Season 8 | Ep38 Dan Grim on what top recruitment talent really wants and why most agencies miss the mark

Why most recruitment businesses fail to attract top-tier leadership talent

On this week’s episode of The RAG Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Grim, founder of Inside Recruitment.

With 25 years in the industry and two previous equity partnerships under his belt, Dan now runs a solo rec-to-rec firm helping recruitment businesses hire the kind of leadership talent that drives real scale.

In this episode, Dan explains:

• Why most founders can't attract true A players
• The key traits and expectations that top 10% performers are looking for
• Why having a clear shareholder agreement matters more than you think
• How personal struggles shape better leadership decisions
• What a good general manager or MD actually enables in a recruitment firm

If you're thinking about stepping back from the day-to-day or need someone to drive your next phase of growth, this is essential listening.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Rag Podcast and Dan Grimm

02:36 Dan Grimm's Journey in Recruitment

09:52 Transitioning from Recruitment to Business Leadership

18:35 The Importance of Values in Business

25:57 Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Business

31:26 Navigating Business Partnerships and Agreements

38:10 Personal Challenges and Career Resilience

40:21 Navigating Expat Life and Family Dynamics

43:11 Career Transitions and the Role of Networking

47:13 Challenges of Leadership and Personal Struggles

51:25 Reflections on Career Choices and Business Dynamics

55:07 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Leadership

59:44 Building a Business: Insights and Strategies

01:05:47 Finding the Right Fit: Recruitment and Company Culture

01:10:17 The Value of Retaining Top Talent

01:15:23 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Business Growth

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