Recruiting for a market leader is easy mode.

Recruiting for an underdog in a commoditized space where reps are basically “carrying feathers to a gunfight”?

That’s where you need a skilled recruiter.

In the newest episode of Recruiter Wins, I sat down with Steve Faulkner, a 23 year employee benefits recruiting vet, to unpack his biggest win.

What I loved about this conversation: Steve gets candid about the fine line between storytelling and deception.

He’s not trying to “put a butt in a seat”. He’s trying to make placements that stick so everyone wins long-term.

A few takeaways you’ll be thinking about after:

• How to position a “flawed” opportunity honestly without sugarcoating it
• Why some roles require candidates who can sell themselves as much as the company
• Why personal brand beats product when the market sees everything as a commodity

If you recruit in a niche market, work tough searches or ever have to sell an opportunity that isn’t perfect, this one’s a solid listen.

Many recruiters try to win business with a cold InMail and then wonder why nothing sticks.

This week on Recruiter Wins, I sat down with Ben Watkins (Executive Recruiter at Intrinsic Search) to discuss how his “biggest win” started by hosting paid, high-quality in-person events for senior B2B SaaS leaders.

A conversation at one of those events turned into a multi-year partnership helping a CEO build an entire European commercial team from scratch.

A few moments worth stealing for your own desk:

• How paid events drive high attendance and attract the right crowd
• How to turn a vague hiring idea into a real recruitment strategy (role clarity + a sellable story + timeline)
• The underrated power of locking in interview dates early to create momentum and commitment
• Ben’s simple way to cut through candidate noise: a 2-minute pitch video + instant calendar booking
• What makes Germany uniquely tough for startup hiring — and how to de-risk the pitch for A-players

If you recruit in SaaS, build client relationships or you’re trying to stand out in a sea of “vanilla outreach”, this episode is a playbook.

Listen to the latest episode of Recruiter Wins with Ben Watkins.

Some placements happen fast.

The best ones happen because you played the long game.

On the newest episode of Recruiter Wins, I sat down with Lindsey Bozzio (COO, SurfSearch) to unpack a recruiting win that every recruiter will recognize:

• Found the perfect Design / Product Development Engineer
• Candidate wasn’t ready to move
• The client paused the search
• Four weeks after restarting? Offer in hand

A few takeaways from this episode:

• Know your client deeply (culture + what “great” actually looks like) so you can spot the right person instantly.
• Keep A-players warm without being transactional. Conduct real check-ins with genuine curiosity.
• AI can help you track info but it can’t replace trust. Lindsey tested automated touchpoints and saw the same thing many of us have: if it doesn’t feel human, it doesn’t get replies.

If you’ve ever had a search go on hold, a candidate say “not right now,” or a deal come down to timing, this one’s for you.

Listen to Recruiter Wins with Lindsey Bozzio wherever you get your podcasts.