Digital Recruiter Podcast

Episode Summary Scott Smith didn't come from recruiting. He came from sales leadership in the material handling and industrial automation space, the people who supply the supply chain. After nearly a decade building and scaling go-to-market teams, Scott and his co-founder Cameron realized that the hardest part of growth wasn't strategy. It was getting the right people in the right seats. That realization led them to launch Henry North, a niche recruiting firm serving the very industry they'd spent their careers in. What happened next was remarkable. In their first year, Henry North cleared seven figures in revenue, without either co-founder having prior recruiting experience. Their secret? Deep industry expertise, a disciplined niche strategy, and a LinkedIn content engine that turned them into the go-to brand in their space before they even made their first placement. In this episode, Scott and Clark break down exactly how they did it, from the 60-90 day pre-launch content strategy to the daily habits that keep their team performing at a high level. The conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to win in a niche: why niching down revealed more opportunity (not less), how their biggest client came from outside their target market because of the brand they built, and why consultative value, not resume volume, is what earns premium fees and long-term client loyalty. Scott also shares how Henry North builds culture in a remote environment, the KPIs that matter most, and why resilience and a positive mindset aren't just nice-to-haves. They're non-negotiables in the agency game. For recruiters thinking about going out on their own, or agency owners looking to scale smarter through content and niche dominance, this episode is a tactical blueprint from someone who's living it in real time. Scott's Bio Scott Smith is the co-founder of Henry North, a niche recruiting firm serving the material handling and industrial automation industry. After spending nearly a decade as a sales leader in the space, helping build and scale go-to-market teams across the Southeast, Scott launched Henry North with his co-founder in early 2025. In their first year, the firm crossed seven figures in revenue by combining deep industry expertise with a content-first approach to business development. Scott is known for his analytical mindset, disciplined approach to growth, and belief that niche expertise and authentic content are the most powerful BD tools in recruiting today. Henry North is actively growing and hiring top talent. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsmithll/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don't work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Austin Moore didn’t set out to build a $17 million staffing company. Like most recruiters, he fell into the industry after leaving a cubicle job and a short stint in car sales, looking for something more performance-driven. What he found was a career that rewarded grit, sales discipline, and resilience. After cutting his teeth at firms like Medix, Robert Half, and Beacon Hill, Austin eventually made the leap into entrepreneurship, launching his own healthcare staffing company just before COVID reshaped the market overnight. What followed was a high-stakes growth journey. After nearly losing everything when hiring froze, Austin landed a breakout client that helped him scale rapidly. Within a few years, his firm grew to seven figures per month, topping out at $17 million in annual revenue. In this episode, he and Clark unpack what actually drove that growth, building a real sales engine, protecting top performers, avoiding expansion traps, and learning when to say no to revenue that doesn’t fit your model. The conversation also dives into Austin’s current work at Strategy Ladders and Talent Labs, where he helps founders scale smarter. From leveraging high-performing talent in Latin America to navigating AI disruption, Austin emphasizes one consistent theme: recruiting is still a relationship business. The firms that win won’t be the ones chasing every tool, they’ll be the ones doubling down on fundamentals, leadership, and human connection. For recruiters looking to scale beyond seven figures without burning out or breaking their business, this episode is a tactical and mindset-driven roadmap. AUSTIN'S BIO Austin Moore is a former healthcare staffing founder who scaled his agency from zero to $17 million in annual revenue in just a few years. After exiting the business, he joined Strategy Ladders as a strategic advisor, helping founders grow through stronger sales systems, operational discipline, and leadership development. He also leads Talent Labs, the recruiting arm of Strategy Ladders, where he helps agencies and growing companies hire high-performing talent — with a strong focus on Latin America sourcing and support roles. Austin is known for his direct approach to sales, commitment to fundamentals, and belief that the future of recruiting belongs to those who lean into human connection. Connect with Austin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinmoore1/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary Mike Malinowsky didn’t stumble into recruiting. He chose it as a life decision. After spending more than a decade in the U.S. Army working in communications and IT, Mike and his wife made a pivotal call when their kids reached middle school: stability mattered more than constant relocation. That decision led him into Army recruiting, a move that not only kept him home for dinner, but uncovered a career he genuinely loves. What followed was a crash course in true headhunting. Military recruiting forced Mike to source creatively, build trust with young candidates and their families, and operate without relying on inbound applicants. That experience shaped his belief that the best agency recruiters are hunters first. In this episode, Mike and Clark break down the difference between the art and science of recruiting, why so many recruiters rely too heavily on tools, and how scrappiness separates top producers from everyone else. The conversation then shifts into what Mike calls a “humanity audit.” As AI tools flood the industry, he challenges recruiters and hiring teams to examine where automation is quietly stripping away potential. From auto-rejection filters to over-polished AI messaging, Mike argues that technology should be a multiplier, not a replacement. His core message is simple: if you want higher response rates, better negotiations, and long-term trust, keep it human. For recruiters navigating AI overload, market shifts, and candidate fatigue, this episode is a grounded reminder that relationships still win. Mike's Bio Mike Malinowsky is the Director of Recruiting at Lean Synergy Solutions and a former U.S. Army recruiting leader. After serving more than a decade in communications and IT, Mike transitioned into Army recruiting to prioritize family life, quickly rising to lead recruiting stations and mentor teams of recruiters. Following his military retirement, Mike moved into agency and government subcontract recruiting, where he continues to focus on high impact placements across manufacturing and specialized industries. Known on LinkedIn as “The Genuine Recruiter,” Mike is passionate about blending AI driven efficiency with authentic human connection. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemalinowsky/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Episode Summary* Danny Rosenthal didn’t plan on becoming a recruiter. His career started on stage as a full-time musician, writing songs, touring, and even landing music on TV and in film. But after parting ways with his band, Danny pivoted into an entirely different world: childcare. What began as becoming a nanny turned into launching his own nanny agency and eventually stepping fully into recruiting. In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Danny, now Director of Community Partnerships at EngineHire, to unpack that unconventional journey and what it taught him about business, niching down, and building systems that actually support growth. Danny shares how learning from other agency owners helped him avoid costly mistakes early on, why trust and education are everything in the nanny placement space, and how owning your niche can unlock unexpected opportunities (including a TV show pitch about male nannies). The conversation then shifts into automation and tech. From his vantage point inside EngineHire, Danny sees where agencies stall out. Most aren’t lacking effort. They’re overcomplicating systems or failing to automate the simple things that drive revenue. He breaks down the power of basic status-based follow-ups, abandoned application reminders, and the one automated check-in email that produced some of his highest response rates. For recruiters looking to simplify, systemize, and scale without losing the human element, this episode is packed with practical insight. *Highlights* 00:00 - Welcome & how LinkedIn sparked the conversation 02:00 - Danny’s music career and unexpected pivot 05:00 - What bands, money, and commission splits have in common 07:00 - From nanny to agency owner 11:00 - Recruiting in childcare and educating clients 14:00 - Why owning your niche creates opportunity 20:00 - Transitioning from agency owner to EngineHire 22:00 - The automation mistakes most agencies make 24:00 - The simple follow-up email that gets massive replies 33:00 - Stop overbuilding systems and start building revenue 35:00 - Life advice: transparency and standing behind decisions *Danny’s Bio* Danny Rosenthal is the Director of Community Partnerships at EngineHire, an all-in-one ATS, CRM, payroll, and scheduling platform built primarily for care-based staffing industries including nanny agencies, home care, and medical staffing. Before joining EngineHire, Danny founded and operated his own nanny agency after transitioning from a full-time career in music, where he toured, wrote songs featured in TV and film, and worked alongside artists like Kenny Loggins and Gary Wright. His firsthand experience as both a recruiter and agency owner gives him a practical, operator-level perspective on automation, systems, and building sustainable staffing businesses. Today, Danny works closely with agency owners to help them streamline operations, implement smart automation, and avoid the common pitfalls that stall growth. Connect with Danny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyjosephrosenthal/ or learn more at https://enginehire.io Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Josh Kirkham didn’t just join an AI company. He helped reshape one around how agency recruiters actually work. In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Josh, VP of Revenue at CoRecruit (formerly Quil), to unpack the thinking behind their rebrand and what it signals about where recruiting technology is headed in 2026. Josh shares how the company evolved from a simple note taking tool into a full AI assistant built specifically for third party recruiters. What started as CRM hygiene for sales teams turned into something much bigger once recruiters began pulling the product into their workflows. The conversation breaks down why write ups, job descriptions, scorecards, and follow ups are the real time killers in recruiting, and how CoRecruit focuses on automation without stripping away the human judgment recruiters are paid for. Clark and Josh also zoom out to talk about AI adoption more broadly. They unpack the 10 80 10 framework for using AI effectively, why 100 percent automation is the wrong goal, and how personalization and execution matter more than flashy features. The episode wraps with a look at CoRecruit’s new VoIP and desktop app, plus practical lessons on onboarding, enablement, and building systems that recruiters actually stick with. For agency recruiters who want leverage without losing their voice, this episode offers a grounded, practical roadmap for using AI the right way. JOSH'S BIO Josh Kirkham is the VP of Revenue at CoRecruit, an AI powered recruiting platform built exclusively for agency recruiters. With a background in high growth SaaS companies including HubSpot, Josh has spent his career helping go to market teams scale through better systems, execution, and enablement. At CoRecruit, Josh leads revenue and customer growth while staying closely connected to how recruiters actually operate day to day. He is known for his practical perspective on AI adoption, believing the goal is not replacement but leverage. Outside of work, Josh is a new dad and is focused on building a company his future family can be proud of. Connect with Josh on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkirkham/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary Milan Levy didn’t just start a company; he’s building a bridge between South Africa’s untapped talent and the world’s most competitive businesses. In this episode, host Clark Wilcox dives deep with Milan, founder of Talent Sam, to explore the rise of South Africa as a nearshore hiring destination. Milan shares how his tech-driven, compliance-first model is helping U.S. and U.K. companies access skilled, hardworking talent in South Africa, without the legal landmines or logistical headaches. The conversation unpacks the unique opportunities and pitfalls of hiring from South Africa, including misclassification risk, payroll tax nuances, and cultural integration. Milan doesn’t just talk theory, he details how Talent Sam supports clients with end-to-end solutions: from candidate sourcing and vetting to employer of record services, equipment setup, and even ongoing team engagement. Later in the episode, Milan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, starting as a teen DJ and DVD editor, and scaling tech ventures before launching Talent Sam. For recruiters and founders tired of churn and ready to build global teams that actually last, this episode is both a tactical roadmap and a mindset shift. Milan's Bio Milan Levy is a South African tech entrepreneur and founder of TalentSam, a full-service remote hiring platform that helps global companies access and manage top-tier talent from South Africa. With a background in software automation and a passion for solving complex systems problems, Milan has turned TalentSam into a compliance-forward, culture-conscious hiring solution. Known for his lean ops mindset and hands-on approach, Milan’s team processes 50,000+ applications monthly and manages every detail from recruitment to retention. When he’s not scaling companies, Milan’s known for deep tech chops, fast problem solving, and starting his entrepreneurial journey as a teenage DJ. Connect with Milan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/milanlevy/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this compelling episode, Clark welcomes Jacob Stripling, founder of Future State Careers and creator of WholeStory.me, for a candid conversation about reinvention, relevance, and recruiting in the age of AI. Starting like many recruiters, accidentally, Jacob cut his teeth at a major staffing firm before launching his own agency just months before the pandemic hit. Fast forward six years, and he’s not only built a niche in accounting and finance but is now pushing the entire industry to rethink how we present candidates. Jacob walks through the "why" behind WholeStory.me, a new platform designed to give job seekers a voice beyond bullet points and buzzwords. He unpacks how AI has created a sea of sameness in resumes, the rising distrust in hiring processes, and what happens when you flip the script, letting people lead with video, story, and human context. This isn't just a new tech tool; it’s a movement toward authentic representation and better hiring matches on both sides. Whether you’re a recruiter, job seeker, or hiring leader, Jacob’s insights challenge the status quo and offer a hopeful path forward: one where substance wins, not surface. From branding lanes to burnout, from tactical content to philosophical takeaways, this episode is packed with practical ideas and real emotion. Don’t miss it. JACOB'S BIO Jacob Stripling is the founder of Future State Careers, a recruiting agency specializing in accounting and finance, and the creator of WholeStory.me—a platform designed to restore humanity to the hiring process. With over a decade in recruiting, Jacob has built his brand on honest conversations, client trust, and a commitment to showcasing the full context behind every candidate. A proud dad, thoughtful entrepreneur, and content creator, he’s not just innovating how we hire—he’s reimagining who gets seen and why. Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-stripling-bb143594/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Brian Samson didn’t plan on building nearshore tech teams across Latin America, he just followed curiosity and opportunity. Starting in a high-pressure staffing bullpen in Chicago, Brian quickly made a name for himself through hustle, whiteboard metrics, and old-school recruiting grit. But what came next set him apart. After stints in internal talent leadership and multiple founder roles, Brian raised $2M, moved to Argentina, and launched a company to help fintech startups build faster through offshore development. In this episode, Brian shares the entire arc, from being a top-performing account manager with a $90K weekly spread, to becoming a founder of Plug Technologies (with 100+ LATAM engineers), and how his lived experience in Latin America gave him an unbeatable edge. He and Clark explore why US recruiters are missing a massive opportunity by ignoring the nearshore market, and how partnerships, white-labeling, and shifting client conversations can unlock real scale. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or agency leader, this is a playbook in business model innovation, trust-building, and compounding relationships over time. BRIAN'S BIO Brian Samson is the founder of Plug Technologies, a nearshore talent firm connecting top Latin American software developers with US companies. With 100+ engineers deployed and multiple 7-figure businesses under his belt, Brian brings a rare mix of agency hustle, in-house leadership, and founder wisdom. A Chicago native turned Buenos Aires transplant, Brian has built his career around grit, relationships, and being early to big trends. He's passionate about elevating overlooked talent pools and helping US staffing firms grow through white-labeled partnerships. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Willcox sits down with former professional poker player turned recruiter, Joe Sebok, to talk about his wild career journey. Joe was part of the poker boom in the 2000s, playing on televised World Series of Poker tables, running his own media company, and even building an early social media platform for poker pros. But when the online poker industry collapsed in 2011, he had to reinvent himself—eventually landing in the world of recruiting, where he’s now building a thriving business. Joe shares the lessons he’s learned from poker that apply directly to recruiting and business: reading people, managing risk, and knowing when to go all-in. He talks about the power of reinvention, why so many recruiters fail because they avoid doing the actual work, and how leaning into your strengths can give you a real competitive advantage. He also opens up about navigating public scrutiny, handling high-pressure situations, and overcoming mental blocks that hold people back from success. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career, doubted your next move, or struggled to stand out in a crowded market, this episode is packed with insights on mindset, personal branding, and making strategic bets on yourself. Don’t miss this one! *HIGHLIGHTS* 00:00 - Introduction & Digital Recruiter Newsletter 01:00 - Welcoming Special Guest: Joe Seabock 02:00 - Joe’s Background: From Poker Pro to Recruiter 04:00 - Life After Poker: A Reset in Wine Country 06:00 - Transition to Recruiting & Career Growth 09:00 - The Power of Strategic Advantages 12:00 - Social Media & Content Marketing for Recruiters 15:00 - Joe’s Journey into Professional Poker 18:00 - The Poker Boom & Media Evolution 22:00 - Lessons from Poker Applied to Recruiting 27:00 - Recognizing Industry Trends & Pivoting 32:00 - The Mental Game of Business & Success 38:00 - The Role of Confidence & Commitment 45:00 - Overcoming Setbacks & Navigating Change 50:00 - Social Media Challenges & Haters 55:00 - Recruiting, Market Trends & Career Advice 1:00:00 - Final Thoughts & Takeaways *JOE's BIO* After beginning his career as a professional poker player in 2005, winning several titles and competing in both the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour, Sebok ceased playing full-time in 2009 to make his shift into media and business. He did so effectively, helping spearhead poker’s first televised media reporting program, as well as several of poker’s most popular radio programs across the globe. Sebok joined the recruiting and talent acquisition ranks in 2015 and won awards while at the largest creative recruiting agency in North America before transitioning to work in-house and build several entire teams from scratch. His additional experience in marketing, sales, and operations further strengthens his robust proficiency in understanding clients’ open positions and what is required to staff them both effectively and expeditiously. You can find Joe on LinkedIn at Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark welcomes Paul Champaneria, SaaS veteran, staffing agency founder, and the mind behind CallMantra, a purpose-built calling and texting platform for recruiters. Paul’s story is a masterclass in organic innovation: he didn’t set out to create recruiting tech. He just needed a better way to scale his own internal team. What started with solving hiring inefficiencies in his software companies led to the creation of a high-performing staffing agency. From there, Paul built CallMantra, a system that now helps recruiters increase connection rates by 40%, reduce manual work, and deliver better candidate experiences, faster. Paul unpacks how his team retained talent for over a decade, the tech stack philosophy that makes it possible, and why smaller agencies have a massive opportunity if they lean into automation the right way. He also gives a glimpse into the future, think AI voicebots that sound like you and submit candidate write-ups automatically. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or a 100-person firm, this episode is packed with insight and practical direction. PAUL'S BIO Paul Champaneria is the founder of Expert Hiring, a high-performance staffing agency, and the creator of CallMantra, a communications platform designed exclusively for recruiters. He began his career building software companies in the 1990s, including TeleCenter and Focal Point, before organically stepping into staffing through internal hiring needs. His blend of SaaS experience and recruiter empathy led him to develop tools that solve real-world workflow bottlenecks. Paul is known for running lean, culture-forward teams that retain top talent for over a decade. He attributes that success to trust, autonomy, and arming his people with world-class tools. When he’s not building tech or scaling businesses, Paul recharges with daily meditation and workouts, and stays grounded by avoiding the noise of social media. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulchampaneria/ and check out https://www.callmantra.co/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this powerful episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Marcus Quigley, founder of Recruitify, to unpack a raw, real, and inspiring journey from burnout to breakthrough. Marcus didn’t plan on becoming a recruiter, he stumbled into it after falling out of love with sales finance. But what started as a pivot became a purpose-driven career that would eventually lead him to launch his own agency focused on legal and professional services. This episode isn’t about startup fluff or highlight reels. Marcus takes us into the messy middle: the six months of struggle after going solo, the desperation that nearly derailed him, and the $20K loan against his 401(k) that bought him breathing room. From there, he got laser-focused, tightening his niche, his vetting process, and his mindset. Along the way, he racked up 24 placements and found something more valuable than revenue: confidence, clarity, and conviction. The conversation also veers into personal territory. Marcus opens up about losing his father, his five-year sobriety, and the lessons those moments etched into how he runs his business. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re cut out for entrepreneurship, or needed proof that authenticity still wins, this episode is for you. MARCUS' BIO I’m the founder of Recruitify, a boutique recruiting firm focused on legal and professional services. I built this business on being real with people, honest, direct, and straightforward. I don’t sugarcoat things or hide behind buzzwords. My job is to do the right thing for both my clients and my candidates, even when it’s not the easy thing. That’s how you build long-term trust and real results. Connect with Marcus on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-quigley-a7146ba1/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Ashley Woods didn’t just build a successful recruiting desk. She redefined what success looks like. After starting her career at Allegis Group with no prior knowledge of the industry, she quickly rose through the ranks by applying an athletic mindset and a relentless hunger to master her craft. But after hitting big wins including five President’s Club awards, she burned out, left recruiting altogether, and came back on her own terms. In this episode, Ashley shares how she built her $10 million desk at Tema, the systems she used to break the hustle trap, and why she launched Time Rich Recruiter to help others do the same. She and Clark go deep on time audits, the emotional toll of overworking, the role of vulnerability in client relationships, and how to leverage partnerships and automation without losing the human touch. Whether you're scaling or stuck, this is a masterclass on sustainable success. ASHLEY'S BIO Ashley Woods is the founder of Time Rich Recruiter, a coaching platform designed to help recruiters break free from burnout and build systems that scale. A five-time President’s Club winner and top biller at TEEMA, Ashley built a $10M desk while traveling the world. She's trained Muay Thai in Phuket, learned Spanish abroad, and is passionate about helping others build lives they don’t need a vacation from. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjcwoods/ or at https://www.timerichrecruiter.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox sits down with Mike Bradshaw, Vice President of Talent at Pinpoint, a next-gen ATS platform that's redefining hiring for in-house teams. With ERE’s Recruiting Innovation Summit just around the corner, Mike shares a preview of his upcoming talk and dives deep into the urgent challenges recruiters are facing today. As recruiting teams are stretched thinner than ever, juggling a surge in applicants, tighter budgets, and growing expectations, Mike explains how smart workflow automation can actually elevate the recruiter’s role instead of replacing it. From simplifying complex hiring to maintaining candidate empathy at scale, the conversation highlights how Pinpoint's human-centered tech design is helping companies hire faster and fairer. Clark and Mike also unpack what to look for in an ATS, why design and support matter as much as features, and how to evaluate innovation in a crowded HR tech market. It’s a candid, practical discussion on transforming recruiting operations while keeping the human element front and center. MIKE'S BIO Mike Bradshaw is the VP of Talent at Pinpoint, a high-growth HR tech company building software that helps in-house recruiting teams attract, hire, and onboard the right talent. With over 15 years of experience leading People and Talent strategy across early-stage startups, mission-driven organizations, and nationally scaled brands, Mike has built and scaled talent infrastructure from the ground up—guiding teams through high-growth periods and successful exits. Follow Mike on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmikebradshaw/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this high-impact episode, Clark Wilcox sits down with Jim Durbin, aka the “Indeed Whisperer”, for a wide-ranging conversation on recruitment marketing, process design, and how to think like a TA consultant in an era of automation. Jim has trained over 10,000 recruiters, led campaigns that delivered 500,000 candidates for less than 30 cents each, and worked across high-volume, executive, and everything in between. They dive into a case study from NHHS Management, where Director of Recruiting Mike Dickinson reimagined the application process for skilled nursing roles in some of the toughest markets in the U.S. What happened next? A dramatic drop in cost per applicant, and better candidate experience. But this episode is about more than just tactics. Jim explains why TA leaders need to stop chasing AI and start fixing broken processes. He shows how reframing metrics like source of hire can mean the difference between strategic credibility and being replaced. This one’s a masterclass in thinking differently about scale, quality, and impact in recruiting. Come for the Indeed insights. Stay for the storytelling, salty takes, and timeless truths about how recruiting really works. JIM'S BIO Jim Durbin is a veteran recruiter, trainer, and recruitment marketing consultant best known as “The Indeed Whisperer.” With decades of experience across staffing, RPO, executive search, and corporate TA, Jim is a rare hybrid who understands both front-line sourcing and strategic TA operations. He’s helped optimize recruitment strategies for companies like Marriott, PSG, and dozens of mid-market firms, often reducing costs while increasing candidate quality. A former headhunter turned high-volume hacker, Jim brings a sharp sense of humor, deep insight, and a hat you won’t forget. Find Jim on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimdurbin/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Christine Nichlos didn’t set out to build an RPO and HR tech firm that would partner with some of the world’s most complex enterprises, she simply saw a better way to do recruiting. Since launching People Science in 1997, she’s stayed at the forefront of talent acquisition by staying relentlessly curious and customer-focused. In this episode, Christine joins Clark Wilcox to talk about the evolution of recruiting from paper resumes to AI-augmented systems, and what most leaders still get wrong about applicant tracking systems (ATS). They dive deep into how her team developed Hire Gate, a recruiter- and candidate-tracking platform that augments existing ATSs to provide actionable intelligence. Christine explains why TA leaders need better data, not more tools, to make strategic decisions, and how platforms like Hire Gate are helping teams shift from reactive hiring to proactive workforce planning. She also shares why AI alone can’t save you, how her team pilots tools before implementation, and what true recruiter enablement looks like. Christine’s passion is clear: if we don't fix talent acquisition, the economy can’t grow. This episode is a powerful reminder that TA isn’t just back-office HR, it’s mission-critical. Whether you’re an enterprise TA leader, agency recruiter, or HR tech buyer, this conversation will make you rethink your tech stack, your team structure, and your own influence. CHRISTINE'S BIO Christine Nichlos is the Founder and CEO of People Science and Hire Gate, a next-generation RPO and HR tech firm that specializes in solving high-volume, complex hiring challenges. With roots in talent advisory and a sharp focus on execution, Christine’s companies have supported global enterprises like Lucent, Verizon, and others in redesigning how they attract and retain talent. She is a passionate advocate for elevating talent acquisition as a business-critical function, and her firm’s platform Hire Gate helps TA teams plan, track, and optimize recruiter performance beyond what a traditional ATS allows. When she’s not designing systems to fix recruiting, she’s mentoring teams to think strategically and speak the language of business. Connect with Christine on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnichlos/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast’s ERE Summit Series, Clark Wilcox is joined by Larry Hernandez, founder of Recruiter DNA. With over 25 years in the industry, Larry now teaches recruiters how to build their own AI-powered workflows that boost productivity without sacrificing the human side of recruiting. His approach is grounded, tactical, and built for scale, making AI accessible to recruiters at any level. Larry shares how he trains recruiting teams to use ChatGPT and generative AI as collaborative tools instead of replacements. He introduces the concept of “scaling brilliance” capturing the workflows of your top performers and turning them into custom AI copilots anyone can use. From intake meetings to writing job posts in your brand’s tone, Larry offers a refreshing and empowering take on AI’s role in modern hiring. This is a must-listen for anyone overwhelmed by AI and unsure where to start. LARRY'S BIO Larry Hernandez is the founder of Recruiter DNA, a training and AI strategy firm for modern recruiting teams. With a background spanning agency, in-house, RPO, and consulting roles at companies like Zappos, Microsoft, and Twitter, Larry now helps TA leaders and recruiters build practical, no-code AI assistants using the tools they already have. He specializes in demystifying AI and helping teams scale their top performers' knowledge through custom GPT workflows. Connect with Larry on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryhernandezrecruiter/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast’s ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit Series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Mike Dickinson, Director of Recruiting at NHS Management. Mike shares the story of transforming hiring at a skilled nursing organization that had been operating with paper applications as recently as 2020. With over 40 long-term care facilities under NHS’s umbrella, the stakes were high—and the changes had to be practical, fast, and scalable. Mike walks through how he took the organization from manual job posts and outdated systems to a modern tech stack using UKG, Chattr, and AI-enhanced workflows. He breaks down what’s worked, what hasn’t, and why change management matters more than the tools themselves. They also discuss why frontline healthcare hiring is one of the hardest challenges in TA today, and how to recruit with heart, clarity, and a long game mindset. Whether you’re in healthcare or not, this is a masterclass in moving from reactive to strategic recruiting inside a complex system. MIKE'S BIO Mike Dickinson is Director of Recruiting at NHS Management, where he leads talent acquisition for over 40 skilled nursing and rehab facilities across Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas. He’s known for guiding NHS through a digital hiring transformation during COVID, introducing ATS, AI tools, and content strategy into an industry segment often slow to modernize. Mike brings a hands-on, honest perspective on healthcare hiring and the real-world lessons of driving change in a high-stakes environment. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-dickinson-4b296b1/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox talks with Aaron Wang, co-founder and CEO of Alex.com, one of the most exciting AI platforms in recruiting today. Just weeks after announcing their $20M Series A, Aaron joins the show to break down how Alex is helping companies run autonomous interviews, shorten time to hire by over 80%, and let recruiters focus more on human connection. Aaron shares how Alex.com is transforming talent acquisition at some of the largest accounting firms, Fortune 100s, and staffing agencies in the country. More than a screening tool, Alex acts as an AI recruiting partner, handling phone screens, candidate outreach, and real-time ATS updates while surfacing the best talent. The conversation also dives into the real impact of automation on recruiter roles, what skills will matter most over the next decade, and why personal connection still beats any software feature. AARON'S BIO Aaron Wang is the co-founder and CEO of Alex.com, an AI recruiting platform that automates high-volume screening, outreach, and candidate engagement. Since launching just two years ago, Alex has raised $20 million in venture capital and is being used by some of the most recognized brands in staffing, finance, and hospitality. Aaron is a passionate advocate for combining automation with empathy, helping recruiters do more of the work that actually drives hiring success. Connect with Aaron on Linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronjwang/ and explore Alex at alex.com Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox talks with Nick Livingston, co-founder and CEO of Honeit, a platform built to modernize and streamline one of the most neglected parts of the recruiting process: the interview. Honeit doesn’t just record calls or generate transcripts, it creates a complete interview intelligence system that helps recruiters run better conversations, submit stronger candidates, and speed up hiring without sacrificing quality. Nick explains the gap Honeit was built to fill between sourcing and the ATS, why AI should be used to elevate, not replace, recruiters, and how automation can empower every recruiter to perform like an executive search pro. The two explore how Honeit helps recruiters turn phone screens into high-value interviews, submit with one click, and share insights that accelerate stakeholder buy-in. This is an inside look at how smart tech is making recruiters better, not obsolete. NICK'S BIO Nick Livingston is the co-founder and CEO of Honeit, a platform built to empower recruiters with interview intelligence and modern communication workflows. With over a decade of experience in recruiting and HR tech, Nick has been a long-time voice in the innovation space, regularly contributing to conversations at SourceCon, ERE, and beyond. He’s passionate about using automation and AI to elevate human interaction, not remove it. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklivingston/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit Series, Clark Wilcox sits down with Kevin Grossman, VP of Candidate Experience Benchmark Research at Survale and the driving force behind the CandE Awards. With over 14 years of research into candidate sentiment, Kevin shares why the current job market is one of the roughest for professionals in decades and what that means for recruiters, hiring managers, and employer brands. They explore why even in a market where companies aren’t hiring aggressively, candidate experience still matters. Kevin explains how poor communication, slow feedback, and ghosting can damage long-term brand loyalty, while thoughtful rejections, feedback for finalists, and timely follow-ups can actually create advocates out of people you don’t hire. The episode also touches on the real impact of AI screening, the importance of interview training, and what companies can do now to reduce candidate resentment. KEVIN'S BIO Kevin Grossman is Vice President of Candidate Experience Benchmark Research at Survale and President of the Talent Board. For over 14 years, he has led the CandE Awards program, working with hundreds of companies to measure and improve every aspect of the candidate journey. Known for his data-backed insights and clear-eyed analysis, Kevin is a trusted voice on what actually moves the needle in talent acquisition. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwgrossman/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit podcast series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Jen Jones, Senior Technical Recruiter at Cedar. While new to AI, Jen has quickly transformed her workflow by adopting automation and practical tools. She went from a curious learner to a team trainer in less than a year. Her upcoming session, “AI Fundamentals for Recruiters: Building Confidence, Not Confusion,” is tailored for those who feel overwhelmed by AI but want to use it effectively. Jen shares how one bootcamp sparked her journey into AI, leading her to create a writing assistant that mirrors her tone and helps her draft content faster. She has since trained her team and built a library of tools that make AI practical and approachable. The conversation dives into real recruiter challenges, from fake candidates to optimizing processes with limited resources. Jen shows how AI helps recruiters become more human and strategic, not less. JEN'S BIO Jen Jones is a Senior Technical Recruiter at Cedar and an emerging voice in the AI-for-recruiting space. Since early 2023, she has embraced AI tools to optimize her work, train her team, and share practical workflows that anyone can use. She is also the wife of Josh Jones, the ERE Summit organizer, giving her a unique insider view of the event. Jen is known for her relatable, no-jargon approach to AI and is passionate about helping other recruiters build confidence with technology. Connect with Jen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitradical/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Jay Olson didn’t just ride the wave of recruiting trends, he’s been shaping them for decades. From the dot-com boom to today's AI revolution, Jay brings a seasoned, thoughtful perspective as the Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic. In this conversation with host Clark Wilcox, Jay opens up about the real challenges and opportunities AI presents for recruiting leaders and why it’s not about replacing people but enabling them. The episode explores Jay’s role on the upcoming ERE panel “A Practical AI Framework for Smarter Recruiting” and dives into the emotional rollercoaster of hiring. He shares why empathy is still the recruiter’s superpower, how feedback (when done right) builds trust, and why automation must serve, not replace, human connection. If you're navigating modern hiring while trying to keep it real, this one’s for you. JAY'S BIO Jay Olson is the Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. With a career spanning both agency and corporate recruiting, Jay has witnessed and influenced the evolution of TA from faxed resumes to AI-driven workflows. Known for his emotionally intelligent leadership style, he champions a people-first approach to hiring and organizational culture. Jay will be speaking on the general session panel at ERE San Diego, “A Practical AI Framework for Smarter Recruiting.” Connect with Jay on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this high-energy episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox sits down with the ever-electric Brian Fink, Managing Partner at the WeWork Group and MC of the upcoming ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit. Known for his sourcing wizardry, bold AI workflows, and relentless optimism, Brian dives into what makes this event, and this moment in recruiting, so powerful. The episode kicks off with Brian’s enthusiasm for ERE and why this smaller, 200-person gathering beats mega-conferences for real relationship-building. He shares what he’s most excited about: agentic recruiting, ethical AI adoption, building custom search engines, and having hallway conversations with the brightest minds in the space. But this isn’t just a hype session. Brian brings insight after insight, from his "core four" recruiting values (curiosity, empathy, tenacity, mischievousness) to how recruiters should be thinking about AI legally, ethically, and tactically. Whether you're agency, corporate, or in career transition, this episode will fire you up and make you want to lean in, not back. BRIAN'S BIO For nearly two decades, Brian Fink continues to help startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises find the people who build the future. Whether it's engineers architecting AI systems, marketers driving growth, or leaders defining culture, Fink specializes in recruiting talent that doesn't just fill a seat. They raise the bar. Leading searches for companies ranging from early-stage ventures to Fortune 100s, partnering directly with founders, execs, and hiring managers to close hard-to-fill roles, Fink believes great recruiting isn't just about pipelines and platforms. It's about business acumen, storytelling, and knowing when to challenge the status quo. Connect with brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfink/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this special episode from the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Michael Vroman, Senior Executive Talent Acquisition Researcher at Equinix, to unpack his unique journey into recruiting, his philosophy on sourcing, and his role in this year's SourceCon Hackathon. What begins with a childhood obsession with rare car parts evolves into a sourcing career defined by curiosity, technical precision, and AI-enabled strategy. Michael shares how he sharpened his Boolean skills hunting for discontinued Volkswagen and Audi parts, a passion that became a surprising precursor to a sourcing career. From helping veterans land jobs to supporting space-tech talent needs, he discusses how tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT now help him go deeper, faster. This isn’t just about automation. It's about being a sharper, more informed problem solver. The conversation dives into how sourcing has changed (and hasn’t), how AI is reshaping workflows without replacing core skills, and why events like the ERE Hackathon offer something irreplaceable: community, challenge, and growth. If you’ve ever felt like sourcing was a solo sport, Michael’s journey will remind you how collaboration and innovation fuel the next level. MICHAEL'S BIO Michael Vroman is the Senior Executive Talent Acquisition Researcher at Equinix, a global digital infrastructure leader. His journey into recruiting started unconventionally, searching online for rare vintage car parts. A U.S. Army veteran with a passion for sourcing puzzles, Michael built his chops across companies like Recruit Military, Macy’s, and Maxar Technologies. He’s a contributor to SourceCon, a sourcing competition veteran, and currently pursuing his master’s degree. When he's not sourcing or writing, you can catch him cheering on FC Cincinnati. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/talent-sourcer-michael-vroman/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode from the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Anita Chandrasekhar, Global Head of Talent Strategy and Operations at Zapier, to explore one of the most urgent challenges in modern recruiting: candidate fraud and AI misuse. From deepfakes to fraudulent interview swaps, Anita shares how this new wave of deception is transforming hiring risks, especially in remote-first environments. Anita dives into her team's journey of discovery, detection, and proactive system-building. She shares how Zapier uses layered tech safeguards, including IP checks, ATS-level fraud detection, and interview recordings, to flag bad actors before they get too far into the hiring funnel. With AI empowering both recruiters and candidates, Anita stresses that fraud isn’t just a recruiting problem, it’s a core business risk that demands real solutions. Beyond the fraud conversation, Clark and Anita talk about vendor vetting, tech partner selection, and how to build strong, reciprocal relationships with software companies. Anita also reflects on what’s changed, and what hasn’t, in her 17-year TA career, including the enduring importance of candidate experience. This episode is a must-listen for recruiting leaders who want to future-proof their process without sacrificing humanity. ANITA'S BIO Anita Chandrasekhar is the Global Head of Talent Strategy and Operations at Zapier, a fully remote, automation-first company. With over 17 years in recruiting and talent leadership, she’s known for building scalable systems that balance innovation with integrity. Anita is especially passionate about protecting hiring processes from emerging fraud risks—an issue she’s led from the front lines at Zapier. She’s also a thoughtful advocate for people-first candidate experiences and intentional vendor partnerships. Connect with Anita on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-chandrasekhar/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Elaine Orler didn’t plan on disrupting the candidate experience. She lived it. With roots in early childhood education, she transitioned into recruiting at Qualcomm before launching a consulting firm and co-founding the Candidate Experience Awards. In 2023, she took a bold leap again, joining forces with Doug to tackle one of the industry’s biggest pain points: the candidate black hole. In this episode, Elaine shares the origin story of Match 2, a platform designed to empower candidates with ATS-style tools while helping employers surface better-qualified applicants. Instead of relying on vague job boards and outdated resumes, Match 2 uses intelligent matching to serve candidates the right roles and helps recruiters cut through the noise. It’s candidate experience, reimagined. Elaine and Clark also preview what to expect at this year’s ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit, where Match 2 is a featured Silver Sponsor. From real-time resume data feeds to deeper CRM integration and personalized job matches, this conversation is a masterclass in how thoughtful tech is making hiring more human. ELAINE'S BIO Elaine Orler is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Match 2, a platform aimed at transforming candidate-employer relationships through intelligent matching and profile-driven job discovery. A long-time champion of the candidate experience, Elaine previously founded Talent Function and co-founded the Candidate Experience Awards (Talent Board). Her career spans recruiting operations, consulting, and product leadership across the globe. Bonus fact: She began her professional life as a kindergarten teacher, proving that people-first skills never go out of style. Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaineorler/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Joel Cheesman didn’t just witness the evolution of recruiting media, he helped shape it. In this candid conversation, the co-host of the iconic Chad & Cheese Podcast sits down with Clark Wilcox to share how a friendship, a few blog posts, and a bold bet turned into 1500-plus episodes and one of the most trusted voices in HR tech. They dig into the early days of podcasting, back when it meant blog embed codes and desktop speakers, the mindset shift from hobbyist to business builder, and the lessons learned from staying consistent in an industry where most shows fizzle by episode six. Joel shares why having a clear mission, and one early sponsor check, was crucial, and how the show keeps evolving to match the chaos of recruiting and tech. From the rise of AI to the rebirth of trust-based influencer marketing, Joel pulls no punches on what’s working, what’s failing, and what every recruiter and startup should pay attention to right now. Whether you're a content creator, agency owner, or just trying to survive the noise, this is a masterclass in endurance, brand, and being unapologetically yourself. JOEL'S BIO Joel Cheesman is the co-founder and “Cheese” of the Chad & Cheese Podcast, often described as “TMZ meets TechCrunch for HR.” With over 1500 episodes recorded, Joel has become one of the most recognizable and trusted voices in recruiting media. A former blogger at Cheesehead, Joel turned early podcasting experiments into a thriving brand that blends industry news, irreverent commentary, and sharp analysis. He’s known for keeping it real, building partnerships rooted in trust, and showing how media can still be both entertaining and essential. When he’s not podcasting, you might find him at the bar with fellow recruiting OGs or quoting obscure ‘80s movies. Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelcheesman/ or at https://www.chadcheese.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with Shally Steckerl, known across the industry as the godfather of sourcing, for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked elements in executive hiring: how to actually make selection decisions faster, smarter, and fairer. Shally shares his journey from transforming niche fellowship reviews to streamlining Fortune 100 hiring processes with his now-proven Side Ticket Frick framework, which cuts review time by 86%. Far from theory, this is a hands-on method built in the trenches, one that combines rubric-driven calibration, candidate segmentation, and AI-driven simulations to ensure fewer, better decisions. And yes, he’s even singing Hotel California from a wheelchair at the ERE Summit karaoke night. But this conversation goes way beyond sourcing hacks. Shally and Clark unpack how recruiters can lead the hiring conversation by interpreting data, reading between the lines of “I need more resumes,” and creating clarity from chaos. Whether you're overwhelmed with applicant volume or trying to teach hiring managers how to choose, this episode brings sharp perspective on balancing the art and science of recruiting in the age of AI. SHALLY'S BIO Shally Steckerl is a globally recognized sourcing strategist, founder of The Sourcing Institute, and an associate principal consultant at Riviera Advisors. He’s built recruiting systems and sourcing strategies for giants like Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and Coca-Cola. With over three decades of experience, Shally’s mission has always been to blend data, human behavior, and scalable frameworks into hiring decisions that work. He’s also known for his karaoke skills and candid takes on the AI revolution in recruiting. Connect with Shally on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shally/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this special ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit edition of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with tech visionary and Monster.com founder Jeff Taylor. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path, Jeff’s story will shift your perspective. From DJing in Boston clubs to founding one of the first 500 websites on the internet, Jeff’s nonlinear career path is a testament to grit, intuition, and the power of betting on yourself. Jeff recounts his early days at UMass, where he didn’t exactly thrive in the classroom but flourished everywhere else, managing school newspapers, throwing parties, and building the social capital that would eventually launch his recruiting empire. That same outlier energy led him to create Monster.com, reshape how people find jobs, and now re-enter the industry with a bold new venture: Boom Band. Together, Jeff and Clark unpack the rise of AI, the brokenness of traditional resumes, and the need for more human-centered hiring signals. They explore how platforms like Boom Band can flip the script, spotlighting not just what you’ve done but who you are. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating career change, trying to innovate inside their company, or just wondering what’s next in the future of talent. JEFF'S BIO Jeff Taylor is a pioneer in the world of digital recruiting. As the founder of Monster.com, one of the internet’s first-ever websites, he revolutionized how people search for jobs. Jeff has led organizations through massive scale, from DJing to creating a global brand with over 10,000 employees. Today, he's back with Boom Band, a human-first AI-powered talent marketplace designed to showcase people’s full selves, not just their job history. He’s also a UMass alum who returned to finish his degree at age 40, a former nightclub DJ, a public speaker, and a longtime entrepreneur obsessed with rethinking what’s possible. Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-taylor-5212115a/ or sign up for early access to Boom Band at BoomBand.com Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY What if your recruiting agency could scale without the cash-flow headaches or backend chaos? Jon Davis, CEO of Signature Back Office Solutions, shares how he went from placing rural physicians in the ‘90s to leading one of the most trusted EOR partners in the staffing world. In this episode, Jon breaks down what makes Employer of Record (EOR) services such a game changer for recruiters, especially those used to direct hire models. You’ll hear how his firm has helped over 500 agencies scale with confidence, handling payroll, insurance, onboarding, and funding, so recruiters can focus on selling and placing talent. But this isn’t just about operations. It’s a playbook for long-term growth. Jon and Clark get deep into business development strategies, how to ask better questions, and why contractors are a hidden salesforce inside every client. From increasing your firm’s valuation to recession-proofing your income, this conversation will have you rethinking how you build and sustain client relationships in 2025. JON'S BIO Jon Davis is the CEO of Signature Back Office Solutions, a premier Employer of Record (EOR) provider serving over 500 staffing agencies across North America. With three decades of experience, from physician recruitment to scaling Matrix Resources to 2,000+ consultants, Jon brings unmatched insight into the art and science of staffing. Known for his deep operational knowledge and problem-solving mindset, he’s helped firms navigate contract staffing, cash flow challenges, and scale confidently. He’s also a die-hard staffing geek who loves empowering recruiters to turn one placement into recurring revenue, and eventually, a more valuable firm. Connect with Jon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondavislinked/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY What if your sourcing tools could surface candidates no one else sees? In this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit series, Clark sits down with Ravi Tandra, founder and CEO of ProvenBase, to explore the evolution of sourcing tech, the real promise of AI, and how ProvenBase is helping recruiters discover hidden talent at scale. Ravi shares the origin story behind ProvenBase, born from the pain point all recruiters know too well: searching for apples, getting oranges. He reveals how ProvenBase’s new Deep Search functionality acts like a "Google for Talent," tapping into thousands of real-time sources and surfacing overlooked candidates that traditional platforms miss. But this isn’t just another AI tool, Ravi emphasizes the platform’s human-centered approach, built to enhance, not replace, recruiters’ judgment and connection with talent. Throughout the conversation, Ravi and Clark dive into what makes sourcing effective today: real-time data, personalization, recruiter adaptability, and the willingness to shed outdated habits. Whether you're a solo recruiter or an enterprise team, this episode is a roadmap to scaling smarter and staying ahead of the AI curve. RAVI'S BIO Ravi Tandra is the founder and CEO of ProvenBase, a human-centered, AI-powered sourcing platform designed to help recruiters find qualified, often-overlooked candidates quickly and efficiently. With deep expertise in search technology and a passion for solving real recruiter pain points, Ravi built ProvenBase to go beyond traditional data sources and deliver dynamic, real-time candidate pools. His latest innovation, Deep Search, positions ProvenBase as a serious player in the sourcing tech space. You can find Ravi on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtandra/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Riana Maus, SVP of Talent, Inclusion, and Diversity Acquisition at UMB Bank, joins Clark to unpack how recruiting leaders in regulated industries can approach AI not with fear or hype, but with strategy. As financial institutions face pressure to “do something with AI,” Riana offers a practical, phased roadmap to adopting innovation while staying compliant and human-centered. With nearly a decade at UMB, Riana has seen talent acquisition evolve rapidly. In this conversation, she shares the moment AI shifted from curiosity to necessity, how candidates are often outpacing companies in AI usage, and why TA leaders need to step up not just to implement tools, but to shape responsible, value-driven practices. This episode is a must-listen for recruiters navigating AI, compliance concerns, or executive pressure to modernize. It’s not about tools. It’s about mindset, trust, and creating clarity in chaos. RIANA'S BIO Riana Maus is the Senior Vice President of Talent, Inclusion, and Diversity Acquisition at UMB Bank. With nearly ten years at the organization, she has led strategic recruitment in a highly regulated environment while championing inclusive hiring and innovative thinking. Riana’s approach blends practical execution with a long-term vision for change. She helps teams align on compliance, collaborate with legal, and make meaningful use of AI without chasing every shiny new tool. Outside of work, she’s passionate about people-first leadership and building hiring systems that work for everyone. Connect with Riana at the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rianamaus/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Ron Pritchett didn’t just move from staffing to health tech, he mastered both. Starting his career at TEKsystems in Charlotte and Nashville, he learned the grind of full-cycle recruiting and sales. From there, he transitioned to sourcing leadership roles at Dropbox, Marqeta, and now Cedar, where he leads a small but mighty team focused on engineering and G&A roles. In this conversation, Ron breaks down what it really takes to scale sourcing efforts without sacrificing quality. With the flood of AI tools and automation, recruiters are struggling to separate the signal from the noise. Ron’s talk, set for day one of ERE San Diego, dives into how his team has doubled down on messaging, employer branding, and authenticity to stand out in an oversaturated market. The episode is full of practical, hard-won advice: how to compete with FAANG for tech talent, why adding videos to outreach messages works, and how candidate experience can’t be faked. For Ron, the best recruiters don’t just push openings, they build relationships, own their message, and sell the full story of the company and team. This is must-listen content for anyone trying to recruit better, faster, and more human in a tech-heavy world. RON'S BIO Ron Pritchett is a seasoned recruiting and sourcing leader with a background that spans top staffing firms and high-growth tech companies. Starting his career at TEKsystems, Ron quickly rose through the ranks before making the leap to corporate talent roles at Dropbox, Marqeta, and now Cedar, a fast-growing health tech company. At Cedar, he leads a focused sourcing team that supports both engineering and G&A functions, with a strong emphasis on messaging strategy, passive talent engagement, and innovation. Ron’s secret weapon? A deep empathy for candidates, sharp operational rigor, and a belief that sourcing is equal parts science and story. He’s also a proud family man and first-time speaker at the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit in San Diego. Find Ron on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronpritchett2013/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode, Clark sits down with Luis Derechin, founder and CEO of NIR-YU, to unpack what really makes offshore and near-shore hiring succeed or fail. Luis shares how his journey from Mexican-born entrepreneur to U.S.-based startup founder led to the birth of NIR-YU, a company helping businesses scale with top-tier Latin American talent. What started as a cost-saving measure turned into a blueprint for remote hiring done right. Through real-world experience and a genuine desire to help companies avoid the common pitfalls, Luis developed the Remote Intelligence Framework, a system designed to keep remote teams aligned, supported, and retained. Together, Clark and Luis explore what most people miss about near-shoring, how to build loyalty across borders, and why mindset, not margins, is the real key to success. This conversation is packed with insights for recruiters, founders, and anyone looking to grow their team globally without sacrificing quality or culture. LUIS' BIO Luis Derechin is the CEO and Founder of NIR-YU, a near-shore staffing company helping U.S. businesses build reliable, scalable teams in Latin America. A lifelong entrepreneur, Luis previously built and sold one of Mexico’s first tech startups to raise U.S. venture funding. Today, he’s on a mission to help companies avoid what he calls “the offshore team death trap” by offering a better, more human-centered way to hire globally. Luis is the author of The Offshore Team Death Trap and creator of the REMOTE Intelligence Framework, a roadmap for companies seeking not just savings, but sustainability. He's based in Mexico City, married for 32 years, and remains a loyal (and long-suffering) Tottenham Hotspur supporter. Connect with Luis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisderechin/ or at https://www.nir-yu.com/ also dont forget to check out Luis' new book https://a.co/d/gnSgbsJ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Jeremy Roberts didn't start with much, no chair, no computer, just a headset and a phone. Today, he's the Founding Customer Success Lead at Tenzo AI and a veteran voice in the recruiting world. In this energizing episode, Jeremy reconnects with Clark to unpack the evolution of recruiting from listservs and Boolean strings to AI recruiting agents and automation. Jeremy shares his deep roots in the ERE and SourceCon community, where he once served as Editor, and where he still plays a pivotal role. He walks listeners through the tech shifts of the past 15 years, from Yahoo Pipes and people aggregators to today’s free and enterprise AI tools. But beyond the tools, he hammers home one thing: the art of recruiting hasn’t changed. The episode dives into how recruiters can thrive in a post-automation world by focusing on what machines can’t replicate, empathy, persuasion, and relationship-building. Jeremy explains why recruiters who only know workflow but not the “why” behind it are at risk, and how conferences like ERE help professionals reconnect with the fundamentals and level up. JEREMY'S BIO Jeremy Roberts is the Founding Customer Success Lead at Tenzo AI, where he helps enterprise recruiting teams operationalize AI agents. A longtime leader in the recruiting space, Jeremy formerly served as Editor of SourceCon and has worked across in-house, agency, and RPO roles. His career spans the shift from manual sourcing to full-stack automation, but his focus has always stayed human: teaching recruiters the art behind the process. Known for his humility, generosity, and sharp insight, Jeremy is also a beloved speaker at ERE and SourceCon events. He lives in Austin, TX, and got his first recruiting job without even having a chair. Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyroberts/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this special ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit edition of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with Jennifer Cotie Kangas, known as JCK, Chief Solutions Architect at White Rock Consulting. Jennifer’s path to AI and HR tech strategy is anything but typical. Following a severe accident that resulted in major memory loss, she was forced to relearn not just who she was, but how modern organizations function. That clean slate became a surprising advantage. Free from traditional "design bias," she now helps enterprise HR and TA teams rebuild their processes from the ground up with AI at the center. In this conversation, JCK unpacks what it really takes to build a compliant, modern AI hiring strategy. She reveals how most organizations get AI adoption wrong, either from fear, lack of data strategy, or tech overload and how to reverse engineer transformation by following the pain. You’ll also hear about her upcoming session at ERE with legal expert Danielle Ox and moderator Brian Fink, where they’ll go deep on governance, strategy, and getting AI right in high-stakes hiring environments. Jennifer's blend of real-world expertise and radical self-awareness makes this one of the most insightful episodes yet. JCK'S BIO Jennifer Cotie Kangas (JCK) is the Founder and Chief Solutions Architect of White Rock Consulting. With deep expertise in HR tech stacks, compliance, and AI implementation, she partners with enterprise teams to design scalable and legally sound talent strategies. Her approach blends systems thinking with radical empathy, shaped in part by her recovery from a traumatic brain injury that wiped much of her memory. This reset forced her to rethink everything, and now she brings that same mindset shift to her clients. She’s a speaker, strategist, and someone who truly believes in "building better" from the inside out. You can find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcotie/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available. Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this ERE series kickoff, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Conor Kline, Head of Revenue at PIN.com, the sourcing platform that’s rapidly gaining traction in the recruiting world. Conor shares how PIN aims to empower recruiters, not replace them, by acting like an “Ironman suit” that multiplies human output while preserving human judgment. Unlike many AI recruiting tools promising full automation, PIN leans into augmentation. Their platform helps sourcers find contact data faster, automate low-value tasks, and still leave room for the recruiter’s craft. The two explore the philosophy behind PIN’s growth: helping one recruiter do the work of ten without burning out or cutting corners. Conor dives into how they’ve differentiated in a noisy, AI-saturated market by building proprietary models and keeping the recruiter at the heart of the process. From the Vegas trade show floor to their upcoming showcase at ERE San Diego, the episode brings practical insight and energy to anyone navigating the AI evolution in recruiting. For those heading to ERE or navigating events solo, Conor offers some deeply useful advice, block your time, protect your energy, and remember everyone’s figuring it out together. There’s also a sneak peek into a free tool recruiters can try by simply emailing a JD to PIN and getting top candidate matches within minutes. CONOR'S BIO Conor Kline is the Head of Revenue at Pin.com, a next-gen sourcing automation platform trusted by top recruiters. With roots in sales and a rare blend of product intuition, Conor previously helped scale Interstellar through its acquisition before reuniting with its founder to build Pin. His background includes scaling teams at Greenhouse and Attention.com, and fun fact, he’s also a former professional ultimate frisbee player with a national championship to his name. Conor is based in New York City and deeply passionate about helping recruiters work smarter, not harder. Connect with Conor on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorkline/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY When Matt Schalsey, CEO of Perfect Hire, faced a costly hiring mistake in a previous company, he realized the real issue wasn’t just the candidate, it was the broken hiring process. That experience ignited the vision for Perfect Hire, a next-generation applicant tracking system (ATS) built not just to organize workflows, but to empower recruiters and People Ops teams to operate as revenue drivers. In this episode, Matt joins Clark to unpack how he's tackling two big objections in recruiting tech: “Not another ATS” and “AI is scary.” He shares how Perfect Hire’s platform avoids automation overreach by keeping humans in control of decision-making, while still streamlining admin and sourcing with smart AI tools. The conversation dives into how recruiters can incorporate AI as an assistant, not a replacement, and use it to eliminate repetitive tasks, refine candidate quality, and drive more meaningful hiring conversations. Beyond the tech, Matt brings decades of experience in sales enablement to the conversation, drawing parallels between go-to-market and talent acquisition functions. Whether you’re a solo recruiter, agency founder, or hiring leader, this episode offers a clear and compelling vision of how recruiting can be more human, more efficient, and more strategic in 2025 and beyond. MATT'S BIO Matt Schalsey is the CEO and co-founder of Perfect Hire, a modern applicant tracking system designed to elevate recruiters by removing admin burdens and improving hiring quality through AI-powered workflows. With a deep background in sales enablement, Matt has led product education, go-to-market execution, and operational strategy across several high-growth SaaS companies. Before founding Perfect Hire, he helped go-to-market teams design hiring funnels, train recruiting teams, and define candidate profiles, all of which laid the foundation for the platform he's building today. Matt believes recruiting is revenue, when recruiters are equipped like sellers, companies scale smarter. He lives at the intersection of tech, hiring, and enablement. You can connect with Matt and book a demo at theperfecthire.co or find him on linkedin.com/in/matt-schalsey Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary Jack Shirley didn’t set out to become a thought leader in recruiting tech, but his journey from SaaS sales to leading strategy at TA Tracker has made him one. In this episode, Clark Wilcox sits down with Jack to unpack the nuance behind picking the right ATS, especially for boutique and founder-led recruiting firms. Jack shares how TA Tracker was designed to serve lean, high-touch teams overlooked by bloated, overpriced legacy ATS platforms. With clarity and candor, he explains why most small teams are overpaying for features they don’t use, how clutter slows down productivity, and what it really means to future-proof your business without overengineering it. The conversation also digs into deeper strategic insights: the critical role of owning your candidate data, how AI amplifies value when layered on clean databases, and what best practices top firms follow when it comes to data integrity, outreach, and CRM usage. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or scaling an agency, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Jack's Bio Jack Shirley is the Chief Revenue Officer at TATracker, an intuitive, AI-powered applicant tracking system built specifically for lean, founder-led recruiting firms. With a background in SaaS sales and recruiting tech, Jack has worked closely with executive search firms across the country, bringing a rare mix of strategic insight and hands-on experience to his role. Before joining TATracker, Jack worked at Clockwork, where he helped shape how boutique search firms use technology to improve placements and scale smart. He’s also a certified scuba diver, a triplet, and a former soccer captain, yes, all true. You can connect with Jack on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-shirley-sales-pro/ or at https://www.tatracker.cloud/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary When Jessica Oliver left her full-time job in late 2023, she didn’t just go out on her own, she reinvented her entire career. In less than a year, Jessica has launched an agency, built an AI-driven GovCon platform, and become a standout voice in the recruiting space through strategic content and intentional outreach. This episode is a crash course in how to build a solo recruiting business that actually scales. Jessica shares how years of agency and in-house recruiting led to disillusionment with corporate America, what finally pushed her to bet on herself, and the mental rewiring it took to go from salaried recruiter to entrepreneur. From the mindset work that keeps her grounded to the tech tools she stopped overcomplicating, she breaks down what worked, what didn’t, and what helped her stand out in a noisy market. We also dig deep into Jessica’s discovery of the GovCon world, how a coffee meeting turned into a seed investment, and how she leveraged her recruiting background to build Clara, an AI-powered federal procurement tool. Whether you’re new to recruiting or thinking about your next business leap, this episode is a masterclass in action, alignment, and building what you wish existed. Jessica's Bio Jessica Oliver is a veteran tech recruiter turned entrepreneur and innovator in the GovCon space. After 15 years in both agency and in-house roles, including a stint recruiting full desk at Disney, she launched her own agency and quickly followed with Clara, an AI-powered federal procurement platform. She's passionate about ethical recruiting, modern sourcing, and building real relationships in an AI-saturated market. Jessica is also a proud mom of three, an advocate for veteran-owned business, and a rising voice in the Digital Recruiter community. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaolivertechconnect/ or at https://www.olivertechconnect.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Clark Wilcox reconnects with longtime friend and Digital Recruiter OG, Travis Janko, for a deep dive into what it really takes to scale a recruiting business in 2025. Travis shares how he went from frustrated sales leader to founding a high-performing recruiting firm focused exclusively on helping SaaS founders hire top 5% sales talent. They cover the hard truths about qualifying clients, why most recruiters waste time chasing the wrong business, and the systems Travis uses to stay consistent with marketing, content, and client results. Travis doesn’t just talk the talk, he’s built a multimillion-dollar operation by focusing, saying no, and putting process over panic. You'll also hear why AI is accelerating his workflow (without writing his content), how he uses partnerships to drive revenue, and the exact mindset shifts that helped him build a business he actually enjoys, one that runs on boundaries, consistency, and value, not burnout. TRAVIS’ BIO Travis Janko is the founder of a boutique recruiting firm that helps SaaS founders hire elite sales talent fast. With over 25 years as a sales leader, he brings deep operational insight and a no-BS approach to recruiting. Travis and his partner Angie run a process-obsessed firm that prioritizes fit, consistency, and long-term partnerships over quick wins. He’s also a recurring guest on the Digital Recruiter Podcast, a speaker, and soon-to-be author of Flipping the Script on Recruiting, set to launch in 2026. When he’s not building pipelines, he’s walking the walk: protecting his time, sticking to boundaries, and having lunch tech-free with his wife. Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisjanko/ or at https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsd-coach-recruiting/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Clark Wilcox sits down with Brian Hunt, CEO of Kore RPO and Kore BPO, to unpack the art and strategy behind outsourcing in recruiting. Brian didn’t start in recruiting, he came from tech consulting and software implementation but his passion for solving complex problems led him to build teams across continents and eventually into staffing. After acquiring a staffing agency in 2010, Brian realized that much of a recruiter’s desk could be reimagined by blending offshore support with high-touch recruiting. Brian walks us through how breaking down the recruiter workflow unlocked massive gains: one top recruiter quadrupled her gross profit by handing off sourcing to a dedicated offshore team. This isn't about replacing recruiters, it’s about enabling them to focus on what they do best: conversations, connections, and closing. They discuss the psychology of performance, how agency owners can better support top billers, and the biggest mistakes firms make when trying to scale. From setter/closer frameworks to AI’s role in recruiting, this is a masterclass in strategic execution for firms ready to evolve. BRIAN’S BIO Brian Hunt is the founder and CEO of Kore RPO and Kore BPO, companies built to help recruiting agencies scale through dedicated offshore teams. With a background in software consulting at Deloitte and Accenture, Brian has spent over a decade solving operational bottlenecks through outsourcing. He specializes in building bespoke support structures that let top recruiters thrive. A champion of both efficiency and empathy, Brian brings systems thinking to a deeply human business. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhuntkore1/ or on https://korebpo.com/ or https://korerpo.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY Greg Fisher didn’t set out to be a recruiting entrepreneur, he started as the first hire for a solo recruiter in Los Angeles and helped scale their healthcare firm from a modest team to a $4M powerhouse. But that journey wasn’t easy. They were stuck at $1M in revenue for years until Greg cracked the code: building a high-performing offshore team that actually worked. After cycling through bad RPO vendors and flaky freelancers, he built his own internal offshore system, applying the same KPIs, training, and culture that made his U.S. team effective. The results were explosive, 40 team members and a 4x growth in revenue. Now as the founder of Well Oiled Machine, Greg helps recruiting firm owners do the same. In this episode, he breaks down the biggest mistakes recruiters make when offshoring, what model works best, and how AI is changing the game for global teams. From real-world implementation to hiring strategies and tools like Clay and JobStreet, this is a masterclass in systems-driven growth. Greg also opens up about the mindset shifts required to scale and how being intentional about values like energy, integrity, and impact has shaped his work and life. GREG'S BIO Greg Fisher is the founder of Well Oiled Machine, a consulting firm that helps recruiting agencies build scalable, high-performance offshore teams. After scaling a healthcare recruitment agency from $1M to $4M and managing a 40-person team (half of whom were offshore), Greg developed a battle-tested system that now powers recruiting firms across the U.S. He’s known for being direct, strategic, and obsessed with both process and people. When he’s not helping agency owners scale, you’ll find Greg hiking the mountains of Colorado with his dogs or talking systems over SaaS. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/offshoreisasuperpower/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Clark Wilcox chats with Conor Kline, Head of Revenue at Pin.com, a fast-rising tool shaking up the recruiting tech world. The two first connected at the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit, bonding over their UMass Amherst roots and quickly diving into a bigger conversation about quality tech, real relationships, and what’s broken in today’s recruiting stack. Conor shares the story behind Pin: born from the original Interstellar team, built by battle-tested engineers, and designed to simplify sourcing without sacrificing depth. He opens up about the company’s unusual path, from bootstrapped beginnings to a full-circle comeback led by the same core crew. For recruiters tired of overhyped AI tools and bloated CRMs, Pin offers a refreshingly practical take: automate the painful parts, but keep the human in the loop. The episode unpacks what great leadership looks like in a startup, how to sell with integrity in a skeptical market, and why recruiters who embrace AI, not fear it, are the ones thriving. Conor also reveals how feedback (even the harsh kind) shapes their roadmap and why being obsessed with user experience is their secret weapon. Whether you're a solo recruiter or running a team, this episode is a masterclass in product-market fit, BD, and building something that actually works. CONOR'S BIO Conor Kline is the Head of Revenue at Pin.com, a next-gen sourcing automation platform trusted by top recruiters. With roots in sales and a rare blend of product intuition, Conor previously helped scale Interstellar through its acquisition before reuniting with its founder to build Pin. His background includes scaling teams at Greenhouse and Attention.com, and fun fact, he’s also a former professional ultimate frisbee player with a national championship to his name. Conor is based in New York City and deeply passionate about helping recruiters work smarter, not harder. Connect with Conor on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorkline/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY What do you get when you combine a former pro athlete, a corporate leader turned author, and 30+ years of recruiting wisdom? You get Chris Mader, someone who’s coached hundreds of recruiters, sold millions in staffing services, and still makes cold calls for fun. In this episode, Chris joins host Clark Wilcox to unpack the power of emotional intelligence, long-game selling, and the habits that separate average recruiters from six-figure pros. Chris shares how he went from playing minor league baseball with Michael Jordan and against Derek Jeter to leading sales teams at Randstad, where he learned that success isn’t about shouting louder, it’s about slowing down and listening better. From building trust without pitching, to coaching under pressure, to creating scalable training systems for firms doing $10–50M in revenue, this episode is packed with gold. Chris also opens up about the layoffs that sparked his book Make the Adjustment, and why doing the hard thing, especially when no one’s watching, is the key to lasting success in staffing and beyond. CHRIS’ BIO Chris Mader is a leadership coach, executive trainer, and author of Make the Adjustment, a book about embracing change with courage and self-awareness. A former professional baseball player, Chris transitioned into staffing in the 90s, eventually rising through the ranks at Ronstadt to lead regional sales and talent operations. Today, through his firm MTA Consultancy, he partners with 10–100M staffing firms to scale through better systems, training, and leadership alignment. Beyond staffing, Chris is known for his incredible sports stories, he played against Derek Jeter, suited up with Michael Jordan, and still brings a competitor’s mindset to every room he enters. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or at MTAConsultancy.com Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SUMMARY In this episode, Clark welcomes Matt Honig, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Fastr.ai, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming recruiting workflows. Matt explains how Fastr.ai AI integrates directly with applicant tracking systems (ATS) to help recruiters rediscover qualified candidates already in their databases, rank incoming applicants, and source externally all without leaving their ATS. They dive into the mindset shift required to prioritize internal talent pools over jumping straight to platforms like LinkedIn Recruiter, the measurable benefits such as cutting time-to-submittal from days to hours, and how Fastr.ai remains industry-agnostic while ensuring compliance with emerging AI laws. Matt also shares best practices for vetting AI tools, the importance of anti-bias measures, and why transparency about proprietary technology matters for long-term trust. The conversation also explores adoption strategies, from starting with small pilot groups to building “super users” who champion new tools internally. Matt and Clark reflect on the need for intentional, ethical AI implementation, resisting short-term cash grabs in favor of sustainable, compliant growth and the role of community in talent acquisition, including Fastr.ai’s in-person networking events. They touch on future possibilities like AI-driven internal mobility planning, the parallels between recruiting and their past careers in high-pressure entertainment and PR, and the value of pushing through discomfort to grow professionally. The episode closes with encouragement to embrace AI as a must-have skill, stay adaptable, and build relationships with vendors who act as true partners in your success. MATT'S BIO Matt Honig is an Enterprise AE and Sales Leader helping recruiting teams modernize hiring with AI-powered talent solutions. As Head of Sales & Partnerships at Faster AI, he enables organizations to unlock hidden candidates in their ATS, cut time-to-submittal from days to hours, and stay compliant with emerging AI laws. With a cross-industry background in PR, healthcare staffing, edtech, and HR tech, Matt brings deep expertise, a client-first approach, and a passion for building partnerships that deliver measurable results. Outside of work, he’s exploring LA’s food scene, catching live music, or watching the latest at AMC. You can find Matt on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-honig-8a180645/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of The Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with Ranjith Ravula, founder of Raks Group and SocialM8, and a branding-focused entrepreneur with a powerful story of grit, growth, and reinvention. Ranjith opens up about immigrating to the U.S. in 2007 without knowing English, starting out in accounting, and slowly finding his way into the recruiting world. With no funding, no network, and no industry shortcuts, he bootstrapped his staffing firm by focusing on one thing: trust. From learning payroll the hard way to ensuring contractors always got paid on time even before he did, Ranjith built a business that put people first, and the results followed. But the story doesn’t stop at recruiting. Ranjith shares how his obsession with personal branding and consistency on LinkedIn led to over 27,000 followers, hundreds of thousands of impressions, and a pipeline of inbound leads. Now, he’s helping other recruiters and agency owners do the same through his new marketing agency. The episode dives into lessons on automation, hiring, content strategy, and what it really takes to grow a business with no safety net. Whether you’re a founder, recruiter, or just someone looking for real, no-fluff inspiration. You’ll walk away from this conversation fired up. RANJITH'S BIO Ranjith Ravula is the founder of Raks Group and SocialM8, an IT and recruiting firm he’s been leading since 2016. With a background in accounting and a passion for people, he built Raks to help fast-moving teams hire with clarity, alignment, and long-term confidence. He’s known for his calm, no-fluff approach grounded in operator experience and founder empathy. From early-stage startups to scaling orgs, Ranjith supports companies when the stakes are high and the margin for error is low. Beyond recruiting, he also shares practical guidance for solo recruiters looking to build something real, cutting through the noise and offering the kind of roadmap he wished existed when he started. You can find Ranjith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjithravula/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE SUMMARY Casey Jacox didn’t plan to get into recruiting, he fell into it like most people do. He started out selling barcoding labels, confused by his pay and frustrated by limited opportunity. After being told his goals were “too aggressive,” he took a leap into staffing as a contractor making $16 an hour. That leap turned into a 20-year career at Kforce, where he climbed the ranks through grit, curiosity, and a mindset focused on people, not transactions. His approach “win the relationship, not the deal” would later become the title of his book. Throughout the episode, Casey and Clark talked about how much mindset impacts success. Most recruiters, Casey says, are held back by doubt and negative self-talk. Leaders play a huge role in shifting that. When expectations are clear and vulnerability is encouraged, people grow faster. Casey shared how practicing uncomfortable conversations and being open about struggles helped him and now his clients get unstuck and level up. The two also dug into modern outreach. Instead of pushing candidates or asking if someone’s hiring, Casey suggests slowing down, doing your research, and asking better questions. Look at a client’s 10-K, follow their posts, and engage with their world. Don’t just sell, listen. When you show up consistently and thoughtfully, people remember you. In a noisy industry full of automation, it’s those human touches that still open doors. CASEY'S BIO Casey Jacox is a nationally recognized sales and leadership coach, keynote speaker, and best-selling author of Win the Relationship, Not the Deal. With nearly two decades at Kforce, where he rose to become President of Client Strategy and Partnerships and consistently ranked as the firm's top producer, Casey built a reputation for combining performance with purpose. Today, he works with individuals and companies across industries to improve culture, communication, and client relationships grounded in humility, curiosity, and authenticity. Beyond his work in business, Casey is the creator and host of The Quarterback DadCast, a powerful podcast where he interviews high-performing dads about leadership, fatherhood, and personal growth. Known for his ability to ask thoughtful questions and create real connection, Casey brings heart, humor, and wisdom to every conversation he’s in. You can find Casey on LinkedIn or at https://www.caseyjacox.com/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark welcomes Charles Causey, founder of Agile Partnering, for a masterclass on contract staffing and building recurring revenue as a recruiter. Charles unpacks the role of Agile as an Employer of Record (EOR), helping solo recruiters and staffing firms make contract placements without the burden of backend logistics. From onboarding and compliance to payroll funding and invoicing, Agile takes on the heavy lifting so recruiters can focus solely on client acquisition and making placements. The conversation breaks down why contract staffing is such a powerful growth lever, offering recurring, recession-resistant income, higher profit per placement, and a far more valuable business at exit. Charles walks through real-world examples and scenarios, explaining how recruiters can go from a single contractor to a predictable six-figure monthly gross profit with the right systems. He also shares what derails most staffing efforts: lack of time card processes, cash flow strain, legal exposure, and administrative overwhelm, all of which Agile is built to solve. For recruiters accustomed to direct hire, this episode is a roadmap to scaling smarter. Charles shares his own entrepreneurial journey, the painful early years, and how focusing on operational excellence allowed him to support hundreds of recruiters in transforming their businesses. Whether you're a solo producer, agency owner, or W2 recruiter thinking about going out on your own, this episode offers tactical clarity and encouragement to help you take that next step without flying blind. Charles’ Bio Charles Causey is an expert in helping recruiters make contract (temp) placements as easily as permanent placements. With his deep knowledge of the in-country employment landscape and years of experience working in the USA human resources and recruiting sector, Charles has led the growth of Agile Partnering to providing a full suite of back office, EOR, and funding services. With multiple appearances on the Inc 5000 list, Charles and his team are widely regarded as a leading resource for both UK and USA agencies. You can find Charles on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/charlescausey/ Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming. Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices