The Elite Recruiter Podcast

James Blackwell, Director of the Agency Blueprint and managing director of Ronald James Group, was interviewed by Benjamin on the Elite Recruiter podcast. Blackwell discussed his journey in the recruitment industry, starting as a car salesman before falling into recruitment and eventually starting his own agency in 2015. He spoke about the common issue of recruiters setting up their own agency and becoming highly paid employees for their own business instead of growing and scaling. To hit the seven-figure mark in a recruitment business, Blackwell advised building a client attraction system through a Dream 100 campaign for repeat business and winning clients exclusively retained by creating a unique methodology and signature sales pitch deck. However, to scale beyond $100-250k, it is important to learn how to be a business owner and not just a recruiter. Blackwell emphasized that a highly employed solopreneur is not a business owner. During the conversation, Blackwell discussed strategies for small and solo recruitment agencies to thrive in a recession by being leaner and more agile than larger agencies. In addition to sending automated email or LinkedIn campaigns, agencies should consider going the extra mile to differentiate themselves, such as building a marketing agency to help boost a client's brand and attract better talent or offering a free workshop to potential clients. Regarding starting one's own recruitment agency, Blackwell advised on the importance of having a mentor and a plan to map out the niche market and win clients, and not to worry about the website initially. He also suggested not taking investors and focusing on building a proper business by getting some money coming in and then building client acquisition system and operations. Blackwell emphasized the importance of investing in oneself and not taking 50-50 partnerships or giving away billings every month to companies that invest in recruitment agency startups. Blackwell recommended the book "How to Get Rich" by Felix Dennis for its practical advice on building a successful business with systems and "Built to Sell" by John Wobbleau Talk for its principles on building a business that is not reliant on the owner. He also shared his favorite quote, "If you think you can, then you can, and if you think you can't, you can't." Throughout the conversation, Blackwell emphasized the importance of building relationships and honing persuasion skills as a recruiter. He recommended the book "Search and Placement" by Steve Finkel as a valuable resource for new recruiters. For experienced recruiters, he suggested considering going out on their own to build their own business empire or partnering with their current agency to add value and progress within the company. He also advised against seeking investors for a recruitment agency startup, as this often results in giving away a large portion of billings without receiving adequate support or systems to build the business. He emphasized the importance of investing in oneself and finding a mentor for guidance and support. James Blackwell: https://www.youtube.com/@Jamesblackwellrecruitment   https://www.entrepreneurjames.co.uk/case-study   With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benjaminlmena Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

In a recent Elite Recruiter podcast episode, host Benjamin Mena interviewed Katrina Collier, author of The Robot-Proof Recruiter, about the changing recruitment market and the importance of staying relevant in the age of AI. Katrina Collier shared her background in recruitment, starting as a trainee recruitment consultant after moving to London from Australia. She also discussed the lack of education around the recruitment profession and the importance of improving candidate experience and recruitment practices.  The conversation centered around Collier's book, The Robot-Proof Recruiter, which argues that recruiters cannot be replaced by technology. The book aims to help recruiters understand the challenges of recruitment in a digital age and how to stand out in a crowded market. Collier emphasized the importance of treating candidates with compassion and kindness, pushing back on hiring managers when necessary, and doing proper intakes to ensure a better human experience. The book has received contributions from 85 people worldwide, making it a comprehensive manual that recruiters need to read. Collier donated her royalties from the book to a charity that aims to end modern-day slavery.  The conversation also touched on the impact of the pandemic on recruitment and the need for more education about the profession. The speakers discussed the impact of overhiring in the recruitment industry and how it affects people's lives. They talked about how companies knee-jerk react to economic changes by firing TA teams, the lack of awareness among recruiters about the slowing of hiring, and the responsibility of the C Suite in signing off on requisitions. They also discussed the impact of irresponsible hiring on people's lives, emphasizing the need for recruiters to remember the compassion and empathy that they lost during the pandemic.  The conversation then turned to the impact of AI on recruiters. Collier expressed skepticism, stating that AI will only create more noise and spam unless the person using the tool is creative and curious enough to personalize messages. They also gave an example of a highly personalized message from 2015 that went viral on Twitter but did not elicit a response from the recipient. The speakers also touched upon the issue of overhiring by companies and the need for the C-Suite to be held accountable for the impact on people's lives. However, they remained optimistic that the job market will eventually level out.  The speakers provided advice for recruiters, emphasizing the importance of being more creative and trying different methods to get in touch with hiring managers. They emphasized the need for a proper job intake process, as it is the most overlooked part of the hiring process. Recruiters were encouraged to spend time upfront with hiring managers to understand their needs and not to accept outdated job descriptions. The conversation also highlighted the need to look forward and understand what the company really needs, and the importance of getting hiring managers to invest time upfront to save time and money in the long run. The conversation ended with the advice to drop attitudes and partner with hiring managers to fill roles.  Katrina Collier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinacollier/ Robot Proof Recruiter Book: https://amzn.to/41qGvUy Katrina Collier Website: https://katrinacollier.com/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benjaminlmena Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

The Elite Recruiter Podcast recently featured William Spengler, the CEO of Frederick Fox, a successful recruitment firm specializing in technology and accounting and finance verticals. Spengler has been in the recruitment space for twelve years and started as an accountant before transitioning into sales. He sold roofing, solar, and paper through door-to-door sales before being recruited by Adecco Group to become a recruiter. The conversation revolved around the journey of a recruiter in 2023, the challenges of balancing technology and automation while still sticking to recruiting fundamentals, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and adapting to the turbulent industry environment. The speaker emphasized the need for recruiters to combine old-school and new-school techniques to achieve success and maintain personalization while building real relationships with customers. The conversation also discussed different models of recruitment agencies, including corporate conglomerates, independent virtual platforms, franchise models, and solopreneurs. Spengler talked about Frederick Fox's partner program, which offers independent contractors the opportunity to start at 80% commissions and scale up to 100% commissions through equity ties and profit sharing. He emphasized the importance of honesty, coachability, and humbleness when looking for recruiters to hire. The speaker shared their own experience of taking twelve years to reach a million in gross margin billings and highlighted the importance of consistency, routine, and holding oneself accountable to high metrics to become a successful recruiter. They also advised recruiters to adapt to the current market and target industries that are currently hot. The conversation also touched on the importance of onboarding and training for recruiters and the best ways to get clients in 2023. The speakers emphasized the need for recruiters to adapt to industries that are hot and use creative personalization at scale to target individuals based on random interests and grab their attention. The guest advised new recruiters to ask questions, learn from experienced recruiters, and set their ego aside. They shared a story about how they emulated the top producers in their division and became one of the top producers themselves. The conversation also touched on the importance of seeking out mentors and coaches and recommended the book Don't Feed the Monkey Mind by Jennifer Shannon, which helped them cope with anxiety and fear, allowing them to take on bigger challenges in their career. The guest emphasized the importance of adaptability and creativity in getting through a recession as a recruiter, sharing an example of a partner who targeted laboratory businesses that did COVID tests and was able to get 300 contractors out at laboratory sites during the pandemic. They also mentioned a quote about the eagle flying above the storm and avoiding it, which they found inspiring. Overall, the conversation provided valuable insights into the world of recruitment and highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, adapting to the industry environment, and combining old school and new school techniques to achieve success. Will Spengler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-spengler-2193433a/ Frederick Fox - https://frederickfox.com/ Frederick Fox LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/frederick-fox/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benjaminlmena Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

RIP Ben Nader! You were such a positive impact to the whole recruiting community. The Elite Recruiter podcast recently featured a conversation between Benjamin Mena and Ben Nader from Recruiter Empire. The two discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recruiting industry, with many layoffs and companies struggling. Mena shared his own experience of being let go while on vacation in France and how he and Nader started their own company. Nader has mentored over 1000 people in launching their own recruiting firms, generating over $30 million in revenue collectively. The conversation emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and taking action in times of uncertainty. They discussed the current job market and the opportunity it presents for starting a recruiting firm. Despite the negative news of layoffs, there is a skills mismatch, and companies are still looking for talent. The recruiting and staffing industry has a massive capacity due to its digital and remote nature, allowing recruiters to work anywhere in the country. The conversation centered around the entrepreneurial lifestyle of a recruiter, emphasizing the need for flexibility and the ability to manage one's own time. The speakers shared their stories of getting into recruiting and highlighted the importance of sharing what you're doing and the benefits of recruiting as a lifestyle business. The speakers also discussed the challenges of starting a recruitment firm, with finding the first client being the biggest challenge. The advice given was to do a lot of outreach and not be afraid of rejection. The importance of finding a community of like-minded individuals, such as online communities, was stressed, as they can offer guidance and support. The conversation continued with the speakers discussing the level of control and comfort that comes with being a business owner. They agreed that it is worth the hard work and effort, especially since it offers the chance to secure their family's future. The speakers also mentioned the importance of having the right mentors to guide one's career. They shared their favorite book and quote, both of which were related to business strategy and personal development. The conversation centered around entrepreneurship and the importance of acquiring the right skills, beliefs, and character traits. The interviewee emphasized the need to start early and not fear anything, and recommended the book 100 Million Dollar Offers by Alex Hormozi as having a profound impact on his business. He also shared a quote by Alex Hormozi that entrepreneurship is about acquiring skills, beliefs, and character traits. The conversation touched on the importance of having the right mentors and nerding out on KPIs and offer structure. The speakers continued to emphasize the importance of taking action and not settling for unhappiness Recruiter Empire Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/recruiterempire Ben Nader YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjK55HTYbBugysXXW0vhmcA Ben Nader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebennader/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benjaminlmena Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

Emily Landon is the Crypto Recruiter, she began her journey in this space after working in the financial services industry for three years. She was passionate about helping the Blockchain industry to develop and saw a need for a crypto recruiting firm. This inspired Emily to start the company as a New Year's resolution to the recruiting space. She wanted to provide a humanized approach to the process and make finding a job more fun. To do this, Emily and her team focused on doing the opposite of what people typically complain about with recruiters. They worked hard to build a good reputation and initially didn't take on any business for six months just so they could focus on networking and pipelining. Emily's company The Crypto Recruiters.io focuses on niche spaces and provides staffing services for companies within the Web3 space. The speaker discussed his experience in the Web Three industry, which is a space related to cryptocurrency. She discussed the training he provided to recruiters, the positive aspects of working in the Web Three space, the importance of making connections with people, and the confidential project he is helping staff up. She also discussed how Web Three is impacting the recruitment industry, noting the use of AI tools and the need to source talent from Twitter due to spam on LinkedIn. Finally, she advised that Twitter is a great place to find Web Three talent. Emily also shared great advice on what recruiters need to do to become successful no matter what niche they are in. Highlights: You really need to be passionate about changing lives. I know that may sound a little silly, but I mean, seriously, if I can help someone find a job at a 25% more salary and they can use that extra money to build a family, to buy a home, that's life-changing. Emily Landon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecryptorecruiter/ The Crypto Recruiters: https://thecryptorecruiters.io/ The Crypto Recruiters Talent Hub: https://thecryptorecruiters.io/category/available-candidates/ The Crypto Recruiters Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrptoRecruiting The Crypto Recruiters IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecryptorecruiters/ Emily Landon Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecryptorecruiter The Crypto Recruiters TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecryptorecruiters With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benjaminlmena Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

Anthony Bencomo is an excellent recruiter with over two decades of experience within the government contracting space and filling hundreds of positions per year. But what he has also done, he has chased his dreams. He is not afraid to be an excellent recruiter by day and chase his dreams after work hours.  I know many recruiters over the years that have a passion for something other than recruiting. Anthony talks about how you go about chasing that passion.    Highlights: What you need to do to chase your dreams How to build a brand How you structure your recruitment day and your energy The work ethic and the tracking it took to be a top recruiter What is his favorite book is! What you should do as a new recruiter should be doing. What experienced recruiters should take advantage of.  Anthony Bencomo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-bencomo-8b863a1/ Anthony Bencomo IG: https://www.instagram.com/ucfbiggie/ Anthony Bencomo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@delifreshthreads Deli Fresh Threads: https://delifreshthreads.com/ Deli Fresh Threads IG: https://www.instagram.com/delifreshthreads/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ Benjamin Mena TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@delifreshthreads Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/

Lauren Jones, the Tech Stack Queen and founder of Leap Consulting Solutions, is the latest guest to the Elite Recruiter podcast to discuss the tech stacks needed to have a successful staffing company. Lauren began her journey in recruiting haphazardly and serendipitously when her mother suggested she become a Kelly girl. While working as a Kelly girl, Lauren encountered, a sales rep, who hand-delivered her a check when the company forgot to pay her. That one meeting led her to an extremely successful recruiting career  After 25 years of recruiting experience, Lauren made the jump into starting her own company, Leap Consulting.   Where she works with Large and Small staffing agencies and helps them build tech stacks that help everyone be more effective and productive and make more money.  Lauren Jones LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goatleader/ Leap Consulting Solutions: https://leapconsultingsolutions.com/ You Own The Experience Podcast: https://leapconsultingsolutions.com/podcast/ Together We Rise Book: https://amzn.to/3IX8HYF With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/ Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena

Our latest guest on Episode 57 of The Elite Recruiter Podcast Rob Buffington of Gordian Staffing accidentally fell into recruiting when someone asked for some help.  Just a few years later he has grown his remote staffing organization to over 400 employees and it's now his largest company.  Rob Buffington shares what it takes to build an agile remote team that was able to scale quickly. Rob also shares some very important lessons for any future firm owner so they can quickly set themselves up for success. Rob Buffington LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbuffington/ Gordian Staffing: https://gordianstaffing.com/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/ Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena

Our guest Leah Daniels breaks down what the future of recruiting looks like on Episode 56 of The Elite Recruiter Podcast. The one-click apply has made it easy for a job seeker… Just like the one-click buy on Amazon will get a package delivered to your door the next day. For recruiting… Once a candidate clicks the easy apply… They are whisked off to each career page and then many times have to fill out the same 20 minute application over and over again. What if in the near future… All the back end applications are put together.  A candidate applies at one site and much of the tedious work information is carried over… The future is close and our Guest Leah Daniels talks about how it could all work out saving recruiting teams and candidates massive amounts of time.  Learn more at: jobsync.com Get our latest download - The Amazonification of Recruiting: https://www.jobsync.com/amazonificationofrecruiting Register for our monthly roundtable: https://www.jobsync.com/rmrt-register Leah Daniels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahndaniels/  With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/ Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena

Can you grow your recruiting agency without a single cold call? Our latest guest James Pemberton is doing just that. He has mastered the use of Google Advertising and SEO to create an inbound lead system that was worth almost a million dollars last year. I am not saying he is not on the phone. With every inbound lead he does still have a phone conversation. He just found a way to not have to smile and dial and have all the right companies come to him when they need help. YouTube: https://youtu.be/L2UiDuVfy_s James Pemberton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthcareexecutiverecruiter/ With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/ The Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/ Benjamin Mena Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_mena