

The Breakthrough Hiring Show: Recruiting and Talent Acquisition Conversations
James Mackey: Recruiting, Talent Acquisition, Hiring, SaaS, Tech, Startups, growth-stage, RPO, James Mackey, Diversity and Inclusion, HR, Human Resources, business, Retention Strategies, Onboarding Process, Recruitment Metrics, Job Boards, Social Media Re
Welcome to The Breakthrough Hiring Show! We are on a mission to help leaders make hiring a competitive advantage. Join our host, James Mackey, and guests as they discuss various topics, with episodes ranging from high-level thought leadership to the tactical implementation of process and technology. You will learn how to:- Shift your team’s culture to a talent-first organization.- Develop a step-by-step guide to hiring and empowering top talent.- Leverage data, process, and technology to achieve hiring success.Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2023 • 1h 2min
EP 95: Best of: How to build a talent acquisition department from scratch while in hyper-growth: Lessons Learned and Best Practices w Lance Tripp
We're thrilled to be celebrating one of our most popular episodes. This episode really captured the attention of our listeners, and we couldn't be happier to revisit it and share it with new listeners too!In this episode, host James Mackey and Lance Tripp, Global Head of Talent at Enable dive into the world of talent acquisition, exploring the challenges and strategies involved in building a successful department from scratch while experiencing hyper-growth. The conversation will focus on lessons learned from scaling SaaS companies in hyper-growth from a talent acquisition perspective.They share their experiences and insights into the importance of leveraging ATS, building processes around tools, and using data to support decision-making. Our guest also shares his experience of having talent acquisition report into revenue organization and the strategic thinking behind it.Whether you're a startup founder, talent acquisition professional, or just interested in the world of hyper-growth, this episode is sure to provide valuable insights. Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 27, 2023 • 51min
EP 94: Panel Part 2: Generative AI news and applications for people orgs. CNN's CEO ousted and the impact on culture and earnings.
0:21 Generative AI news 5:17 The potential dangers and biases associated with AI 9:03 How AI is reshaping the job market 14:42 How companies are leveraging generative AI 32:34 CNN's CEO ousted and the impact on culture and earnings.Guest Panel: Andreea Florescu, Bridget Tesler, Julia Arpag, Sam Ghie.Generative AI Market Size, Trends, & Statistics (2023-2025)Gartner Experts Answer the Top Generative AI Questions Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 20, 2023 • 49min
EP 92: How to increase your hiring batting average by implementing predictive indexing and structured interviews.
Join host James Mackey and our guest Jeremy Ruch, Founder and CEO at Bandalier, to discover how companies can significantly improve their hiring success rate and increase their batting average by implementing predictive indexing and establishing a framework for structured interviews.They delve into the significance of measuring receptiveness to feedback and the benefits of incorporating automation in the hiring process. Explore the correlation between performance reviews and interview questions, along with the impact of an efficient onboarding program and fostering a culture that promotes rapid value creation. James and Jeremy also discuss the silver lining to market corrections and the value of data-driven decision-making during the interview process. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking discussion, filled with practical strategies and actionable advice! 0:27 Jeremy's Ruch introduction 3:29 How to increase the batting average for hiring 9:58 Mapping interview format and process to performance reviews19:31 The importance of structured interview questions25:35 The impact of an efficient onboarding program29:53 The importance of understanding the cost of talent acquisition33:51 Collecting data during training40:40 The importance of having a structured interview and hiring process Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 15, 2023 • 38min
EP 91: How to make culture a competitive advantage by thinking long-term. Strategies for attracting and retaining top talent.
In this episode, host James Mackey and Sheba Lasley, Founder of Total Success, share their insights on creating a strong company culture that attracts and retains top talent. They begin by discussing the fundamental aspects of culture in the early stages of a company, emphasizing the importance of defining the mission, values, and overall culture alignment.They explore the value of building long-term relationships with employees and developing an offboarding culture that leaves a positive impact. They also highlight the need to focus on structured hiring, effective communication, and systematic onboarding processes.The discussion further delves into the cultural shifts that occur as a company grows and discusses the optimal timing for investing in employer branding. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn and provide practical tips for incentivizing thought leadership and engaging with the audience. 0:32 Sheba Lasley's background 2:32 The three key pillars of culture 7:12 People first culture and inclusive culture13:43 Structured hiring, effective communication, and systematic onboarding processes19:54 The cultural shifts that occur as a company grows23:21 When to invest in employer branding30:06 Key takeaways for the people team Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 13, 2023 • 53min
EP 90: Daniel Chait, the Co-founder & CEO of Greenhouse, shares lessons learned from helping 1000s of companies hire top talent.
Daniel joins us to discuss his book, Talent Makers, and provides a masterclass on how companies can move from chaotic to strategic hiring. The conversation flows from Daniel's Greenhouse founding story to the benefits of a structured hiring process and the ROI of making hiring your superpower. This is an episode you don't want to miss! 0:51 Daniel Chait's background and Greenhouse founding story 6:19 The distinction between thoughtful hiring and a chaotic hiring process 9:13 The benefits of a structured hiring process17:54 Talent Makers book26:25 The ROI of making hiring your superpower40:50 The elements of great onboarding Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 8, 2023 • 19min
EP 89: Leadership and talent development lessons learned from working in a boxing gym.
Join our host James Mackey as he explores the parallels between success in boxing and the psychology behind it, uncovering the surprising influence of mindset in achieving victory. He delves into the significance of positive psychology and how individuals' responses to stressful events can shape their professional endeavors.The conversation emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive psychology within teams, highlighting its role in fostering productivity and success. Moving forward, James discusses the concept of hiring people that have done 75% of the job and allowing individuals to grow into their roles, offering best practices for transparency and reciprocation in the recruitment process.He explores the recruitment lifecycle and underlines the significance of implementing structured hiring processes and leveraging technology to optimize recruitment efforts.Lastly, he draws a parallel between talent acquisition and revenue organizations, discussing how the most effective leaders in the field approach their roles with an analytical mindset and comfort with spreadsheets. 1:06 Positive psychology is a large factor in success3:40 The science behind the stress response7:13 The concept of hiring people that have done 75% of the job before10:33 High-level recruitment lifecycle Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 8, 2023 • 5min
EP 88: Introducing The Breakthrough Hiring Show
Formerly known as The Hiring Success Show, we are rebranding ourselves as The Breakthrough Hiring Show. This shift is to better reflect our mission to help leaders make hiring a competitive advantage. Join our host, James Mackey, and guests as they discuss various topics, with episodes ranging from high-level thought leadership to the tactical implementation of process and technology. You will learn how to:- Shift your team’s culture to a talent-first organization.- Develop a step-by-step guide to hiring and empowering top talent.- Leverage data, processes, and technology to achieve hiring success. Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 6, 2023 • 55min
EP 87: How to master headcount planning through optimizing FP&A and operations.
Join host James Mackey and Julio Martinez, Co-Founder & CEO at Abacum, in a dynamic conversation about mastering financial planning and forecasting.James and Julio engage in a comparison of planning in spreadsheets versus utilizing a centralized platform. They highlight the importance of a single source of truth by emphasizing how it improves accuracy and streamlines processes.They explore top-down planning versus bottom-up planning, offering valuable perspectives on budgeting breakdowns and areas for improvement. They emphasize the power of rolling forecasts to adapt and optimize.In the final segment, they discuss the need for comprehensive process playbooks, onboarding strategies, and the power of analytics and data-driven decision-making. 0:31 Julio Martinez introduction 4:08 Headcount planning breakdowns 8:05 Northstar metrics and executive leadership10:41 Budgeting breakdowns and areas for improvement14:20 What is a structured hiring process and how does it work19:37 How to make planning more data driven for headcount data25:50 Rolling forecasts for larger companies31:59 What is the impact of having more clarity around planning and forecasting on banking relationships41:47 How to effectively lead a company in the right direction when you have a bigger variance47:44 The importance of process playbooks for every part of the business Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

Jun 1, 2023 • 49min
EP 86: Optimizing your employee value proposition. A data-driven approach to hiring with the former Head of TA at Robinhood, Boris Epstein.
Join host James Mackey on this value-packed episode as he sits down with Boris Epstein, Founder of Binc and former Head of TA at Robinhood, a well-known expert in recruiting and building talent-first organizations. The conversation dives into the topic of how to attract and retain top talent, with a specific focus on recruiting in the tech space. They share their experience in the early stages of hiring in a growth stage and discuss the importance of having a unique and distinguished value proposition to stand out from the competition.James and Boris delve into the process and key data points to consider. The discussion also explores the distinction between hiring for talent versus culture and explains what it means to be a talent-first organization.They point out the relevance of leveraging data-driven metrics for success and emphasize the significance of building a data-driven recruitment model from day one.They also provide key takeaways from leading teams through uncharted waters and the importance of measuring results and metrics as an integral part of building a successful team.They continue the conversation by discussing how to respond quickly to market conditions without making a false step that could be detrimental and share valuable strategies for navigating these situations. The episode concludes by emphasizing the significance of setting realistic and achievable goals in recruitment. 0:47 Boris Epstein introduction 3:27 How to attract and retain top talent in the early stages of growth stage 6:54 How to fine-tune the value proposition13:29 What does it mean to be a talent first organization17:26 The importance of hiring top-quality talent and metrics23:49 The importance of having a data driven approach to hiring27:41 Leading teams through uncharted waters in the technology industry35:08 How to respond quickly to turbulent market conditions37:37 How to build a talent-first culture42:17 The importance of setting realistic and achievable goals vs. unrealistic goals Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

May 30, 2023 • 59min
EP 85: Learn why understanding philosophical and psychological concepts are critical to effective leadership, hiring, and developing talent
Join host James Mackey and special guest Sandy Gould as they delve into the intricate relationship between philosophy, psychology, and leadership.They unravel the concepts of individualism and collectivism, drawing inspiration from influential philosophers. From Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged” to Aristotle’s Golden Mean, they connect these philosophical and psychological insights to real-world applications, emphasizing the significance of understanding individuals’ contexts and environments in shaping their perspectives.The conversations extend beyond philosophy alone. They discuss the evolving landscape of talent acquisition and the need for a mindset shift. They explore the limitations of relying solely on experience as the primary criterion for hiring and propose a new approach that focuses on adaptability, compatibility, and accelerated learning. The discussion highlights the importance of diverse perspectives and the growth potential when individuals are given opportunities to stretch beyond their comfort zones.James and Sandy highlight the importance of outcome-focused approaches and the impact of internal hiring versus external recruitment. Lastly, they examine the opportunities presented by internal promotions and discuss the perfect ratio of internal hiring to external hiring. 0:46 Sandy Gould's background 2:38 The journey of discovering his superpowers 7:00 Ayn Rand’s perspective on what a good mission looks like12:06 Tying psychology and philosophy to real-world application15:02 The concept of theoretical anarchy18:30 The importance of critical thinking and independent thinking22:44 Shifting recruiter mindset to adaptability and compatibility27:37 Three things that are becoming more heavily weighted in the recruitment process32:41 Why it’s good to hire people who have done 75% of the job before37:05 Hiring people with superpowers38:09 The importance of having an outcome-focused approach41:47 Recruiters are business evangelising humanists and become an important circulatory system for company54:07 The perfect ratio of internal hiring to external hiring Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Our host James Mackey Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/#1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!