Offer Accepted

How do you build a successful hiring process that goes beyond simply filling roles?Abhik Pramanik, Co-Founder and VP of Engineering at Ashby, shares his experience in shaping a recruiting approach that prioritizes quality over volume, ensuring that each hire is a perfect match for the team.In his conversation with Shannon, Abhik shares how they moved away from traditional hiring practices. One example is that instead of posting dry, boring job descriptions, he wrote them like he was talking to a friend. You’ll learn how his candid and transparent approach to communication across the board made a difference in developing a recruitment process everyone could get behind. Key Takeaways: Prioritize quality over volume: Focusing on quality rather than the sheer number of candidates allows you to attract top talent that aligns with your company’s culture and is around for the long term.Be transparent with candidates: Clear communication and public documentation about your company’s culture, expectations, and compensation from the start ensures candidates are well-informed, helping to streamline the hiring process and reduce mismatches.Get creative with job descriptions: Job descriptions that resonate with the company’s culture and values are more likely to attract well-aligned candidates and efficiently filter out those who might not fit. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(03:57) Challenges in early hiring at Ashby(06:22) Frustration with traditional recruiting methods(08:25) Rethinking the hiring approach(09:57) The importance of candidate experience(13:09) Improving top-of-funnel recruitment(17:34) Thoughtful communications and job descriptions(22:41) Improved job descriptions results(25:23) Defining hiring excellence(27:59) The importance of early compensation discussions

Forecasting and capacity planning are cornerstones of making recruiting a true strategic partner within any business. JT Haskell, a talent acquisition veteran with over 15 years of experience at high-growth tech startups like AirWatch, PinDrop, Zapier, Kraken, and Reddit, joins to share his insights. You’ll learn how forecasting and capacity planning help effectively scale a recruiting system that works for your organization.In his conversation with host Shannon Ogborn, JT shares how being proactive in forecasting not only helps in meeting hiring goals but also positions recruiting teams as essential strategic advisors to the business. Key Takeaways: Incorporate time off: When creating your capacity models, include time off, holidays, and events in your capacity models to keep recruiting forecasts realistic and avoid bottlenecks and hiring delays.Over-deliver on hiring goals: A well-structured capacity model allows you to accurately predict and meet your hiring goals, enabling your team to over-deliver and enhancing your reputation as a reliable and strategic partner within the business.Integrate project work to reduce burnout: Integrating project work into your capacity model reduces burnout and keeps your team motivated, leading to a more engaged, productive, and innovative recruiting team.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(04:00) Capacity planning and forecasting (06:00) How to build a capacity model(10:00) Prioritizing hiring needs in large companies(12:00) Scaling down goals to achieve better outcomes(15:00) The benefits of integrating project work into capacity models(16:00) Considering time off and holidays in capacity planning(21:00) How forecasting can help with business strategy(23:00) JT’s hot take on automation in recruiting(25:00) TA automation tools to check out 

How do you create a world-class candidate experience?Lyndsey French, Director of Talent Acquisition at 1Password, shares her evolution in the tech industry, her leadership experience, and how she helped create a new hiring process to support the  impressive growth —from 300 to 1,200 employees at 1Password.Achieving this growth wasn't easy. In her conversation with host, Shannon Ogborn, she’ll share how their success stems from a commitment to interview excellence. Key Takeaways: Invest in effective training for hiring teams: Her approach includes diversity training, structured interview preparation, and the evolution of training courses, leading to better prepared hiring teams and a more consistent, unbiased evaluation process.Build a structured and fair interview process: Establishing a formalized and structured interview process ensures fairness and consistency in candidate evaluation. Practices like scorecarding and focusing on "culture add" rather than "culture fit" help create an inclusive and equitable hiring environment, enhancing the quality of hires and aligning the experience with company values and goals.Embrace AI and continuous improvement: The future of talent acquisition involves embracing AI and automation to enhance efficiency. Talent professionals can then focus on tasks that require a human touch and not get bogged down with things that slow down productivity. For 1Password, adapting to new technologies and embracing a continuous improvement mindset have helped them maintain a competitive edge in recruitment.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(03:00) The evolution of talent acquisition(05:00) Why vulnerability matters in the interview process(07:00) The impact of candidate experience on brand(10:00) Understanding how to use training programs for hiring teams(17:00) Interviewing with diversity and fairness(19:00) Shifting from “culture fit” to “culture add” (26:00) What it means to have hiring excellence(28:00) Embracing AI in talent acquisition

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn welcomes NaKeisha Martinez, a seasoned talent acquisition expert with 18 years of experience and former Head of Talent at Branch. NaKeisha shares her journey and the importance of professional development in the TA space. She emphasizes the role of managers in fostering growth and success within their teams, advocating for a strong focus on individual goals and aspirations.NaKeisha discusses the significance of one-on-one meetings in understanding team members' personal and professional goals. She highlights how these meetings can drive motivation and reduce turnover by aligning personal aspirations with business objectives. NaKeisha also introduces the concept of "teach-backs," where team members share their learning experiences, enhancing knowledge retention and application.The conversation concludes with a discussion on the candidate experience, stressing the need for respect and timely communication. NaKeisha underscores the importance of transparency and continuous learning to achieve hiring excellence. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their TA strategies and create a supportive, growth-oriented work environment. 

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn interviews Melissa Grabiner of OneDigital. Melissa shares insights from her extensive career in HR and talent acquisition, focusing on her experiences as a talent leader in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. She walks through her management philosophy, which includes a commitment to work-life balance and mental health, ensuring her team members feel valued and supported. One way she does this is through having a streamlined PTO plan for her team. Melissa also highlights the need for companies to streamline their hiring processes and foster strong partnerships between recruiters and hiring managers. She emphasizes the importance of the candidate experience in the recruitment process, noting the impact of treating candidates with respect and providing timely feedback.Tune in to hear Melissa's strategies for maintaining high employee satisfaction and effective team management, along with her thoughts on the future of recruiting in a shifting job market.

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn welcomes Aline Lerner, CEO of interviewing.io, and Michael Mroczka, a Software Engineer and Dedicated Coaching Interviewer. They dive into the evolving landscape of technical interviews where Aline shares insights from her nine years at interviewing.io, emphasizing the platform's mission to democratize hiring by valuing skills over resumes. Michael, a seasoned mentor and ex-Google software engineer, discusses the benefits of real interview practice over mere theoretical preparation.The conversation shifts to current challenges in technical recruiting, notably the impact of AI on hiring practices. Aline cites a significant increase in interview cheating facilitated by tools like ChatGPT. They explore how these changes necessitate adaptations in interview processes to maintain integrity. Michael highlights the effectiveness of traditional technical interviews and the potential risks AI poses in enabling dishonesty among candidates.The episode wraps with a discussion on potential solutions to counteract cheating in interviews. Both guests agree on the need for more innovative and rigorous interviewing techniques that can withstand the ingenuity of AI-assisted cheating. They advocate for a balance between leveraging technology and upholding rigorous standards to accurately assess candidate capabilities.Cheating experiment blog: https://interviewing.io/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-cheat-with-chatgpt-in-technical-interviewsRecruiters: share this link with your candidates and they'll get access to the best system design guide on the market AND a free mock interview: https://interviewing.io/guides/system-design-interview

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn welcomes Kristi Kennebrew, a passionate advocate for job seekers from underrepresented groups in the tech industry. Kristi shares her approach to recruitment, emphasizing the importance of representing and actively reaching out to underrepresented communities. She discusses the sourcing limitations of traditional online platforms like LinkedIn and the significant benefits of engaging with potential candidates through in-person events such as conferences and networking gatherings.Kristi highlights the necessity of recruiters stepping outside of conventional methods to uncover untapped talent pools. She suggests that personal interactions at events allow for a more genuine connection with candidates, which online platforms can sometimes lack. The discussion also touches on the role of recruiters as brand ambassadors who can attract talent by representing their companies authentically.The conversation concludes with practical tips for both recruiters and job seekers on maximizing the benefits of networking events. Kristi advises on the importance of having a clear goal, collecting valuable candidate data efficiently, and maintaining follow-up communications to build a strong employer brand and foster long-term professional relationships.

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn speaks with Jeremy Lyons of RecOps Collective about the subtleties of recruiting operations. They discuss the critical role of cultural acknowledgement in recruitment processes and the challenges of creating effective strategies that respect diverse cultural values. Jeremy brings to light the challenges recruiters face in designing processes that are both efficient and inclusive.The conversation also covers the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment. Jeremy highlights the importance of AI literacy, pointing out the potential biases that can arise when using AI tools. He emphasizes the necessity for recruitment professionals to understand and control these technologies to ensure they support rather than compromise recruitment efforts.Throughout the episode, Shannon and Jeremy share insights that are crucial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the evolving landscape of recruiting operations. Their exchange sheds light on the complexities of integrating technology with human-centric approaches to recruitment.

In this episode of Offer Accepted, Shannon Ogborn welcomes Maria Fernanda, currently at Brunel. With a decade in tech recruitment, Maria, shares insights from her journey, including underscoring the evolving recruitment landscape and the significance of recruiter-hiring manager relationships. She emphasizes building trust and understanding market dynamics for effective talent acquisition.The conversation dives into strategies for new and seasoned hiring managers. Maria highlights the challenges of aligning diverse perspectives within the hiring process. She advocates for robust communication and alignment as crucial for successful recruitment, drawing from her experiences to illustrate these points.Key takeaways include the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and strategic thinking in recruitment. Maria's expertise sheds light on navigating the complexities and strains of hiring in today's fast-paced environment, making it a valuable listen for recruiting professionals aiming to refine their approach to talent acquisition.

In this episode of Offer Accepted, host Shannon Ogborn meets with Ashley King, Founder and Chief Instructor at DEI Labs. Ashley shares insights into how DEI Labs creates a safe space for HR professionals, focusing on ethical, legal, and compliant recruiting practices. Their conversation explores the importance of systemic change in DEI efforts, beyond mere checkboxes.Ashley discusses the common challenges faced in the talent acquisition space, highlighting the repetitive issues and the impact on marginalized communities. She emphasizes the need for standards, accountability, and a decolonized mindset in the DEI industry. Ashley and Shannon delve into strategies for managing opposition to DEI initiatives, underscoring the importance of data-driven approaches and recruiter education.The discussion concludes with practical tips for recruiters and HR professionals to create inclusive hiring processes and foster retention. Ashley's perspective on recruiting as a form of matchmaking, aiming for long-term relationships, offers a refreshing take on talent acquisition's role in bridging the wealth gap and promoting workplace equity.