The Recruitment Reality Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast! Join me as I chat with Joe Atkinson, Founder of PURPL, a peer-to-peer learning platform revolutionizing talent acquisition training. Here's what we uncover:

🚀 Passionate startup journey: From Joe's entrepreneurial drive to filling the training gap for recruiters, PURPL emerges as a solution for upskilling in the industry.

🎓 Peer learning platform: PURPL provides recruiters with practical, industry-relevant training from top professionals, tackling challenges like data literacy and stakeholder management.

💡 Empowering professionals: Amid economic downturns, PURPL extends support by offering free training, enhancing employability and emphasizing fundamental skills for the future of recruitment.

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Joe Atkinson

In the latest episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast I sit down with Robert Garner, Director at Abstraction Labs, to explore his journey from recruitment to web design and software development. Get ready for insights into career transitions and the evolving recruitment technology landscape. The key takeaways:

🌟 Diverse career trajectory: From recruitment advertising and media to web design and software development, Robert shares his journey of career evolution and entrepreneurial ventures.

📚 Embracing learning opportunities: Robert highlights the importance of self-teaching and online resources in navigating career transitions, emphasizing their pivotal role in his journey from recruitment to software development.

🚀 Optimizing recruitment practices: Insights into the current recruitment landscape, leveraging AI and automation, and actionable advice for improving agency websites underscore the episode's focus on enhancing recruitment strategies and online presence.

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Robert Garner

In this episode, I'm joined by Ahva Sadeghi, CEO/Co-founder of Symba, an innovative onboarding and talent management platform:

🌱 Growth & evolution: Symba's evolution from remote internships to new hire readiness highlights adaptability and innovation in talent management.

🌐 Importance of feedback & culture: Customer feedback plays a pivotal role in expanding product capabilities and shaping startup growth trajectories.

💡 Key advice: Ahva stresses the significance of forming a strong team, prioritizing exceptional onboarding experiences, fostering a positive company culture, and maintaining a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation.

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Ahva Sadeghi

In this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast, I am joined by Dace Straupmane, a Talent Acquisition Manager at SmartLynx, an aviation lending company:

🌍 Global talent strategy: SmartLynx focuses on potential over experience, attracting junior talents and professionals from various industries, including banking.

🛠️ Tech-driven recruitment: Incorporating technology like Willo in the hiring process, SmartLynx efficiently identifies motivated candidates worldwide, valuing diversity and breaking role stereotypes.

🤖 AI in the workplace: Emphasizing the importance of AI for future employees, Dace sees AI as a time-saving, stress-reducing tool for both candidates and recruiters, urging its adoption in recruitment processes.

Dace Straupmane

Join Yasmin Castle, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Ideagen, in this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast as she shares insights with me on Ideagen's innovative hiring methods, including their 'Think Big' program for high schoolers.

🌟 Early career programs: Ideagen's 'Think Big' initiative offers high schoolers pathways into the workforce without college degrees, providing valuable opportunities for young talent.

🤖 AI in recruitment: We explore the adoption of AI in recruitment and its impact on streamlining processes, with insights into how tools like Willo help manage candidate assessments efficiently.

👥 Feedback and company culture: Yasmin emphasizes the significance of feedback and company culture in shaping employer branding, offering valuable advice for both recruitment professionals and job seekers alike.

Yasmin Castle

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In this latest episode, Rosa Hilmi, Co-founder and Managing Director of Stellar Select, offers essential insights into the recruitment landscape. She stresses the significance of a strong USP and niche focus, highlighting key takeaways:

🧑 Prioritize candidate experience: Rosa underscores the importance of understanding and addressing candidate needs, advocating for a positive and personalized experience.

🤝 Honest feedback builds trust: Providing candid feedback, even when unfavorable, is crucial for establishing trust and fostering enduring relationships with candidates.

🔄 Adaptability and niche focus: Recruiters should stay positive, adapt to market dynamics, and maintain a niche focus to navigate challenges and achieve long-term success.

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Rosa Hilmi

In the latest episode, I spoke with Sean Allen from The Very Group. Sean shared his experiences in tech recruitment and his work with The Talent Community. He discussed challenges in his first head role, emphasizing employer branding and authentic storytelling to attract suitable candidates. The key takeaways from our conversation:

🌐 Journey in recruitment: Over 15 years of experience, emphasizing the importance of authentic employer branding and storytelling in tech and customer care recruitment.

🤖 AI in recruitment: Viewed as a beneficial tool, not a replacement, with insights on candidates using AI to enhance applications and the need for automation in the interview process.

💡 Advice for recruiters and candidates: For recruiters, focus on process integration and automation; for candidates, use AI intelligently while ensuring to stand out in the application process.

Sean Allen

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Harvey Bass from Stascom about how he has maintained his business over 30 years.In this episode, we focus on how 'old school' methods are exactly what you need to keep your business alive.

Harvey talks about:
- The importance of using the phoneHow to remain persistent and politeWhy he has his team in the office

- How Stascom has survived multiple recessions

You'd be a fool not to listen if you want to hear some advice from an expert in our industry.

Harvey Bass

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Justin Plagis from Packaly.  Join us as we discuss how Justin and his team have scaled their business across multiple cities and countries. Following their € 2.6 million seed funding, their team has expanded their last leg delivery service into more than 125 cities! Listen to this episode to hear exactly how they have done this whilst remaining lean.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔸 The importance of pace in the gig economy
🔸 How to build a simple, cost-effective and efficient tech stack
🔸 How to reduce onboarding time from 8 days to 7 hours!

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Justin Plagis

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Mark Gibbons from Tunstall.  Join us as we discuss how to recruit for secret but mission-led brands!

In this episode, we discuss:

🔸 Promoting a powerful business mission: Craft a compelling mission that attracts top talent and fosters engagement.

🔸 Managing candidate expectations: Learn effective techniques to foster positive candidate experiences and clear communication.

🔸 Using technology to automate tasks at scale: Discover innovative ways to streamline recruitment processes using automation and technology.

🔸 Finding meaning in your work: Gain insights into inspiring candidates by giving them meaning to their potential work.

Follow us on Linkedin, Youtube and Spotify!

#SecretBrands #TalentAcquisition #PodcastEpisode

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Mark Gibbons

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Chandy Tucker... Here's a recap of the fantastic insights Chandy shared:

🌐 AI Empowering Recruiters: Discover how artificial intelligence is amplifying recruiter success and transforming the recruitment landscape.

💡 Problem First, Tech Solution Second: Understand the importance of identifying the core problem before developing a tech solution for your recruiting technology.

🚀 Simple Software, Superpowers Unleashed: Demystify the notion that complex tools are the only path to success. Learn how simple, user-friendly software can deliver recruiting superpowers.

Listen now to find out how Chandy has helped companies improve the efficiency of their recruitment funnel by implementing simple technology 🌟

#AIinRecruiting #RectechSolutions #RecruitingSuperpowers

Chandy Tucker

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I had the pleasure of hosting the amazing Sabrina Houssami, and it was an absolute game-changer! We dove deep into some crucial topics that every leader and aspiring leader should know about. Here's a recap of the fantastic insights Sabrina shared:

Don't miss out on this empowering episode! Tune in to the podcast to hear Sabrina's expert advice, thought-provoking anecdotes, and actionable steps you can take to enhance DEI in your business.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Sabrina Houssami for her invaluable contributions and for being such an inspiration to leaders everywhere. Her expertise in DEI, talent acquisition, and leadership development is truly remarkable.

If you're passionate about creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, this episode is a must-listen! Share your thoughts, insights, and any questions you may have in the comments below. Let's continue the conversation and work together towards building better organizations for everyone.

#DEI #LeadershipMatters #InclusionMatters

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Sabrina Houssami

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast,  I had the pleasure of interviewing Kate Wright, Director of Talent Acquisition & Programs at WillowTree Apps. Kate shared with us her valuable insights and experience on how to hire talent for a fast-moving and ever-changing business like WillowTree Apps.

During our conversation, Kate explained how her team works closely with project planning to deliver future talent, and how their brand and culture shape the types of individuals that join their business. As a big company with an intimate feel, WillowTree Apps offers a unique work environment that attracts top talent.

We also discussed the latest technology that Kate has implemented to drive the success of her business, ensuring that all the technology they choose drives both efficiency and candidate experience. It is possible to create a dynamic and fast-paced environment while delivering top talent in the tech consultancy industry.

If you want to learn more about the secrets of recruiting in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, listen to the latest episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast with Kate Wright. You won't want to miss it!

#talentacquisition #recruiting #techconsultancy #podcast

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Kate Wright

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I speak with Chase Kocher about the death of remote working in Austin.

Chase Kocher has years of experience in the Austin market. But it's all changing.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. How his team has seen a move away from resumes

2. Why remote working has become a perk

3. How the death of telephone interviews is affecting recruitment

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Chase Kocher

In this episode I speak with Debbie Penn and Chris Havens about hiring at a huge scale across multiple state locations. 

Debbie and Chris share their experience of running a huge-scale recruitment function with only 3 dedicated recruiters! This is something I've always been fascinated and surprised about. How do large, disparate organisations manage recruitment with only 3 people? The answer, introduce a framework built on a culture that allows for individual adaptation! If that sounds interesting, then this is a great episode to listen to. Debbie shares her years of experience within the Watermark Communities team, and how their CEO has managed to give freedom, whilst also creating a sense of belonging.

Debbie Penn

Chris Havens

In this episode of The Recruitment Reality Podcast, I speak with Mikey de Mello and Hamish Livingston about product development within the recruitment technology space.This was a fascinating chat. Mikey, Product Manager at Florence, and Hamish, VP of Product at Willo®, are both experts at building disruptive rectech.

They share their experience of building products that aim to challenge the market through innovative technology. If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a rectech product, this could be a really interesting listen for you. Most people never speak to the person behind actually building out the tool they are using, so here is your opportunity!

We cover everything from problem-focused development to managing client expectations and the future of rectech. It was a pleasure to chat with Mikey and Hamish. Listen if you want to learn more about how the rectech tools you use are created.

Mikey de Mello
Hamish Livingston

In this episode, I speak with Caitlin Ingham, Talent Acquisition Manager at Lunio about how to recruit post-Series A.

Caitlin jumped from agency to internal recruiting to follow the Lunio company mission. Her experience in building the post-series A business gives us invaluable insights. Caitlin talks us through how to stay true to your company culture while accelerating growth. From the tools that Caitlin uses to the way she engages critical stakeholders in the hiring process, there are many takeaways from this episode.

We also discuss how CVs for junior sales hires are meaningless. Instead, you should assess drive, communication, and personality, something we at Willo have long believed in!Listen if you want to learn more about what it takes to build a team post a Series A investment...

Caitlin Ingham

In this episode, I speak with Robert Newry, CEO & Co-Founder of Arctic Shores about how CVs really are rubbish, and this is why Robert Newry, joins me on The Recruitment Reality Podcast to talk about how we're both trying to kill the CV. A lofty ambition I know...

The episode is full of facts and stories that you'll love. For example, did you know there are 150 points of unconscious bias at play when you are reviewing a CV!There is a reason why Arctic Shores have just closed £5.75 million Series B funding round. It's because whilst everyone knows CVs are 💩, there is still no universal alternative. Robert and his team are trying to change that.

Robert Newry

I invited candidates who are #OpenToWork on Linkedin to come on my podcast and share their personal experiences searching for a job and working with recruiters.

In this episode, I speak with Akosua Adjei Pokuaa, a self-motivated, responsible and passionate Talent Acquisition Partner/ DEI Enthusiast with 2 years of experience (Zalando and HelloFresh). She is currently seeking a Talent Acquisition role in Berlin.

Akosua Adjei Pokuaa

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I invited candidates who are #OpenToWork on Linkedin to come on my podcast and share their personal experiences searching for a job and working with recruiters.

In this episode, I speak with Jonny Loudon, who has 14 years of experience serving in the military... and is now working to break into the tech startup world for a Senior Operations role.

Jonny Loudon

I invited candidates who are #OpenToWork on Linkedin to come on my podcast and share their personal experiences searching for a job and working with recruiters.

In this episode, I speak with Joshua Cohn, a candidate seeking a position as a Sales & Enablement Manager.  He is a sales leader with a passion for coaching and developing others, especially consultative sales within innovative products. He has 8 years of client-facing experience (of which 4 years were at high-growth fintech startups including Acorns and Better)

Joshua Cohn

In this episode, I speak with Phil Strazzulla, founder of Select Software Reviews about how to build your HR Tech Stack. We discuss how to find the right technologies for your company, how video interviews have impacted the ecosystem and the benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence to source talent.

Phil Strazzulla

In this episode, I speak with Shamir Gokani, a Lead of People and Growth at Teamed about what an employer of record is, how it can benefit your company, and what to consider before selecting one.

Shamir Gokani

In this episode, I speak with Luke Mellor from Trainline, about about the dangers of a poor candidate experience, where to focus, and how to avoid your core business being impacted by poor recruitment processes.

It's definitely worth a listen if you are interested in all things candidate experience.If you believe that candidate experience isn't important...I'd suggest you listen too!

Listen to learn about what can happen if you neglect candidate experience in your recruitment process...

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Luke Mellor

In this episode, I speak with Amy Aberra for our for our round 2 discussions about careers in the fashion industry.

Amy's passion for the fashion industry is so infectious. She's not only helping find people jobs via Rise Resourcing, but she's also advising and coaching individuals looking to break into the space with her new(ish) venture Fashion Career Consultancy.

Listen or watch if you are interested to hear more about careers in the space, and how Amy is breaking down barriers to entry. 🎧

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Amy Aberra

In this episode, I speak with Charlene Simpson, a Talent Acquisition Partner at Funding Circle about building equitable interview processes.
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If you're worried that your interview process isn't delivering the diverse talent you want, this episode is a great place to start. Charlene has worked in an agency, in rectec, and now in-house for Funding Circle. Her insights are invaluable, as few have had the depth and breadth of exposure she has had over her career.

Listen to hear how you can build a more inclusive and equitable interview process...

Charlene Simpson

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In this episode, I speak with two employees of Greenhouse about hiring strategies.

In this episode, I’m talking with two Greenhouse team members about recruitment strategy and how companies can evolve their hiring mindset for the long-term. You'll hear insights into how Greenhouse, a company at the forefront of recruitment technology, is staying one step ahead of hiring trends as they enable their customers to achieve their business goals.

Listen to this episode if you want to get an insight into how global businesses are building their talent teams of the future and how they harness the power of technology to drive their decisions.

• Ariana Moon - Head of Talent Planning & Acquisition
• Scott Rappaport - Enterprise Customer Success

I jokingly made a Linkedin post four days ago that has since gained 3.6 million impressions. With over 900 comments, many wanted to know the actual cost of a bad hire and how to calculate it. After my 15 minutes of fame on Linkedin (which my co-founder Euan Cameron will likely ridicule me for doing the rest of my life)... I thought it would be interesting to chat with Euan to discuss this question and share some tips on how you can best avoid making bad hires in the future.
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Euan Cameron

In this episode, I speak to Mike Davies , COO & Co-Founder of Haystack.

If you're worried that tech talent thinks the job board you are using is boring, you're probably right...

Listen to hear how transparency is driving tech talent to your competitors...

Mike Davies