In this provocative episode of 'Looks Good on Paper,' hosts Woody and Anita explore the demise of the traditional job advertisement with Christine Spagnuolo, founder of The Sorelle Group and a veteran headhunter with 18 years of experience. Christine boldly declares job ads a "waste of time" and "outdated, broken system," explaining why she hasn't posted one in over a decade.

Christine dismantles the "post and pray" approach, revealing how it creates fatigue for both employers and candidates, especially in today's world where AI generates both job descriptions and applications. She argues that truly exceptional talent isn't browsing job boards - they must be directly pursued. The conversation delves into why internal recruitment teams struggle compared to agency headhunters, and makes a compelling case for commission-based incentives in corporate recruiting.

The discussion exposes hidden biases in hiring processes, with Christine sharing memorable career stories - including placing identical twins without interviews and seeing her first-ever placement climb to department head at Ferrero Rocher. The episode concludes with Christine's forward-thinking perspective that relationships and personal endorsements are already replacing CVs in progressive industries, particularly in tech startups where her recommendations alone secure interviews without traditional resumes.

Resources Mentioned

• Christine Spagnuolo: linkedin.com/in/christinespagnuolo - Senior recruitment consultant with 10+ years experience helping companies focus on skills and potential rather than traditional CVs.
• The Sorelle Group: thesorellegroup.com - Boutique recruitment consultancy specializing in relationship-based talent sourcing across North America, the Caribbean, and Hong Kong.

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

We sit down with Martin Hauck, a fractional HR consultant at the Purple Umbrella and the founder of the People People Group, a community of 5,000+ HR, recruitment, and operations professionals across North America. Martin brings his extensive experience in reimagining recruitment processes and building supportive HR communities.

In this episode, we explore why traditional hiring practices often fail and how companies can make meaningful improvements to their recruitment strategies. Martin shares insights on why companies keep making the same hiring mistakes even when they clearly aren't working, and how inherited bad habits perpetuate throughout organizations.

We discuss the critical importance of auditing and modernizing hiring approaches, the hidden biases that even progressive companies unknowingly harbor, and the revolutionary concept of treating candidates as customers. Martin highlights the Virgin Media case study, where poor candidate experience cost the company millions annually, and shares practical strategies for creating more thoughtful, structured, and candidate-centered recruitment processes that pay dividends in the long term.

Resources Mentioned

• Virgin Media Case Study: How poor candidate experience cost Virgin Media £4.4 million ($5.4 million) annually and the steps they took to turn it around.

Connect with Martin Hauck

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/martinhauck
• Podcast: From A People Perspective - Martin's podcast about fascinating professionals in HR and recruitment
• Community: The People People Group - A 5,000+ member community for HR, recruitment, and operations professionals
• Company: Purple Umbrella - A fractional HR and recruitment consultancy

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

We sit down with Theo Smith, celebrated recruiter and co-founder of Neurodiversity World, a company that helps clients create inclusive and thriving neuro inclusive work environments. Theo is also an award-winning author of Neurodiversity at Work, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and a podcast host of Neurodiversity with Theo Smith, where he share lived experiences and expertise on neurodiversity.

In this episode, we deep dive into how recruiters and talent leaders can help create a better process for those who are facing challenges, how to use AI to support the hiring process (especially for those who are neurodivergent) and what happens when you really understand a hire and set them up for success.

We discuss the common pitfalls in traditional hiring processes, emphasizing the importance of focusing on skills, potential, and real-world experience over 'perfect' CVs. Theo highlights the desperate measures candidates resort to and the critical need for companies to provide opportunities that showcase true abilities. We also delve into hidden biases in seemingly progressive hiring practices and the importance of effective onboarding. The discussion wraps up with advice on using AI responsibly in recruitment. Tune in to challenge conventional hiring norms and gain insights into creating a more inclusive and effective recruiting process.

Resources Mentioned

Theo Smith's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theosmithuk

Theo's Book "Neurodiversity at Work": https://www.amazon.com/Neurodiversity-Work-Performance-Productivity-Neurodiverse/dp/1398600261

Theo's GPT Ad Decoder: https://www.neuromine.co.uk/job-ad-decoder

Goblin Tools: https://goblin.tools

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

Welcome to Looks Good on Paper! The podcast that’s flipping the script on traditional hiring.

Join us, @Anita Chauhan and @Andrew Wood we explore, prod and encourage a deeper look into current hiring (and learn from the greats along the way!). In this introductory episode, we set the stage for the podcast's aim to explore alternative, more effective hiring methods by interviewing industry experts. Our goal is to emphasize the need to focus on skills, potential, real-world experience, and adaptability over conventional metrics. Tune in to learn how organizations can move away from outdated hiring models and create a more holistic approach to recruitment.

In each episode, we dive into why CVs and the so-called ‘perfect candidate’ can be misleading. We’ll be speaking with industry experts to uncover how skills, potential, and real-world experience should be the focus when making hiring decisions. We’re here to challenge the norm and rewrite the rules of hiring.

Make sure to subscribe below!

Show Resources

CV Free Toolkit: Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments: https://www.cvfree.me/join

Willo: The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time: https://www.willo.video

Andrew Wood's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood/

Anita Chauhan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro

00:35 The Problem with Traditional Hiring Practices

03:33 Core Issues with CVs

06:38 What to Expect from Future Episodes

08:51 Outro

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

In this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast, I am joined by Artimese Braddy Lawrence, Coordinator of Human Resources at Tyler ISD, the largest school district in Northeast Texas.

Artimese discusses the broad range of recruitment responsibilities in the school district, from hiring teachers to custodial staff and bus drivers. Within the educational sector there are some unique challenges, including finding quality candidates who are genuinely interested in working with children.

We explore strategies for attracting potential candidates, such as utilizing social media, incentives, community partnerships, and emphasizing the district's family-oriented environment. Additionally, the conversation touches on the role of technology, specifically AI, in the recruitment process and the importance of maintaining human elements in human resources. Her advice to candidates was to research the company that you are applying to and to not hide your personality in your interviews.

Watch on YouTube

RESOURCES:

► Willo: Video Interview Screening Software
► Andrew Wood, COO & Co-founder at Willo
► Tyler ISD: Largest School District in Northeast Texas
► Artimese Braddy Lawrence, Coordinator of Human Resources at Tyler ISD

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

In this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast, I am joined by Joe Atkinson, Founder at PURPL, a peer-to-peer learning platform built by talent acquisition for talent acquisition professionals. They specialize in upskilling recruiters with practical, time-efficient & industry relevant training.

The episode delves into Joe's journey from his passion for startups to identifying a gap in professional training for recruiters. PURPL emerges as a solution, offering a platform for recruiters to upskill by learning from top professionals in the tech world. Joe shares insights on the challenges in talent acquisition, the lack of data literacy, and stakeholder management. The discussion also covers how PURPL sources its creators, their motivations, and the unique approach to content authenticity and learnability.

In facing economic downturns with massive tech layoffs, PURPL began assisting displaced professionals by offering free trainings to enhance their employability for their next role. Looking ahead, Joe outlines plans to engage a broader segment of the recruitment industry, emphasizing the importance of fundamental skills. The episode concludes with valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and recruiters.

Watch on YouTube

RESOURCES:

► Willo: Video Interview Screening Software
► Andrew Wood, COO & Co-founder at Willo
► PURPL: Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform for Talent Acquisition
► Joe Atkinson, Founder at PURPL

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

In this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast, I am joined by Robert Garner, Director at Abstraction Labs, a recruitment website design & development firm. We discuss his transition from a career in recruitment to becoming a software developer and eventually starting his own web design business.

Robert shares his diverse experiences, from selling recruitment advertising and working in media recruitment to launching a job board and moving into talent acquisition and software development, focusing on recruitment CRM systems. He delves into the challenges he faced early on trying to launch his own software platform, the pivotal role of self-teaching and online learning resources in his career shift, and gives advice for effective cold calling.

Robert also provides insights into the current state of the recruitment market, the importance of business development, and utilizing AI and automation. Additionally, he offers valuable advice for recruitment agencies on improving their websites, emphasizing the use of 3 easy things you can do today to assess your website:

1. Perform the Google Lighthouse performance test
2. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness of your pages
3. Incorporate high quality Images and Videos

Watch on YouTube

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
► Willo: Video Interview Screening Software
► Andrew Wood, COO & Co-founder at Willo
► Abstraction Labs: Recruitment Website Design & Development
► Robert Garner, Managing Director at Abstraction Labs
► The Challenger Sale, a book about taking control of the customer conversation
► The Jelly Effect, a book about how to make your communication stick

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

In this episode of the Recruitment Reality Podcast, I am joined by Ahva Sadeghi, CEO/Co-founder at Symba, an innovative onboarding and talent management platform. She highlights how Symba has grown from its initial conception of remote internships to focusing on new hire readiness in order to allow individuals to be productive from day one.

She shares insights into the challenges faced during the initial years of launching her startup and how customer feedback played a crucial role in expanding the product's capabilities. Ahva emphasizes the importance of forming a strong team, providing a great onboarding experience, the impacts of a company's culture on its growth, and the need to constantly learn and adapt.

Avha’s first piece of advice for listeners was that when receiving feedback, you should only implement wisdom that resonates with you from people you respect. She also shared advice that one of her mentors gave her, which was that you should make sure that everyone that comes into contact with your company is better off because of it.

Watch on YouTube

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Willo: Video Interview Screening Software https://www.willo.video
• Andrew Wood, COO & Co-founder at Willo https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
• Symba: The Go-To Platform for New Hire Readiness https://symba.io
• Ahva Sadeghi, CEO & Co-founder at Symba https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahvasadeghi

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan