Quite a few of you last week read about my thought process involving blogging burnout and how I’m thinking of hanging up the blog.  In fact,  haven’t blogged since then, and yes the above picture has nothing to do with this blog.  I just thought this picture was funny especially considering the fact I work in HR.  I’ve decided I’m in need of a short blogcation (a vacation for bloggers) to clear my head and decide my next steps.  So this week I’ll be doing some soul searching on the blog, and in the interim, I’d ask that you consider taking my Blogging4Jobs Reader Survey.  I’m giving away one $100 Visa Gift Card to a lucky reader on November 15th.  I’m looking for feedback on the blog, the topics you want to see in the future, and what articles and topics keep you coming back for more.

So this week I’ll be reposting some of my favorite blogs I’ve posted over the last few years.  For those of you that might be new to the blog, I’ve been writing for over four years, and chances are that you might have missed some good stuff.  So I’m reposting old content this week except for this Wednesday when I’m hosting the Carnival of HR here.  The topic is Scary HR, and you are welcome to share with me a post that you’ve written within the past two weeks.  Just shoot me an email or Twitter DM with the blog title and url.  The Carnival of HR travels from HR blog to blog putting new readers in touch with the best bloggers in the human resources, recruiting, and talent management spaces.

Don’t worry, Rayanne and her Bonus Track blog series will be continuing to provide great content at Blogging4Jobs while I’m busy re-organizing my sock drawer, sewing Ryleigh’s Halloween costume, maybe getting a massage, and going through the piles of old mail sitting in my living room.  Hmm . . . maybe I’d rather be blogging after all.  This fall organizational bullshit is for the birds.  BTW, I do sew but not this week.  And Ryleigh is planning on being a strawberry fairy for Halloween.

What are you or your kid(s) planning on being for Halloween?  I think I’m going to a party as a burnt out blogger or maybe a social media ninja.

This most recent HR Carnival is hosted by Trish MacFarlane of HR Ring Leader and highlights all the blog posts discussing the recent HR Evolution (un)conference.  Check out the entire carnival here.

But first some background on the Carnival of HR.  The Carnival was started by Evil HR Lady and was created as a way to bring Human Resources bloggers together and highlight their best content to the blogging community.  Our current carnival keeper is HR Minion.  She coordinates the carnivals that move from HR blogger to blogger and generally keeps us in line.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I am very enthusiastic (to say the least) about HR Evolution and was a sponsor, attendee, as well as a leader for one of the breakout sessions.  The conference was a great first step in organizing our thoughts, generating some discussion, and getting to know each other offline, eyeball to eyeball.

Here are some highlights from the Carnival.

• The Red Recruiter’s post on Outside the Social Media Bubble was particularly intriguing.  He lists to major benefits of social media for HR:  1) Talent Acquisition 2) Learning. While I agree with him wholeheartedly, I am in belief that there is a third which is 3) Networking. Some may argue that this is related to Learning but in the new media and business world it is mostly all about who you know.
• Debbie J. Brown’s post about Outliers and an “un”conference was an interesting take on how and why HR Evolution brought 50 strangers together.  Building on Debbie’s post I belief that many of the (un)conference  participants are outliers in a sense.  We are different than the traditional HR community in how we communicate, learn, and network with one another using new media as a form of warm lead or introduction.
• And my favorite post of all was by Lyn Hoyt who explains the History of Bacon and HR.  The majority of (un)conference attendees wore bacon buttons during the conference.  There is a sort of weird obsession with bacon in our online HR community.  The strange obsession that tied in with the conference led me to secure the website, www.HRBacon.com.  I have no idea what I plan to do with the domain just yet so please send me your ideas and suggestions.

By all means, please visit Trish’s website and her HR Evolution Carnival post to learn more.  I’m excited to see what the next year has in store for the HR online community and the profession as a whole.  Look for the next Carnival of HR on November 25th at Mike VanDervort at The Human Race Horses.

Photo credit to Sellsius Real Estate Blog.

As we begin to see the rays of sunshine begin to shine through the gloom and doom of the economy and the economic recession, it’s important to remember that change is near.  This addition of the Carnival of HR highlights Talent Management and the focus on the current and future economies.  With so many great submissions concerning Talent Management, we look to highlight some of the best HR, training, and recruiting minds in the industry today.

But first to know where we’re going, we need to know where we’ve been.

• Mick Collins with Info HRM looks at the year in review with What a Year.
• Melissa Prusher of Devon Group with 10 Minutes with Lisa Rowan gives us some insight on the economic rebound.
• Sharlyn Lauby of HR Bartender with a post on Ethics reminding us its important not to always run with the herd regardless of the economy.

And as the economy improves and the inevitable turnover churn begins, bloggers discuss the important of engagement.

• Melanie Quinn of Capture ISG with 5 Reasons Why You Need Employee Surveys.
• Jennifer V. Miller & Lisa Rosendahl team up with a dual post on Mentoring.  Lisa’s post is  A Mentoring Frame of Mind while Jennifer brings a different point of view with The Sweet Spot of Mentoring.
• Jon Ingham with Strategic HCM further explores employee engagement and disects my own post in Developing Social Capital.

Employee engagement and reducing turnover starts from the top down and bottom up.

• Wally Bock from Three Star Leadership bring us Leadership without Position.
• The HR Store encourages others to go bold or go home with, Feedback and Performance Management Reviews.
• Amit Bhagria, of Young HR Manager outlines the steps involved in Performance Consulting and One Step Beyond Training & Development.
• Vishveshwar Jatain of Benify inspires us to do more with 6 Offbeat Ways to Beat Attrition and Improve Retention.

The changing face of HR is key in the financial, corporate recovery, and rebirth.

• Trisha McFarland of HR Ringleader with “Re-Branding HR.”
• Mark Stelzner of Inflexion Advisors and his post, Mad Men and the Future of HR.
• Cathy Martin of Profitability Through Human Capital with HR Rock Stars.
• Gireesh Kumar Sharma of Talent Junction reminds us that HR’s Role is Critical in Terminations.

And for those of us who are the more than 16 million looking for work or those who are considering jumping into the job search, our HR Carnival experts offer some great advice.

• Laurie Ruettiman of Punk Rock HR and Interviews, Unemployment and the Cloud.
• BP Rao of People at Work and Play discusses the social media platform Linkedin with India-Big Market on LinkedIn.
• Ken Klaus of Talent Apps grabbed my attention offering expert advice on engagement and choice with The Da Vinci Conundrum.

Or for those that are looking for those that are looking for more. . .opportunities, more hours in the day, and more fun at work.

• Dan McCarthy of Great Leadership warns us with Head’s Up Your About to be Promoted or Fired.
• i4CP and their post Uncovering the Secrets to Higher Productivity by Mark Vickers.
• Drew Tarvin of Humor that Works reminds us that laughter is the best medicine with 101 Ways to Create Humor at Work.

A special thanks to our contributors, HR Minion our humble carnival ring leader as well as the opportunity to host the Carnival.  Look for the next Carnival of HR on October 14th hosted by Strategic HCM.