March 18, 2025

EP.21 - The Reality of Recruiting & Hiring with James Hornick

EP.21 - The Reality of Recruiting & Hiring with James Hornick

In this episode of Retained Trust, host Karl Hughes sits down with James Hornick, Chief Growth Officer at Hirewell, to talk about hiring trends, employer prestige, and why LinkedIn feels like a necessary evil. James shares his journey from tech recruiting to becoming a partner at Hirewell, and why diversification in recruiting is key to surviving economic downturns. They discuss why employer prestige is often overrated, how global hiring is changing the job market, and what really moves the needle for employees today. James also dives into the importance of content-driven marketing in recruiting, the impact of AI and offshoring, and why some companies struggle to attract top talent. Plus, James talks about his passion for writing fiction and how storytelling plays into his work.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Karl introduces the show and today’s guest, James Hornick.

[00:00:44] James explains his sarcastic approach to LinkedIn and why most posts feel too serious.

[00:02:47] How LinkedIn played a key role in Hirewell’s internal hiring success.

[00:06:03] What makes Hirewell different in the recruiting industry.

[00:09:06] Why the best recruiters help companies adjust unrealistic hiring expectations.

[00:12:59] The biggest hiring trends today: flexibility, compensation, and job security.

[00:16:21] Why employer prestige is often misunderstood by business leaders.

[00:20:49] How global hiring and cultural shifts are changing the job market.

[00:26:12] The long-term value of content-driven marketing in recruiting.

[00:31:06] Surviving economic downturns: how Hirewell diversified to stay resilient.

[00:39:44] The impact of AI and offshoring on the hiring market.

[00:45:12] How different cultures approach sales and recruiting.

[00:50:53] James’ passion for writing fiction and how storytelling fits into his career.

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