Capitalist
This post is a great example of why HR professionals do what they do. After taking the chance in hiring a guy with no industry experience but who he thought would “out-hustle” those around him, Dunn finds himself reflecting on a thank you note from that very individual.
"666 Firing: When Demanding Compliance Costs You a Fortune" by Suzanne Lucas at CBS MoneyWatch blog
In light of the firing of an employee who refused to wear a sticker bearing the numbers 666, Suzanne Lucas takes a look at when corporate policy and compliance may go too far. She poses some good points and asks some great hypothetical questions about the severity of non-compliance. Was not wearing the sticker, which reflected the company’s days without an accident, worthy of termination?
"Does Being in Love Make You a Better Manager?" by Trish McFarlane at HR Ringleader
With the results from a new study, Trish McFarlane examines the traits exhibited by those in love. She then correlates how those same traits would affect a manager. Her conclusion: a positive or negative home relationship will affect management abilities, and this should be remembered when an employee is in the same situation.
"The Messenger Really Matters" by Sharlyn Lauby at HR Bartender
After overhearing the comment, "It’s the message that is important, not the messenger," Sharlyn Lauby works to contradict that very statement. She believes that not only is the messenger critical in setting the tone for the immediate situation, but also for setting the tone for what's to follow, especially when delivering bad news.
"7 Trends That Have Changed the World of Work and How to Adapt" by Donna Sweidan at JobMob
The world of work is changing rapidly, and Donna creates a great list of what’s trending in the job market. She not only addresses some of the biggest changes, but also how to embrace them in your job search. From the slasher to the freelancer, she gives some great insights into where the market is, and where it’s going.
"HR Ads: The Red Pen Edition" by Frank Roche at KnowHR
In a biting, sarcastic pictorial post, Frank Roche critiques a few recruitment ads currently in publication. Using a stereotypical red pen, he adds great commentary to some otherwise poorly designed print ads. His wit and humor, along with his critical eye, make for a really interesting post on what-not-to-do when designing an ad.
"Player, Please: Gamification & Social Engagement" by Matt Charney at Next
With social media recruitment becoming increasingly popular, Matt Charney reminds his readers that this method is supposed to be fun. With a little out-of the-box thinking, "gamification", the process of creating a competition out of otherwise mundane and ordinary tasks, can be incorporated into talent acquisition strategies. After all, it worked for The Apprentice.