Frontline recruitment isn’t just hiring at scale—it’s an entirely different discipline from traditional corporate hiring. In this episode of the HRchat Show, Fountain CEO Sean Behr pulls back the curtain on the unique challenges of recruiting hourly workers and shares strategies that help employers keep pace in an increasingly competitive market.

Unlike corporate hiring, where companies may only need to fill a handful of roles, frontline hiring often means recruiting hundreds or even thousands of workers at once. As Sean explains, that scale alone completely changes the rules of the game. Standard applicant tracking systems weren’t built to handle that kind of volume, which is why businesses need new tools and processes if they want to stay ahead.

Communication is another big differentiator. White-collar candidates may check their emails or LinkedIn messages, but frontline candidates live on their phones. They apply late at night, respond to text messages instead of emails, and often juggle multiple applications at once. As Sean points out, the convenience of mobile hiring is a double-edged sword—while it makes applying easier, it also means candidates are only “one click away” from a competitor’s job.

To help employers succeed, Sean highlights innovative approaches across the entire hourly worker lifecycle. From AI-powered, on-demand interviews that accommodate non-traditional schedules to paperless onboarding that replaces mountains of first-day paperwork with meaningful orientation, these solutions are reshaping how companies attract and retain talent. He also introduces Fountain’s new Shift product, designed to tackle one of the biggest reasons frontline employees quit: mismatched schedules. Because for many hourly workers, flexibility and compatibility with their lives matter just as much as pay or job satisfaction.

For HR leaders who feel overwhelmed by the idea of revamping their entire hiring system, Sean offers practical, actionable advice: don’t try to fix everything at once. Start by identifying the single biggest pain point in your frontline hiring process—whether it’s candidate drop-off, interview scheduling, or day-one experience—and focus your energy there. Solving one critical problem at a time not only drives real results but also builds momentum for broader change.

If your organization relies on frontline workers, this conversation is a must-listen. Sean’s insights will help you rethink your approach, em

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