The Accidental Occupation: Recent Episodes
The Accidental Occupation
The Accidental Occupation is a podcast for Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Professionals brought to you by, High Road Human Capital.
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only! If you’re expecting to learn something educational or to pick up the latest industry tips and tricks you won’t find it here.
In each installment, I’ll be interviewing top Recruitment and Talent Acquisition professionals from across the country, from both corporate and agency.
I want to know how they found their way into this profession and to hear about some of their more interesting encounters along the way.
In this episode we bring you the audio version of our latest LinkedIn article, Social Media Marketing - How it's Working for High Road. If you'd like to give it a read, please click this link! https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/social-media-marketing-how-its-working-high-road-jesse-ryan/
Here's the audio version of our latest LinkedIn Article, Finding your Flow - Business & Fitness. If you want to give it a read, please follow this link to your LinkedIn company page: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/finding-your-flow-business-fitness-jesse-ryan/
The Weekly Rant is BACK! In Episode 10, Jesse rants about the job posting war between Indeed and LinkedIn and the infiltration of small aggregation players like Nuvoo and Jooble! IT NEEDS TO STOP!
Jesse continues his rant on psychometric testing, their history, when to use them, when to not and why trying to cheat the test is a bad idea!
Jesse rants about hiring managers being oblivious to the employment market and putting their sole focus on their top candidate...even though #2 and #3 are also excellent!
My guest today is, Ryan Ayres. He may not be the patron saint of recruitment, but I can tell you first hand…he is a saint.
Having worked along side him for a full year, he had good, bad, horrific and glorious days. Regardless and whatever the mood of the office or the tone of the client, Ryan’s glass was never half full… Ryan’s glass always runneth over!
I remember his job interview with crystal clarity. I remember sitting there, listing to him and thinking, “Who is this serene fellow? Is he the offspring of Ram Das or is he a recent outcast from Rajneeshpuram??!! I could go on, but I think you get the point.
Ryan is literally and genuinely one of the most caring and passionate recruitment professionals out there. All he wants is “to do good work” and I for one believe him. Oh, did I mention he’s collected a few hilarious stories along the way??
But, don’t take it from me. Sit back, turn up the volume and take it from the man himself, Ryan Ayres!
Jesse rants about the sad resurgence of the ATS as a solution, the inability of recruiters to pivot during their search and the complete lack of strategy when taking on a new requisition!
Jesse has his sights set on the Hiring Manager and rants about the obstacles they create, but also a few tips on how to pull them back into line…for their own good!
In this super strong job market, Jesse rants about the grass not always being greener and to not chase the $$... to look for a few other things that will make your next move that much more rewarding
Jesse rants about the odd places a press release can end up and HR conferences that take more than they give!
Jesse rants about closing out candidates with closure and dignity, and how it's not happening near as much as it should!
Jesse rants an audio version of his latest LinkedIn article, "Candidate Experience - We Can Do So Much Better"
Before I announce my guest today, I need to tell you all that this podcast is two weeks late for delivery. My apologies. If I’m not sounding 100%, it’s because I’m coming off a two-week flu followed by a lovely little bout of tonsillitis. Silver linings…I’m down 10 lbs and I’ll take it!
Ok, back to the matter at hand! My guest today is the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Sara Cooper. I chose that completely fictitious word because if you know Sara there really are not enough awesome words to describe her.
I could go all “War & Peace” on how great she is and how well the episode turned out, but I think I’ll sum it up like this; later the night of the recording session, I was lying in bed trying to get to sleep and I was thinking about our conversation and crafting this bio in my mind. As I recounted portions of the conversation, I caught myself and thought “Wait, did we actually record that or did we talk about that during the break?!” The answer…nope, we recorded it and it’s really good, totally chill, brutally honest.
So, I’m going to shut up now and turn this over to the lovely and talented, Ms. Sara Cooper!
My guest today is, Jeff Lazenby - Senior Director, Client Services at Career Edge Organization, Canada’s largest provider of paid internships.
So, let’s get it out there…I was instrumental in Jeff getting that job. And, as Talent Acquisition professionals most of us have been fortunate to have matched a candidate with their “dream” job at some point in our career. Jeff is the one that stands out for me.
It’s my 19th year in the industry and I have never known anyone near as grateful as Jeff was. You see that perma-grin on his LinkedIn profile pic? I assure you, no one had to say, “cheese”! That’s Jeff steady state! This is one happy guy!
Jeff thanked me so many times I was close to being annoyed…as if this is the worst of my problems!
Jeff also happens to hold another distinction…he is the only guest that I have run not one, but two 5km races with. I technically beat him in the first one, but only because Jeff went off course and ran an extra 1.5 km’s, otherwise, he had me, just as he’ll have your attention for the next 30+ minutes.
Listen up folks for Jeff Lazenby!
My guest today is, Mortensen, but before I get into it I must make reparations. You see, in Shawn Park’s episode, I stated that I’d known Shawn as long as anyone in the industry and in writing this bio it dawned on me that, that isn’t exactly true. That honor belongs to Marlene!
I actually interviewed with Marlene in early 2005 when she ran Talent Acquisition for Best Buy. We really hit it off, but retail wasn’t the right move for me at that time.
Fast forward a decade plus, I’m astounded that Marlene is still the passionate, caring professional I met all of those years ago. Every time I see her, every time we speak she is completely dialed-in with her eye on the micro and the macro.
Marlene epitomizes “glass half full”. I’m not kidding. NEVER once have I seen Marlene not smiling and not able to find the silver lining in all that she does. Maybe I’ve just been really lucky…lucky to know Marlene Mortensen.
My guest today is, Ryan Atkinson, President of Direqlink, an on-demand recruitment platform that delivers top talent while saving employers time and money on their external recruitment costs.
Now you might say, “Jesse, how much did Ryan pay you to say that?!” and that would be fair, but the answer is zero. Ryan actually found me by pitching me…a testament to his 20+ years of business development in the recruitment industry.
During Ryan’s pitch it quickly became apparent that we were more competitive than collaborative, but as I’ve always said…there’s more enough out there for everyone. No need to be greedy! So, instead of partnering, I invited him on to The Accidental Occupation.
It was a give to Ryan, but it turned out to be a bigger take for me than I could have imagined! You see, with every episode I’m lucky if I get 1.5 good stories out of a guest. Let me tell you, Ryan used this episode like a sharp shooter uses a paper target that’s just a bit too close…BANG BANG BANG, bulls eye after bulls eye, one killer story after another. He started strong and never let his eye off of the prize!
I guess when you’ve been in Recruitment 20+ years, you’ve seen and heard a thing or two!
All that said and at the end of the day and as you will soon hear, Ryan cares deeply about this trade and those that he’s developed along the way.
I would suggest that his LinkedIn tag line says it all…Ryan is “Making Recruiting Better for everyone.”
My guest today is, Nigel Pena, whom I hereby name, The Unsung Hero of Corporate Recruitment. I’ll qualify that momentarily.
In addition to being unsung, he is reluctant. Don’t get me wrong, if you look for him, you will find him. But where you will not find him is blogging, sharing the newest recruitment tips and tricks on LinkedIn and god forbid at one of the “far-to-many” HR/Talent Acquisition meet-ups, summits and networking sessions.
It’s not that those activities are beneath him. It’s that he’s chosen to be a Ronin…a consummate master in his field that travels the road alone, serving those in need of his expertise with a level of passion and integrity that I haven’t seen well….ever.
While he doesn’t express it in an open forum (this podcast is a major exception), you can tell by listening to him that he is constantly thinking about it. “It” being, the candidate experience, his consultative approach with his clients and lastly, his disillusionment with the current state of the recruitment industry.
No wonder you can’t find him out there in the ether, preaching….he’s far too busy…practicing.
My guest today is, Valerie Khan. Valerie and I go back a good long while, let’s call it an even decade to be fair.
I’ve followed her career closely over the years because even on paper anyone can see it’s been far from dull. But as you will hear shortly and not to give too much away, Valerie is a bonafide trailer-blazer when it comes to talent acquisition.
I’m not talking about strategy or being at the forefront of using a particular tool or technology…not that those aspects aren’t great. I’m talking about travelling across oceans and showing up in Denmark, donning the title, “Nordic” Recruitment Manager and taking over Talent Acquisition for three, Kingdoms!
It almost sounds like something out of Game of Thrones, but let’s not be that dramatic. It wasn’t the wilderness of The North. There were no Wildlings, Nights Watch or Wall to protect, but it certainly was north and a bit of the Wild West when it came to recruitment.
To pack up your entire family and show up for Day 1 would have been a massive achievement for most. But leave it to Valerie to lean into the strike zone. Not only did she swing and not miss, Valerie smacked one into the upper deck, raising the bar from the floor to ceiling for her company and leaving a gold standard that other Scandinavian companies could only aspire to.
My guest today is, Maureen Carroll and the conversation you’re about to listen to was fantastic and there is some really great stuff in this episode but for me, this episode was so much more.
Our subscriber base is growing rapidly at this point and advertisers and sponsors are finding value in our listener demographic. But, what was even more satisfying is that Maureen absolutely solidified the format for this podcast.
Maureen came into the recording a very typical guest; a seasoned talent acquisition veteran, well respected and great at what she does. And like almost all of our guests before her, a little skeptical, apprehensive and perhaps down-right nervous.
But once again and as Maureen confirmed during the break, this format and these questions, compel the guest’s passion for what they do and drives it to their very surface.
As a listener don’t get to see it, but before we even get to the second question the guest is dialed in, engaged and on the edge of their seat, chomping at the bit to express themselves and be heard.
Don’t forget, in far too many circles, talent acquisition is still the red-headed stepchild to HR. We still fight that battle for credibility every day and when my guests are on the show, in an open, safe, kindred environment….their cups runneth over!
But back to Maureen…..to say she was a typical guest is not a generic or average statement in any way. It means Maureen was great and we’ve been very fortunate that to have great guests has become well, typical.
There’s one other great thing you will learn today about Maureen. She once second guessed her career path with a short stint in teaching and you know what they say; those that can do, those that can’t, teach. Well I can absolutely confirm that Maureen Carroll just dismantled, eviscerated and completely dismissed that cliché because, she can, she does, and she teaches…..the subject….Talent Acquisition.
Welcome to the podcast everyone! We took a good long break over the holidays, but due to listener demand, WE ARE BACK! And I knew that upon return we would need to bring you an episode that packs a real punch! So, have I got the ticket for you!
My guest today is, John Dawson and ladies and gentlemen the one thing I want to say is…I’ve finally met my match. The first time I was in a room with John, I left thinking, “Wow, there’s actually someone in Recruitment that talks faster than me!” and today’s episode is no exception!
While John is not a “functional” talent acquisition professional these days, he does have what I call, the very unique, “triple threat” pedigree; having cut his teeth with in traditional staffing, followed by a solid stint in corporate talent acquisition, only to come to understand who he really is, a salesman. And these days, a salesman extraordinaire and country lead for the hottest new recruitment solution in the Commonwealth…more on that later.
So, buckle up because between john and me, we suck 100% of the oxygen out of the recording studio for the next 30 minutes. It’s a fast and furious ride, with some great stories and belly laughs along the way.
My guest today is, Shawn Park. While I have valuable relationships with all of my previous guests, Shawn is different. He’s my brother from another mother, professionally speaking that is.
I’ve known Shawn as long as anyone in the industry and we have followed freakishly similar paths; having both moved to corporate from boutique staffing agencies that no one ever heard of.
That move was leading corporate recruitment for what was then, WarrenShepell for over 10 years combined.
Our next move(s), both of us onto public sector healthcare. All I’ll say is; I hope that move is going better for Shawn than it did for me!
I give Shawn a bit of a hard time in this episode (like a big brother should), but we’re by no means twins. Shawn has so much more that I admire. He’s poised, thoughtful and chooses his words with the elegance if his English “forefathers”. He’s never left anything even close to the way he found it.
He’s that next level kind of guy…
My guest today is, Perry Monaco. First off, I want to say that Perry obviously knows a good thing when he hears it, as he was one of The Accidental Occupations’ very first “followers”!
I appreciate that, but he also one of those guys I love to hate. Why? He’s one of those guys that looks like he just came off of 6 months on the Appalachian Trail, walked directly on stage to an audience of 1000’s wearing Chuck Taylor’s and a t-shirt, and yet still gets taken seriously. You know, that “eccentric genius” look.
In many of his speaking engagements, you’ll hear him talk about making a first impression and trust me…he makes a FIRST IMPRESSION, but in less than a few seconds you forget about his controversial corporate veneer and you start to listen to the passionate professional that he is.
While Perry hasn’t functionally recruited for a client (internal or external) for years, Talent Acquisition in oh so many different forms, is all Perry does. Educator, evangelist, mentor, leader…it’s all about the talent…how to either become the talent and/or attract it.
What I’m trying to say is, that Perry is a lot of things and I told you what I love to hate about him, but the genuine, fun, knowledgeable, gracious, self-deprecating and sincere story teller that he is, is what I love to love about Perry Monaco.
My guest today is, Dan Saul. The first thing I want to say is, settle in and BUCKLE UP! Dan brought his A-Game to The Accidental Occupation! He came into the session with his adrenaline on 10, but I’m partly responsible for that. You see, I gave Dan the wrong address, which put him up against the clock and had him literally sprinting into the session! Regardless, the result is outstanding and note to file; perhaps I should find other ways to make my guests late and flustered!
Enough of that…back to Dan. It wasn’t all stories and tales of yesteryear that Dan brought today, although those are great too! You can hear it in Dan’s tone and inflection. Listen to his passion and pentameter…he really loves what he does. And I’m not talking about his current or past employers or his normal day-to-day; I’m talking about his pure and unadulterated love for RECRUITMENT!
For the vast majority of us in this trade, it is and will likely always be, the accidental occupation. But for some, let’s call them, “the chosen few” like Dan…it’s not accidental. It’s not even an occupation…it's a calling.
My guest today is, Dorothy Wolentarski. Firstly, forgive Dorothy’s volume being low, that’s my fault. However, I would STRONGLY suggest you listen to what she has to say, and listen good!
Dorothy and I worked together briefly some 15 years ago. She was and still is a lovely person, but I never really got to see her practice her trade. With that said, I still haven’t but I know a pro when I hear one, as you will for the next 30 minutes.
When it comes to Talent Acquisition, Dorothy is a real “thinker”. She is NOT the type that takes over a desk, only to put fresh lipstick on a stack of old tools and templates and say, “Look what I did!”. Dorothy looks deep at the underlying issues effecting corporate recruitment today. Dorothy’s not raising the bar…she’s using the bar as a bat and smashing through the status quo, and like so many of my previous guests, affecting real change.
Lastly, Dorothy resonates with people. How do I know? Well just 3 days after we recorded this session, we happened to be at the same networking event and try as I might, I couldn’t get near her. The closest I got all night was a bit of feedback from a colleague of mine that did get a chance to speak to her and I quote “Man, Dorothy really knows her stuff.”
My guest today is, Dana Cioffi. Dana holds an early honor with the Accidental Occupation, in that she is my most blatantly passionate guest to date.
Dana’s talent acquisition journey began close to 20 years ago and has weaved its way in and out of some of Canada’s best known organizations. In each case and as you will hear, Dana has always done her very best to raise the bar and affect “real change”.
What I like best about Dana is that she’s quite modest if not a little self-deprecating. Case in point; she was a little concerned that she didn’t have chops to be a guest on the Accidental Occupation.
This makes me chuckle as I refer back to my opening statement and what she is about to make abundantly clear; Dana is my most blatantly passionate guest to date.
My guest today is, Chris Onorato. I’ve known Chris a long while. If you were to meet him for the first time, you might say to yourself, “This guy is way too laid back, he can’t possibly a top corporate recruiter?” Well, you’d be wrong. Very very wrong!
Not only is Chris one of the best in his class, as I’ll mention later on…he is the single best individual corporate recruiter I have ever met. This is of course a double edged sword for me. While I admire his skill, experience and ability…he rarely: wait, let me correct myself; Chris never has a need for my services. But that’s ok, I enjoy watching his career progression which I had a small hand in by placing him several years ago.
And now that he’s been a more than a gracious guest on the Accidental Occupation, you as a listener are about to get a glimpse of what I’ve known for years!
My guest today is, Trevor Rudd. I don’t know of another recruitment professional with whom I’ve had more business interaction throughout my career. We’ve worked together on literally dozens of highly successful projects.
Whenever a client had something new, my first question was always; “I hope I can get Trevor for this assignment” or “I really hope Trevor has the bandwidth for this one”.
Describing Trevor is easy, “CLIENT FACING”. And I don’t mean that he’s all swagger and good hair like he jumped out of the pages of GQ. Trevor is a great and caring professional that really knows his stuff and this instantly resonates with clients.
Let me be clear; If we were up against it, bases loaded, bottom on the ninth and up by only one run, my sign to the bullpen would mean only one thing; bring out the closer, the out the heat…bring me, Trevor Rudd.
Michael Lymer’s career path is one that screams humility, starting with an internship at the TTC. Stops along the way (no pun intended) include Enterprise Rent-a-car, Spherion and Adecco.
Fast forward 14 years, Mike is the Director of Client Services at IQ Partners and leads a successful practice that specializes in back-office legal support for some of Canada’s largest and most prominent law firms.
Mike is an embodiment of the Accidental Occupation given that he attained a Master’s Degrees in Education only to find his way into the recruitment industry.
With that said, Michael’s formal education has not gone to waste. I will tell you with great envy that, Mike is a well-known writer and blogger in his segment with articles that regularly receive views in the 10’s of thousands.
My guest today is Adam Cooper. Adam is a really nice guy and a very good Talent Acquisition professional and leader.
While many of us in the industry have a “reputation”, Adam has a genuine brand, that’s been developed through countless speaking engagements and many years of, “jobs well done”.
If you’re not just a bit curious already, did I tell you he bears a striking resemblance to Clark Kent? His team told me, he’s got a cape and they’ve seen it.
And one of my favorite things about Adam…in a world where no one seems to have the time to pick up the phone or respond to emails, Adam does.
I told you, Adam is a nice guy, but I assure you, he has no intentions of finishing last.
My guest today is, Bruce Powell. For the past 15 years, Bruce has led one of Canada’s foremost staffing agencies as Managing Partner at IQ Partners, a 40 person company with a particular focus on Senior Digital Sales and Marketing roles.
When Bruce enters a room, you just know it’s not going to be dull. With the swagger of a Madison Avenue Don Draper and the genuine curiosity of a forensic detective, Bruce is an expert listener and story teller.
He’s one of those guys that’s ALWAYS moving. This podcast is the longest I’ve seen him sit in months. While his office does have a chair, its collecting dust and you’ll never see him use it. Instead, you may catch him at his “standing desk”, smashing out emails in search of inspiration while gazing through his window that overlooks Toronto’s Union Station and the Royal York hotel.