Talent Hunters

When it comes to setting young people up for successful careers, the importance of education can't be overstated. Here's the question: is the current model of learning set up for the world we're moving towards? Does it equip all children with the skills they need to thrive? Does it address the needs and challenges of teachers? This is the work Governor Jeb Bush's foundation, ExcelinEd is focused o...

Over the last few years, we've seen that remote work has many benefits for both employers and employees, but the downsides are becoming more evident, especially for young professionals. Older workers went remote with developed careers and established networks and relationships. These things can't be built over the internet, so in many ways the younger generation is starting on the backfoot. Many c...

For businesses everywhere, covid completely disrupted how we show up to work and whether we have to show up to an office at all. The world of work today is incredibly complex - we are far from the traditional 9 to 5 Dolly Parton sang about.  Remote and distributed work has unlocked both personal benefits for employees and financial wins for employers.  But this has created a new challenge. How do...

For ambitious recruiters who want to keep growing their businesses, there are 2 options. Diversify your dig or expand your geographic territory. Both offer a way to keep our businesses steady through the dips that our digs go through. What if you did both at the same time? Sounds like a lot, but this giant step towards diversification is what Amanda Sell-Sande has taken on. In the last year, she's...

In today's episode, we're joined by International Headhunter and Managing Director of The Hill Group, Sandra Hill. After deciding to become a recruiter at age 16, Sandra has built an incredible career and track record on one key pillar - caring about clients and candidates. She also listens to both sides of the recruiting relationship and only works with companies she herself would work for.   San...

Without question - remote work is the biggest labor force shift we've seen in decades. When it comes to its ramifications, the truth is, we just don't know enough yet.   We haven't fully appreciated the impact that remote/in-office work has had on client companies, candidate careers and the economy as a whole.   That's why a lot of companies find themselves in a tricky "trilemma" - should they let...

Whether it's the fax machine, email, online job boards, LinkedIn and now AI, the evolution of technology has made recruiters nervous. Could new platforms and capabilities make us obsolete? Are we in a fight against the disruption of our entire industry?   Well, technology can be a threat, a crutch, a challenge or a tool - the choice is entirely ours. If we leverage it the right way, it will enhanc...

No one goes to school to be a recruiter, but it's clear that some people are born to do this job. 3 generations of the Milius family have run a successful office, and today, they celebrate an incredible 50 years in the business!   Recruiting is the toughest simple job in the world. What we do - connecting clients to candidates - isn't complicated, but it is hard to show up and do it everyday.   Th...

In industries and specializations full of recruiters, the last thing you want is to be lumped in with all the other salespeople selling staffing. The truth is: in competitive digs, there are a lot of headhunters who promise the world, but deliver nothing.   There's only one way to escape this category. You have to prove you're not just another service provider draining the resources of clients and...

If you're staffing for an industry that has a higher demand for talent than the supply available, you're seeking people who aren't actively looking. In many ways, connecting the company to the candidate is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It takes more than just knowing a guy or gal to get someone hired.   You have to create the right combination and make sure the pieces fit together seamles...

If you've been in the recruiting game for 4 decades, you would have had a front row seat to the changes technology has brought to the industry. You also would have seen what technology has never been able to change.   For many years, the only way we could find talent was by asking other people. Now thanks to job boards and LinkedIn, finding talent is as simple as opening a webpage. Recruiting used...

In the wealth management world where money is always in motion, trust is the true currency of success. Behind every hire is a liquidity event that needs to be handled well. If you're helping companies find talent, it's not just about introducing people to people.   You have to build relationships and facilitate a process of credibility and trust in order to stand out. When you do it right, those r...

Recruiting might not be a career many people set out to get into, but once the bug bites you, there's no going back. This is very true for Lauren Kesterson. She grew up in a recruiting family, heard all the stories at the dinner table, and though she initially didn't think she'd take the same path, she leads the family office today!   It all started with putting note cards in alphabetical order fo...

When your staffing strategy extends beyond singular placements, it truly becomes a service and an ongoing client relationship. You're not just a recruiter, you become a talent coach and consultant, and that has to be reflected in the way you engage with clients.   You have to develop a package that provides continuous value and solves different problems, not just in talent acquisition, but in busi...

Over the last 5 years, the recruiting industry has undergone change at an accelerated pace. Between covid, advancements in technology and AI, there's a lot for recruiters to keep up with. In order to stay relevant, differentiation is non-negotiable.   We have to find a way to cut through the noise and move with the changes. One particular area where this is evident is in our contact strategy. Ther...

In a market that's constantly evolving, recruiting with a "set menu" approach doesn't work. Instead of doing the same thing over and over, we have to constantly create new solutions for clients and candidates.   What if you could treat recruiting like an adventure? What if you went into the market every single year with a new recruiting product, tailored to the exact demands of your dig at that ti...

Just like many industries, recruiting isn't immune to market highs and lows. Every dig is going to have its dips, and that can affect both demand and supply.   When there's uncertainty in the economy, no one wants to rock the boat. Candidates want to stay where they are, and companies decide to cut back on hiring.   Over the last year, tech has found itself in this position. Between layoffs and co...

In a world of polished job listings and carefully curated references, it's hard to distinguish lip service from the true DNA of a client or candidate. Add an increasingly transactional approach, and it becomes a dangerous time to be in this business.   Trust - the lifeblood of this industry has been broken, so it's never been more important to dig deep, and do your homework to make sure you're get...

The rise in demand for contract candidates is one of the biggest workforce shifts to emerge out of the last 5 years. More companies are opting for fractional employees over the permanent placements. It gives them access to an exceptional talent pool they otherwise couldn't afford. It allows companies in the start-up phase to advance while staying lean. It gives them short-term expertise to solve a...

In most industries, you either occupy the supply side or the demand side of the equation. Recruiters don't.   We're the tip of the spear on two sides and equally responsible to the hiring authorities and the talent. Fail to keep both sides sharp and focus too heavily on one side? We won't be able to efficiently and predictably connect talented individuals to great organizations.   Doing this job w...

In a world of AI-generated resumes, the chasm between the candidate resume and final client interview has never been wider.   Technology can minimize and even obscure the reality of a candidate. It can make it hard for them to shine through or it can overlook the need for that face-to-face interview prep.   Sometimes how a candidate presents themselves needs perfecting, but if you're just focused...

On the other end of every job listing is a busy hiring manager wading through all the candidates clamoring to get into the role. The process of paring down an inbox full of candidates to a meaningful list of potential hires can be both time consuming and taxing.   That's where a great recruiter comes in...   When you can go beyond technical requirements, cut through all the other recruiters, and r...

In the recruiting business, many things may change, from the tech we use to the industries that dominate at any given time. There are high points, hiccups and moments that force us to step back and reposition ourselves. What will never change is the lifeblood of this business, the engine that drives everything - motivation.   If a motivated client doesn't meet motivated talent, a hire will never t...

In the world of search, there are 2 paths to delivering top talent to clients - decision or choice. We can put a candidate in front of them and convince them to make a decision. Or we can put multiple A-players in front of them and empower them to make a choice.   The latter approach makes a huge impact, especially when it's done with speed and efficiency. It's on us to bring a selection of talent...

How do you use technology without cannibalizing what you're great at? How do you maintain strong relationships in a world that's becoming less face-to-face? These are key questions recruiters grapple with today.   The good news is: there isn't one solution or one set way of doing things. The recruiting industry is like an artist's blank canvas - there are many ways to create a masterpiece or in ou...