I have been asked what has stood out to me about the people who have shaped Whizdom over time. It is a tough question, because there is not one moment or one person you can point to. It is a lot of people, over a lot of years, showing up and doing the work properly.
When I started Whizdom, I wanted to build a business I could stand behind. One that solved real problems in practical ways, and one that stayed accountable when things were not perfect.
In the beginning, I was close to the conversations, so you heard the same worries clearly. Contractors wanted certainty around getting paid. People wanted clarity. People wanted to feel respected. So we made choices that reduced stress and built trust. Same day pay came from that. Removing restrictive clauses came from that too. The thinking was simple. Good service should be the reason people stay.
Two years after Whizdom started, Nicole McCann joined. Natalie Angus joined in 2010. I got lucky with both. They brought good judgement and clear thinking, and they were not afraid to challenge an idea if it did not sit right. One example that still sticks with me is flexible work. When Natalie moved to Goulburn, I did not want distance to be the reason we lost a great person. With my IT background we made it work. The technology took time to catch up, but we got there.
Today we have three offices in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and we are still going strong. We also have several staff with over ten years of service, and I really do appreciate that. A special mention to James Belcher, our General Manager, and to Kelly Shockley and Joanne Finchett as well, for the part they have played in helping us grow while keeping hold of the values this business was built on, people before profits. Recruitment is a people and relationship business, not a number business.
Twenty years also means plenty of lessons. Some decisions worked well. Some did not. You learn either way, as long as you own it and keep improving.
I have made a bunch of wonderful friends through this business, and I am thankful for that. Those who know me know I get far more satisfaction from seeing others achieve. I am not one for the spotlight. You will usually find me at home annoying the wife and the dogs, tormenting my kids and grandkids, whinging about the Raiders, and wearing shorts and thongs... The feet type.
It is a difficult time for many businesses at the moment, so hang in there. Do not feel you have to follow everyone else. Get a bit off road. You never know what opportunities might be sitting off the freeway.
Mostly, I am grateful for the people who have been part of the journey. That is what I will remember most.
John McCluskey is the Founder and Managing Director of Whizdom and an experienced recruitment leader with more than two decades in the industry. A former Australian Navy Veteran and past board member of APSCo Australia, he has played a key role in shaping Whizdom’s approach to contractor care, flexible work, and long-term relationships across government and industry. Connect with John on LinkedIn to keep up with his work.
