Courage to Advance: The Talent Advantage: Strategic Recruitment in Uncertain Times with Tim Sprangers

May 15, 2025

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Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.

Tune in to our subseries every 3rd Thursday, right here on The Empathy Edge! Or check us out at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com.

In today's uncertain job market, what separates endless applications from landing your ideal role? Kim Bohr sits down with Tim Sprangers, CEO of Orin Rice, a Seattle-based sales recruiting firm, to uncover the levers you can control in the process. With over a decade of experience connecting top talent with leading companies, Tim offers practical guidance for navigating what he calls the current "uncertain market," where both employers and candidates hesitate to make moves.

This insightful conversation explores how leaders can approach their job search like a sales cycle, effectively pivot between industries or functions, and simplify their value proposition to stand out. Tim shares what recruiters look for in resumes, why networking before you need it pays dividends, and how to determine if a recruiting partner truly adds value.

Whether you're hiring talent or seeking new opportunities yourself, discover strategies for gaining a talent advantage even in challenging market conditions. Learn to position yourself effectively, leverage your network strategically, and approach career transitions with confidence.

To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

We're in an "uncertain market" where both employers and candidates hesitate to make moves
Track your job search like a sales cycle to identify exactly where you're falling short
When pivoting careers, focus on either transferable skills or industry knowledge
Make your resume content-rich with measurable achievements rather than fancy formatting
Network proactively before you need it, and help others without expectation
Your questions during interviews often matter more than your answers
"If a seven-year-old can't understand what you do, it's overcomplicated."

"You can control the input. Sometimes you can't control the output... you've got to control the things that you can, which is your effort and your energy and the time that you're putting into it." — Tim Sprangers

About Tim Sprangers: Tim Sprangers is the CEO of Orin Rice, a Seattle-based sales recruiting firm connecting top professionals with leading Pacific Northwest companies. With over a decade in recruitment, Tim's quality-over-quantity approach ensures employers and candidates find the right fit through understanding each party's needs. Orin Rice donates a portion of profits to nonprofits, including FARE and Treehouse.

About SparkEffect:

SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.

Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.

Connect with Tim Sprangers:

Website: https://www.orinrice.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsprangers/

Orin Rice Google Reviews

Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect

SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com

Courage to Advance recording and resources:

sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcast

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect

LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr

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