Episode Overview

Hiring the right people has never been more critical, or more challenging. If your team is stretched thin, facing aggressive hiring deadlines, or searching for niche talent in a competitive market, a staffing agency could be your best-kept secret.

In this episode, we break down how the right partner can act as an extension of your team, handling everything from sourcing to screening to onboarding. You’ll learn when it makes sense to bring in outside help, the difference between contract, direct hire, and contract-to-hire models, and how a great staffing partner can speed up hiring while raising the bar on candidate quality.

Whether you’re building a team from scratch or just trying to keep up with demand, this episode will help you rethink what’s possible when you stop hiring alone.

Episode Overview

Most recruiters waste time chasing leads that will never convert. Patrick Barbour decided to fix that with a new recruitment automation tool.

In this episode, we dive into the story behind RecStack, an AI-powered business development platform built specifically for staffing firms. Patrick, a former oil and gas recruiter, shares how a single insight changed everything: at any given time, only 3–5% of companies are actively looking for recruiting support. The rest? Wasted outreach.

RecStack flips the script by using AI to track real-time sales triggers, like funding rounds, leadership changes, and key departures, so you only engage with companies ready to hire. It doesn’t just identify targets; it researches them, enriches contact data, and crafts personalized outreach that sounds like you wrote it yourself.

Patrick explains why this shift isn’t about replacing recruiters, but freeing up time to do more. Automation handles the grunt work. You build the relationships.

Whether you’re a solo recruiter or scaling an agency, this episode reveals how top firms are already using automation to win faster, work smarter, and never cold call a dead lead again.

Episode Overview

Hiring a great recruiter isn’t as simple as it sounds, and getting it wrong can hurt your entire hiring strategy. In this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, we break down a proven 7-step process to help you hire a recruiter who can actually deliver results.

In just 20 minutes, you’ll learn how to define the role based on hiring volume, time-to-fill goals, and specialization needs, so you don’t end up misaligned from day one. We’ll help you choose the right level of recruiter—entry, mid, senior, or executive—and explain what each brings to the table in terms of skills, cost, and expectations.

You’ll also get practical tips on writing job descriptions that attract top recruiting talent, sourcing strategies that go beyond job boards, and interview questions that reveal true capability. We even cover red flags to watch out for and creative ways to offer competitive compensation when your budget is tight.

To wrap it up, we dive into onboarding best practices and explain when partnering with a staffing firm might be the smarter move.

If you’re ready to elevate your hiring team, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Overview

Bad hires are expensive, costing companies upwards of $50,000 each. But beyond the financial hit, they disrupt team morale, stall productivity, and can damage your culture from the inside out. And here’s the kicker: 74% of employers admit they’ve hired the wrong person.

In this episode, we’re breaking down 17 red flags every hiring manager should watch for—before it’s too late. From candidates who arrive late or dodge tough questions to more subtle signs like vague references or deflecting past mistakes, these warning signals are often easy to overlook but hard to recover from.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot signs of deeper issues hiding in plain sight
• When to dig deeper and how to do it without turning the interview into an interrogation
• Why some red flags (like not owning past failures) should instantly put you on alert
• Innovative ways to separate confidence from arrogance
• What to ask instead when something feels “off”

Whether you’re hiring for your first role or your fiftieth, these insights will sharpen your instincts, improve your process, and help you build a stronger, more cohesive team.

Episode Overview

Most hiring managers are writing job descriptions wrong…

If you want to know how to write a job description that actually attracts the right candidates, this episode is your blueprint.

I’ll unpack why some roles get flooded with qualified applicants while others barely get a glance. Spoiler: it’s not just the job itself—it’s how you talk about it. In this episode, I break down the strategy behind writing job descriptions that convert, treating them like the powerful marketing assets they are.

You’ll learn the seven must-have elements every effective job post should include, from crafting a compelling title and writing a strong intro, to using action-driven language and clearly separating must-haves from nice-to-haves.

I’ll also dig into why transparency about salary, location, and culture can massively boost your applicant pool.

Forget the legalese and buzzwords, great job descriptions feel like invitations. I’ll show you how to ditch the corporate fluff and speak directly to the type of person you actually want to hire.

Episode Overview

Our host, Pete Newsome, sits down with John Ruffini—VP of Professional Development at HealthTrust Workforce Solutions and author of Money Makers—to explore how recruiting is evolving and which fundamentals still hold strong.

While technology and AI have transformed the way recruiters operate, Ruffini reminds us that relationships remain at the heart of great recruiting. He states, “Our business is still about relationships, and people want to interact with other people. It’s just human nature.”

He shares his “million-dollar questions”—thoughtful, disarming prompts that turn reluctant candidates into open conversations—and contrasts this relationship-first mindset with the transactional approaches that dominate today’s landscape.

The conversation also dives into the impact of remote work, including the loss of geographic boundaries and the challenge of developing young talent. Ruffini makes a strong case for hybrid models and shares personal lessons from both wins and failures that helped shape his recruiting philosophy.

Whether you’re a veteran recruiter or just starting out, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the future of talent acquisition—and why human connection still matters most.

Episode Overview

Are outdated hiring practices slowing you down? Join us for an insightful chat with Varun Khurana, co-founder of Wayfaster, as he shares his journey from employee to entrepreneur. Frustrated by recruitment inefficiencies, Varun and his co-founder built a cutting-edge voice AI solution to revolutionize high-volume hiring.

We dive into how AI is reshaping recruitment—streamlining resume screening, optimizing interviews, and enhancing efficiency while keeping the human touch at the forefront. But as AI evolves, does it threaten recruiter jobs or simply refine them?

Get the inside scoop on AI’s role in hiring, its impact on job markets, and the future of tech-driven recruitment.

Don’t miss this episode! 🎙️

Episode Overview

The hiring landscape is shifting—are you keeping up? In this episode, Vicky Brown, CEO of Idomeneo, shares expert insights on navigating the challenges of today’s job market, from the remote vs. in-office debate to finding and retaining top talent.

We’ll explore how businesses can rethink recruitment, treating it like marketing to attract the right candidates. Vicky breaks down the importance of clear career paths, smart hiring strategies, and the role of compliance in building strong teams. Plus, we discuss the impact of AI in hiring—when to embrace it and why human oversight still matters.

To wrap things up, Vicky shares helpful tips on streamlining your hiring process. Whether you’re a recruiter, HR leader, or business owner, this episode is packed with practical takeaways to elevate your hiring approach. Tune in now!

Episode Overview

What if you could revolutionize your recruitment strategy and attract top talent like never before? Join us as Thad Price, CEO of Talroo and Ready Set Hire, shares his expertise on transforming the way companies approach hiring. Learn how to turn the internet into your ultimate help wanted sign and treat candidates like valued customers. Thad breaks down the importance of effective job postings and timely engagement, offering insights into how Ready Set Hire leverages recruitment marketing best practices to streamline the candidate experience and bring in higher-quality applicants.

We also explore how tools like one-click apply and conversational AI are making applications and communication smoother, allowing recruiters to focus on the most engaged and qualified candidates.  Don’t miss Thad’s invaluable advice on optimizing the candidate experience from attraction to application!

Episode Overview

Need help navigating the labyrinth of employment labor laws? HR consultant Ricky Baez joins us to unravel these complexities and offer practical strategies for business owners. Listeners will discover essential resources like SHRM.org, EEOC.gov, and DOL.gov, and learn the benefits of attending industry conferences and hiring a knowledgeable consultant. Ricky also dispels common misconceptions around employment at will and right-to-work laws, underscoring the importance of understanding legal protections in employment practices.

Effective communication can make or break labor union elections, and Ricky shares compelling stories highlighting this truth. One notable case from a New York City restaurant reveals how language barriers led to misunderstandings about sick pay entitlements, stressing the need for language-appropriate communication tools. Hear how accurate information prevented unionization and why expert guidance is crucial in navigating labor laws. Tune in to gain actionable insights and stay ahead of legal updates in the ever-changing landscape of labor laws!

Episode Overview

Are you waiting until a new hire’s start date to begin the onboarding process? If so, you should reconsider! In this episode of Hire Calling, HR consultant Ricky Baez shares the importance of starting your onboarding process the moment a candidate applies and best practices for integrating new hires into your organization.

Additionally, he will touch on ways you can leverage technology (especially AI) to streamline your processes and how to give candidates constructive feedback who didn’t secure the role. 

Episode Overview

In this episode, we explore the complexities of employee relations with HR consultant Ricky Baez.

Topics include:
1. Understanding Employee Relations: The importance of respecting diverse personalities and maintaining a positive work environment.
2. Common Challenges: How differences in opinion and communication impact productivity.
3. Balancing Empathy and Strategy: Essential skills for HR professionals.
4. Navigating Sensitive Topics: Practical advice on handling politics and religion at work.
5. Proactive Leadership: Encouraging civility and respect, especially during election years.

Join us for valuable insights and tips on how to improve employee relations in your organization.

Episode Overview

On this episode, special guest Diane Prince shares her secrets of entrepreneurial success in the staffing industry. From her start as a temp to selling her thriving business, Diane’s story is all about vision, grit, and chasing your dreams.

In our conversation with Diane, we explore her unique path as a solo founder, balancing independence with the power of partnerships. Learn how her creative approach to reference checks opened doors to unexpected opportunities, highlighting the underrated art of networking. We also tackle the challenge of growing sales teams, discussing how to shift from being a star salesperson to a great manager and the mysterious $20 million hurdle that many businesses face.

Finally, we dive into the crucial topics of hiring, training, and keeping top talent in recruitment. Diane believes that strong leadership is the key to excellence and avoiding mediocrity. Her hands-on involvement in the interview process shows the importance of finding the right fit for the role.

For those looking for inspiration and a successful sales mindset, this episode is packed with practical tips and valuable insights to boost your staffing strategies.

Episode Overview

Are you struggling to find and hire exceptional IT professionals?

Sioux Logan is our special guest on this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast! She is the visionary founder and president of RedStream Technology, an IT staffing firm located in New York City. Immediately, you will be whisked into Sioux’s world, revealing the raw, unfiltered experiences of launching a tech staffing firm from the ground up. 

Pete and Sioux begin by discussing the job market’s post-pandemic seismic shifts, which have left many professionals uncertain, but they share their optimism for the future. They analyze the effects of tech giant layoffs and the constriction of venture capital on the fragile ecosystem of startups. It’s a candid discourse on the importance of innovation in hiring practices during adjustment periods, packed with actionable insights for both companies and candidates. 

But success in recruitment isn’t just about embracing change—it’s also about mastering the fundamentals. Sioux imparts her wisdom to new recruiters, emphasizing the indispensable role of personal interaction in a digitalized world. This episode peels back the curtain on the strategies that distinguish exceptional recruiters from the rest, from tapping into the goldmine of internal databases to the quick yet profound decision-making akin to Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘Blink.’ 

Tune in and arm yourself with the knowledge to navigate the modern recruitment landscape with confidence and finesse!

Episode Overview

Wondering how to build an effective team in today’s digital landscape? Kate O’Neill, CEO of Teaming, joins Pete today with an insider’s perspective on how their team intelligence software revolutionizes how managers foster high-performing teams. From providing personalized communication coaching to enhancing interaction within diverse teams, Teaming’s AI-driven platform is making waves in the professional world.

Kate recounts the strategic decisions that helped her startup flourish before diving into the heart of why Teaming was created—a solution to the void left by traditional project management tools. As CEOs, she and Pete also talk about the importance of communication skills as well as the struggles and triumphs of leadership.

The need for cohesiveness within a team has never been more pronounced. Join Pete and Kate in this enlightening discussion that will enrich your understanding of the modern workplace and equip you with the tools to build a thriving team.

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, learn how to scale your hiring efforts without sacrificing the human touch. Ricky and Pete dive into the fast-paced world of high-volume recruiting, whether it’s building the perfect call center team or ramping up for the season.

They discuss setting clear objectives, leveraging milestones, and balancing efficiency with a candidate experience that feels personal rather than automated. Pete and Ricky share how forward-thinking workforce managers use historical data to predict and adapt to their needs in real time, ensuring you’re always well-prepared. They also discuss the controversial yet effective practice of overhiring, its relevance across various industries, and why it could be the secret ingredient for your organization’s success.

Lastly, they explore the wonders of AI in recruitment while emphasizing the pivotal stages where the human touch remains indispensable. If you’re ready to fine-tune your recruitment process to be both lightning-fast and irresistibly appealing, this conversation is your ideal starting point.

Episode Overview

Are you struggling with a high candidate drop-off rate during your recruitment process?
In this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, Pete Newsome and Ricky Baez examine the pitfalls and consequences of a high candidate drop-off rate and offer insights on overcoming it.

They also focus on the candidate’s experience during the hiring process, as many withdraw due to disorganized procedures or a lack of engagement from the recruitment team. Pete and Ricky emphasize the importance of respect and transparency regarding expectations and the recruiter’s role as the candidate’s “GPS.”

Lastly, they explore the importance of improving job descriptions and speeding up the hiring process to address candidate drop-off rates. The two discuss how companies need to expedite their processes in response to the urgency felt by candidates.

Tune in to hear their personal experiences and tips for improving the candidate experience and minimizing negative word-of-mouth to enhance the overall success of your recruitment process.

Episode Overview

Is a prolonged hiring process preventing you from hiring great candidates? In this episode, Pete Newsome and Ricky Baez share tips for speeding up your hiring process. They highlight the delicate balance between practicality and accuracy in hiring. Additionally, they tackle issues like long hiring processes and high hiring costs for companies.

The hosts then discuss how difficult it can be to manage a large number of applications. But thanks to AI, recruiters can sift through resumes more quickly.

Applying to jobs has never been so easy, especially with the one-click apply feature. However, this leads to a lot of applications from unqualified candidates. So, Pete and Ricky propose intriguing questions: Should all applications be considered? Should you raise the entry barrier to ensure only qualified candidates apply?

But hold on, there’s more to uncover! Discover their insights into establishing an efficient hiring process and the significance of transparent communication with candidates. Ghosting isn’t exclusive to dating—it happens in recruitment too. Newsome and Baez explore methods to circumvent this issue and why managing expectations regarding candidate responses is crucial. Tune in for a captivating discussion encompassing hiring strategies, staffing dilemmas, and recruiting intricacies!

Episode Overview

Are you caught in the relentless recruiting cycle, constantly seeking the ideal candidate? Discover a smarter approach to uncover hidden job market treasures – passive candidates – in this exciting episode of the Hire Calling Podcast. Join host Pete Newsome and co-host Ricky Baez as they explore the nuances of passive recruiting techniques. They’ll reveal what separates passive candidates, their value to your organization, and strategies for successful engagement.

Learn about leveraging social media, especially LinkedIn, to enhance your reputation and connect with potential hires. Understand the role of compelling storytelling in recruitment and how honesty can be a game-changer. Through Pete and Ricky’s deep dive into the intricacies of passive recruiting, you’ll acquire essential knowledge to build a robust talent pipeline that revolutionizes your hiring approach.

Tune in to this episode to transform your recruitment strategy and discover the untapped talent that can elevate your team to unprecedented levels.

Episode Overview

Are you concerned about the ripple effects of key leaders exiting your company? Are you uneasy about favoritism skewing succession planning? In this episode of the Hire Calling podcast, our hosts, Pete Newsome and Ricky Baez, tackle the pivotal theme of succession planning within the hiring, staffing, and recruiting sphere. Ricky, an adept HR consultant and college instructor, imparts his knowledge on eight vital succession planning steps.

He shares why this crucial strategy is often overlooked and the challenges organizations face in its execution. The discussion illuminates the prevalent issue of favoritism in choosing successors and underscores the necessity of evaluating skill sets and gathering diverse input during the succession planning process. Tune in to learn more!

Episode Overview

Join Pete Newsome and Ricky Baez as they share the secret to successful recruitment: hiring for soft skills!

On this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, our hosts discuss how to assess emotional intelligence, teamwork dynamics, and a candidate’s culture fit. Pete and Ricky explain how to balance technical qualifications with soft skills to make better hiring decisions.

They touch on the pros and cons of task-based interviews and the potential benefits of hiring freelancers. Beyond that, Ricky offers tips on interviewing with finesse. You’ll discover the power of behavioral questions, the danger zones of over-relying on resumes, and the often-overlooked value of professional references.

Could your hiring process use a boost? Tune in and transform your recruitment game!

Episode Overview

Wondering with the best route is for informing candidates of interview decisions? Or perhaps why you never received a callback after a seemingly stellar job interview?

Dive into this episode of the Hire Calling Podcast, where staffing expert Pete Newsome and HR guru Ricky Baez shed light on these pressing questions. They navigate through the challenges recruiters often encounter with hiring managers, underscoring the importance of keeping candidates in the loop throughout the recruitment journey.

Have you inadvertently ensnared yourself in the web of applying en masse for positions, neglecting to align the job description perfectly with your qualifications? Our experts dissect these common pitfalls, showcasing how these tactics may inadvertently sabotage your efforts and offer strategies to course-correct.

As the insightful dialogue between Pete and Ricky unfolds, they bestow valuable insights on articulating feedback to candidates—those who made the cut and those who fell short—and highlight the pressing need for recruiters to act swiftly and decisively in extending job offers.

Episode Overview

After an interview, have you questioned if you truly grasped a candidate’s capabilities? Imagine mastering your interview techniques to select the best fit for each position consistently. This episode of the Hire Calling Podcast will take you through interviewer training to ensure you hire effectively.

They’re redefining the interview paradigm, emphasizing a conversational 80/20 split, ensuring the candidate takes the lead. To genuinely gauge a candidate’s strength, they’ll mentor you in the craft of strategic questioning. Learn the harmonious blend of structured and unstructured interviews, addressing biases and ensuring legal and equitable interviewing practices.

As they wrap up, they stress the significance of soft skills, cultural fit, and valuing attitude over mere expertise. Pete and Ricky also highlight the transformative power of feedback in refining your approach. For all HR specialists, hiring managers, and recruiters keen to elevate their interviewing game, tune in, absorb the wisdom, and redefine your interviewing prowess!

Episode Overview

Have you fully embraced recruitment marketing? Echo Gravity’s Brian Jameson shares his insights on adapting your hiring strategy to the digital age. As a starting point, Pete and Brian discuss why the staffing industry has been slower to adopt digital recruitment compared to other industries. Afterward, they discuss the importance of maintaining the human touch in an increasingly virtual world.

If you feel overwhelmed by the competitive world of SEO and digital marketing, you are not alone. Brian and Pete emphasize the importance of developing a targeted, long-term marketing strategy to boost staffing growth. In addition, they offer practical suggestions for identifying what is working, addressing the gaps, and committing to a clear road map. From unexpected success stories to the significance of testing and refining, they’ve got you covered!

Looking ahead, they explore the potential for artificial intelligence in staffing. This leads to the discussion about the power of analytics, the advantages of marketing services, and the potential dangers of addressing risky topics in a polarized culture. The episode wraps up with a reflective conversation about success, aspirations, and the joy of sharing knowledge.