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The Elite Recruiter Podcast

The Elite Recruiter Podcast

By: Benjamin Mena
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About this listen

The Elite Recruiter Podcast is where top recruiters go to get better.

Hosted by executive recruiter Benjamin Mena, this show dives deep into the stories, strategies, and mindsets of the most successful people in the industry — from $1M solo producers to 8-figure agency founders.

Each episode delivers real, tactical insights for high-performance recruiting:

  • How elite recruiters build and scale
  • Tools, tech stacks, and sourcing strategies
  • Daily habits and workflows that drive million-dollar desks
  • Lessons from failure, breakthrough wins, and mindset shifts
  • What the best are doing next — and how they’re changing the game

If you’re in agency recruiting, staffing, or executive search — this is your new secret weapon.

No fluff. No recycled advice. Just the unfiltered playbook of the top 1%.

🎧 Subscribe now — and start leveling up like an elite.

2024 Elite Recruiter Podcast Career Success Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Development Personal Finance Personal Success
Episodes
  • Why the Best Recruiters Don’t Chase Deals Anymore

    Why the Best Recruiters Don’t Chase Deals Anymore
    Jan 23 2026
    Most recruiters are stuck chasing clients, sending cold outreach, and grinding through business development just to stay afloat. In this episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, Benjamin Mena sits down with Pinnacle Society top biller Michael Silverstein to unpack why elite recruiters stop chasing deals and how they build inbound client demand through relationships, trust, and positioning. This conversation breaks down the mindset, strategy, and long-term business development approach that allows top recruiters to scale their desk, close more deals, and build a recruiting practice that compounds over time, without cold selling. 🎯 Sales & BD Recruiter Summit (Near the Top) If this episode resonates, go deeper at the 2026 Sales & BD Recruiter Summit, where elite billers share what’s actually working right now in recruiting sales and business development. 👉 Register here: https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/ Why This Episode Matters Recruiter burnout is rising—and traditional sales tactics aren’t working like they used to. This episode shows how top-performing recruiters replace outbound grind with inbound opportunity, improve close rates, and create predictable revenue in today’s relationship-driven recruiting market. What You’ll Learn Why chasing clients limits long-term recruiting revenueThe relationship-based business development strategy elite recruiters useHow to position yourself so clients seek you outThe biggest networking mistake recruiters make without realizing itHow trust and reputation outperform volume outreachThe mindset shift that separates high billers from average performersHow to build a recruiting practice that compounds year after year About the Guest Michael Silverstein is one of the highest-billing recruiters in the Pinnacle Society, known for building a scalable recruiting practice driven by trust, reputation, and long-term relationships rather than cold selling. Extended Value This episode isn’t about scripts or hacks. It’s about building a recruiting desk that attracts the right clients, creates inbound demand, and allows you to scale without burnout—even as the recruiting industry evolves with AI and changing buyer behavior. Listen Now If you want to close more deals, improve your business development strategy, and stop chasing clients, this episode is a must-listen. Press play and rethink how elite recruiters actually grow. Timestamp Highlights 00:00 Why elite recruiters stop chasing deals04:12 How deal-chasing quietly caps recruiting revenue09:30 Why relationship-based recruiting scales better14:45 The networking mistake hurting most recruiters19:10 What truly creates inbound client demand25:40 How trust compounds into long-term deal flow31:05 Reputation as a recruiting growth moat36:20 The mindset shift behind elite performance41:55 Positioning yourself as the obvious choice47:10 Building a recruiting business that lasts Sponsors 🚀 Atlas – AI-first ATS & CRM Automates admin, syncs resumes and emails, and uses AI to build polished recruiter profiles and reports. Try it free or book a demo → https://recruitwithatlas.com Community + Resources 🎯 2026 Sales & BD Recruiter Summit https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/ 💼 Elite Recruiter Community (All summits, replays, Billers Club + Split Space) https://elite-recruiters.circle.so/checkout/elite-recruiter-community Tools & Links Pin (Free Trial): https://www.pin.com/ Email List: https://eliterecruiterpodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube: https://youtu.be/qIY9aj5OJ5g Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsilverstein123/ Host: Benjamin Mena Website: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/
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    58 mins
  • 5 Overlooked Ways Recruiters Get More Clients Fast

    5 Overlooked Ways Recruiters Get More Clients Fast
    Jan 21 2026
    1. Episode Hook Recruiters don’t have a talent problem right now. They have a client acquisition problem—and most are fixing it the wrong way. 2. Why This Episode Matters The last 18–24 months forced recruiters back into real business development. In this episode, Sharon Bondurant breaks down the simple, overlooked strategies that consistently win clients—even in tough markets—without burning out or hiding behind tools. If you want more job orders, more control, and more predictable revenue in 2025 and beyond, this episode is required listening. 3. What You’ll Learn The “Bullseye Strategy” for finding clients closest to the money (without cold-call paralysis)Why most recruiters start BD in the worst possible place—and how to flip itHow to turn everyday recruiting activity into new job orders using “Rabbit Hole Recruiting”The missed-placement audit that can uncover hidden $20K–$30K fees you’re already owedWhen automation actually helps BD—and when it silently kills dealsThe mindset shift that can double your income without doubling your hoursHow consistency beats elite sales skills every time in modern recruiting 4. About the Guest Sharon Bondurant is a 30-year recruiting veteran, founder of The Finders, Inc. 5000 alum, and creator of a modern brokerage model for elite recruiters. Her firm has generated $45M+ in revenue and placed over 5,300 professionals. 5. Extended Value Tease After this episode, business development stops feeling random and exhausting. You’ll know exactly who to call, what to focus on, and how to create momentum fast—using assets and relationships you already have. This isn’t hype. It’s repeatable, proven recruiting strategy from someone who’s seen every market cycle. 6. Listen Now CTA If you want more clients, cleaner BD, and a smarter way to grow in 2026—press play now. 7. Timestamp Highlights 00:03 – Why BD feels harder now (and what’s actually changed)05:30 – The mindset prerequisite most recruiters skip10:45 – How BD can literally double your income21:10 – The Bullseye Strategy explained27:15 – Why cold calling strangers first kills momentum29:00 – Rabbit Hole Recruiting in action35:20 – The missed placement audit most firms never run39:10 – When to automate—and when not to42:00 – Why consistency beats sales talent45:30 – Final advice for winning in 2026 8. Sponsors 🚀 Atlas – AI-first ATS & CRM Automates admin, syncs resumes/emails, and uses AI to build polished profiles and reports. Try it free or book a demo → https://recruitwithatlas.com 9. Summit + Community 🎯 2026 Sales and BD Recruiter Summit https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/ 💼 Join the Elite Recruiter Community (All summits, replays, Billers Club + split space) https://elite-recruiters.circle.so/checkout/elite-recruiter-community 10. Tools & Links Free Trial: Pin → https://www.pin.com/ Signup for emails → https://eliterecruiterpodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube: https://youtu.be/l1WR9UFoYmg Follow Guest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonbondurant/ Host Benjamin Mena → http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ If business development has felt heavier lately, this episode shows you how to make it lighter—and far more profitable.
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    49 mins
  • How She Built a $1M Recruiting Firm in 23 Months (Sales + CEO Mindset)

    How She Built a $1M Recruiting Firm in 23 Months (Sales + CEO Mindset)
    Jan 19 2026
    1. Episode Hook She was laid off five weeks postpartum… 23 months later, she crossed $1M in revenue building a recruiting firm her way. 2. Why This Episode Matters Most recruiters are grinding harder every year and getting less predictable results. This episode breaks that pattern—showing how to build revenue, clients, and freedom without burning out or chasing every shiny tactic. If you want to close more deals, build a durable pipeline, and think like a true agency CEO, this conversation is required listening. 3. What You’ll Learn The warm-lead strategy Julia used to land her first clients—without cold pitching or spammy outreachHow her LinkedIn content system turns posts into inbound sales conversationsThe exact Dripify + LinkedIn voice note combo driving response rates most recruiters never seeWhy only 3% of buyers are ready now—and how to stay top-of-mind until they areThe CEO mindset shift that allowed her to scale revenue while working ~30 hours a weekHow to balance sales execution + personal boundaries without stalling growthThe hidden reason most recruiters fail when they “know the tactics” but still don’t scale 4. About the Guest Julia Arpag is the Founder & CEO of Aligned Recruitment. In under two years, she built a seven-figure recruiting business, scaled a full internal team, and now coaches founders on sales, mindset, and sustainable growth—all as a first-time agency owner. 5. Extended Value Tease Imagine running your desk knowing exactly where your next clients are coming from. Your outreach feels natural, your content works for you, and sales no longer depend on motivation or hustle cycles. This episode isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things consistently, with clarity and confidence. The payoff isn’t just revenue—it’s control, leverage, and longevity in your recruiting career. 6. Listen Now CTA 🎧 Press play and learn how to build a recruiting firm that scales revenue and life—starting now. 7. Timestamp Highlights 00:02 – From zero to $1M: Julia’s origin story00:07 – Why warm leads outperform cold outreach00:10 – The LinkedIn post that triggered a client call00:12 – Reach vs. conversion content (and why you need both)00:16 – Dripify stats that shocked even seasoned recruiters00:18 – How LinkedIn voice notes actually convert00:20 – Daily KPI targets for sustainable sales execution00:22 – Why tactics fail without the right mindset00:24 – Affirmations, coaching, and mental conditioning00:27 – Physical routines that protect performance00:30 – Working 30 hours/week without stalling growth00:33 – Boundaries, burnout, and long-term leadership00:35 – Knowing your “why” as a recruiting founder 8. Sponsors 🚀 Atlas – AI-first ATS & CRM Automates admin, syncs resumes/emails, and uses AI to build polished profiles and reports. Try it free or book a demo → https://recruitwithatlas.com 9. Summit + Community 🎯 2026 Sales and BD Recruiter Summit https://bd-sales-recruiter-2026.heysummit.com/ 💼 Join the Elite Recruiter Community (All summits, replays, Billers Club + split space) https://elite-recruiters.circle.so/checkout/elite-recruiter-community 10. Tools & Links Free Trial: PeopleGPT → https://juicebox.ai/?via=b6912d Free Trial: Talin AI → https://app.talin.ai/signup?via=recruiter Free Trial: Pin → https://www.pin.com/ Signup for emails → https://eliterecruiterpodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Vl-isbZ_k8 Follow Guest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-arpag/ Host Benjamin Mena: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/ Benjamin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/ 🔥 If you’re serious about recruiter training, business development, sales skills, and scaling a recruiting firm in the AI era—this episode belongs in your queue.
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    38 mins
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