Hiring in the trades is broken. Too many contractors “post and pray,” hoping the right people show up. In this episode, Benji sits down with Naomi Pitt and Josianne Gaudette from CrewHR to break down what real recruitment looks like in 2025—from building pipelines, referral programs, employer branding, and even using AI without losing the human touch.

If you’re struggling to attract and keep top talent, this episode is packed with tactical advice and powerful mindset shifts.

Timestamps:
00:50 – Why contractors fall into “post and pray” hiring
03:06 – The biggest mindset shift in recruiting
04:40 – Recruitment is a sales funnel
10:33 – Beyond job boards: new sourcing channels
14:36 – Referral programs that actually work
20:09 – The “Ideal Candidate Profile” (ICP) explained
25:20 – Gen Z and the rebranding of the trades
32:39 – Why remote work is overrated
35:10 – Mapping career paths visually
39:06 – Employer brand 101: more than logos
44:39 – AI in hiring: efficiency vs empathy
50:34 – Why small companies actually have the advantage
52:20 – CrewHR’s mission + what’s next

‘Post & Pray’ Hiring Is Dead: How Landscapers Win With Proactive Recruitment w/ Crew HR