The Mike Ames Recruitment Show

First day of the month and you already know your base level revenues for the month. That's because you have a contract desk. Curious on how to build one? The benefits are obvious: - ♦️ Fewer revenue peaks and troughs ♦️ Predictable revenue streams ♦️ More leads into your business (from the contractors) ♦️ Unlike perm candidates you can reuse contractors ♦️ Makes your business more attractive to a potential buyer Many people are put off because they think it's too hard or too risky to set up a contracts desk. Others just need a place to start. A third group believe that contract and perm recruitment are pretty much the same (they are sooo NOT). Well, no matter which of those apply to you we can help you become better informed in the next hashtag#MARShow. We'll be giving you a clear step-by-step guide to setting up a contract desk for your business. As usual, this is a live event so you are free to ask questions as we go. My background is contracting and I just cannot understand why everybody doesn't create a contracts desk. Why not join us and find out what to do next. Your bank balance and peace of mind will thank you!

When used properly you can win clients directly from your Podcast and we're going to show you exactly how in this episode of the MARShow. The big myth about podcasts is that you start recording them, become the new Joe Rogan and the clients fall into your lap. Not going to happen. Our guest is search firm owner and podcaster Natasha Klymczuk. Just months after launching her podcast, Natasha has already won numerous retained deals all stemming from her podcast. On this episode, she'll reveal exactly how she does it. We'll unpack: - ✅ How to attract high‑quality guests from industry giants to rising leaders. ✅ What topics spark engagement and position you as a trusted expert. ✅ The subtle art of turning a guest into a client without being salesy, awkward, or pushy. ✅ The process behind the scenes: preparation, structure, comms, and the guest experience that sets you apart. ✅ The process she uses to turn a recoding into a podcast Whether you're thinking of launching a podcast, already host one, or just want a smarter way to build warm BD conversations, this is the episode you can't afford to miss. 

Join us for a high‑energy and practical edition of the #MARShow with industry innovator Nitin Sharma, where we reveal how AI is transforming recruitment marketing and business development right now. If you're still relying on old‑school BD and generic marketing, this session will blow the doors off what you thought was possible. We'll explore how leading recruiters turn everyday conversations, note‑taker transcripts, and client chats into white papers, insight reports, podcasts, and short‑form content that positions them as a thought-leader. It's also a great way to bypass gatekeepers and reach those hard-to-reach decision makers. No big budgets. No hours spent grinding out content. No outsourced agencies. Just smart use of AI and the willingness to be ahead of the pack. Together we'll cover: - ♦️ How top recruiters leverage common AI tools for instant marketing impact ♦️ How to create Gartner‑style insight reports from the data you already have ♦️ How to turn calls into content that opens doors with dream clients ♦️ Why only 5% of firms do this and how you can join the club and leapfrog the rest If you're serious about standing out, winning more business, and doing it smarter, not harder just click the ATTENDS button and we'll see you there.

Growing a big rec firm is hard and risky. Staying solo is lonely and limits income. But there's a third way that also makes you wealthy. So what is that third alternative? A safe, highly profitable recruitment business that doesn't rely on you doing delivery, if you don't want to. It's called a Profit–Lifestyle–Wealth (PLW) business, and it's the focus of our next hashtag#MARShow. A PLW recruitment firm still places people, just like any other agency. The difference is how it's structured and managed. The goal is to protect the business, maximise profits, and intentionally move you out of delivery—without building a large, stressful firm. In this show, you'll learn:- ✅ How to significantly increase profits without increasing costs ✅ How to build a small, stable and productive virtual team ✅ How to remove yourself from delivery ✅ What your new role should be, once time is freed up ✅ How to confidently size your endgame team ✅ How to build real wealth without selling your business (which rarely happens) This show is ideal if you're tired of doing everything yourself—but have zero desire to build a large recruitment firm. It's about creating a profitable and stress-free life, then retiring in comfort.

The recruitment sector is splitting in two and when this happens, the middle often disappears. Time to choose your side before the market chooses for you! On one side we see a deeply transactional approach: scrape for vacancies, scrape for candidates, repeat and hope something sticks. It's all about speed, volume, automation, tech and of course, AIs. But on the other side, you have something very different: - ✅ Deep understanding of a niche ✅ Genuine advisory capability ✅ Trusting relationships built over years ✅ Emotional intelligence when stakes are high ✅ Consultancy, not commodity supply ✅ An absolute obsession with quality and high service levels. Sure, this faction uses AI to amplify their abilities but it's not at the core of what they are. They use specific AI agents to make them more efficient at those things listed above. In this episode of the #MARShow we'll be welcoming Ed Blogg as our guest. As the CEO of RecruitHub he's seeing the market shift first hand. I firmly believe that that second lane is where recruiters need to be to thrive in the New World. And that is exactly what we'll be discussing. A clear direction PLUS plenty of practical steps you can take to make sure you prosper in 2026 and beyond. This is happening, better to be on the front foot than late to the party.

I don't know about you, but I like to start the year with some quick wins. Small, cost-free changes that will make a big impact on profitability. So that's what we're going to do in the last MARShow of the year. We will be looking at what's working right now and bringing four things you can do to improve your productivity, to your attention. We'll have several tips (example in brackets below) for each of the following: - ✅ Delivery – where you make the placements (One way to make more revenue from your existing team) ✅ Sales & marketing – where you attract the best prospects and convert them into clients (One way to speak with high-value decision makers who you normally can't reach) ✅ Client Care – where you max out your revenues and keep the competition at bay (How to find out your real USPs in just a few minutes) ✅ The Team – the people who actually do the work. (When you can safely hire a new member of the team) We want to make it easy for you to make the changes we suggest and see a benefit, fast. No special skills, no deep experience and no fancy tools or training required. Right now, we have more than four things share so who knows, maybe we'll sneak in a bonus tip too.

Let's face it. These days recruitment tech is overwhelming. What should you have and what should you do with it? Well, in the next hashtag#MARShow we aim to fix this. We have Rob Green 🚀 the founder and CEO of Rectec coming on the show. Rob helps recruitment firms select the right software for them and so knows more about rec tech than most of us! As usual, it's live and interactive so you can ask what you like but here are the topics we plan to cover: - ✅ The core systems every recruitment business should have in place. ✅ Where the add-ons, automations, and AI tools fit in and which ones deliver tangible value. ✅ How to approach tech buying more strategically, so you're not just adding noise or chasing the latest trend. Rob is adamant that people should NOT see a shiny piece of tech and buy it. There lies misery and disappointment. But rather intentionally buy your tech so that it actually benefits your business and gives a good ROI. Wouldn't that be nice. You should attend this live stream if you: - 1️⃣ Are overwhelmed or confused about which tech you need and seek clarity 2️⃣ Want to make sure you get the right tech for your business. 3️⃣ Would like to know what's new out there and worth looking at. Technology is meant to give us an edge and make us more efficient. Let's make sure it does.

In the AI world the ability to build strong business relationships is becoming a necessity because the machines can't do it. This edition of the #MARShow is NOT about AI but let me make a point. We know that there is an overwhelming surge in auto-outreach. You can even get an AI that will create LinkedIn comments on your behalf! If you have the time and the money you can go all in on AI. But most of us have neither. So, leaning into real, human relationships is our last line of defence. Now I'm not saying we should ignore AI, far from it. But I do believe we should be using it to do the things AI can't do and that is build strong business relationships with people who matter to you. So, in this edition of the show, we're going old-school. 5 things you can do to create more and stronger business relationships. I'm going to make them practical and "out of the box" so no deep skills and experience needed. If you apply them, you will be better at building relationships and more of those will turn into revenue. In the end, that's what it's all about, right? In a world of noise, strong relationships speak louder.

It's rare to come across a recruitment company owner who has achieved what many want but few can realise. Our next guest on the hashtag#MARShow has done just that. Charles Magill has built a virtual business that is so successful it means he's never short of work and has clients who keep coming back for more. Plus, his existing clients are the biggest source of new clients! In this revealing interview we're going to explore the following: - ✅ Why he is so successful ✅ The power of his network and how he built it ✅ The secret to effective market mapping ✅ His client care regime (which I know is outstanding) ✅ Why he will except nothing less than exceptional delivery ✅ How he successfully manages a virtual team. ✅ And how he has expanded the range of services he now provides to his clients. BTW Charlie lives in Spain, so all of this is achieved by balancing virtual interactions with in-person meetings. It really is a fascinating story with plenty of take-aways and genuine insights. Have you ever considered moving abroad but still working in the UK?

Personal branding is a big topic at the moment. But how do you build a strong PB yourself? And, how can you use it in business? Well, our next #MARShow is all about personal branding. We're lucky to have as our guest, Andrew MacAskill who really understands personal branding for recruiters. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice with 109k followers, so I think we can safely assume he knows a bit about building PBs! Together we'll be answering the following questions: - ✅ What is personal branding? ✅ Why don't people commit to building a strong PB? ✅ How can recruiters' profit from a strong personal brand? ✅ How do you represent a personal brand? ✅ What do recruiters need to do to build a personal brand?  ✅ What are the common mistakes people make when building their brand? I have always believed that a strong personal brand will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you when trying to attract clients, employees or candidates. As it turns out, Andrew agrees with me. Added to that, it's not as difficult as you may think. So, join us and find out how you can boost your own PB. 

When you start a rec firm you hope for a flying start. Lots of new high-value clients and a big revenue stream. Most don't manage it, these guys did. Camp Jennings and his business partner Scott Smith started Henry North in January 2025. They are tracking $800k to $1m in fees for their first year, from a team of four. ⭐ The amazing part is – Scott was a recruitment newbie and Camp had a couple of years' experience gained 10 years ago! ⭐ In this episode of the hashtag#MARShow, Camp will be explaining exactly how they did this. But he's also going to share some of the bear-traps they fell into and the attractive cul-de-sacs that slowed them down. Most of their problems stemmed from ignoring client red-flags and struggling to define their processes as they developed. Camp is also going to share the activities and decisions that contributed to their outstanding success story. Such things as: - ✅ The importance of a well-defined niche (and how you choose one). ✅ The benefits of having (the right) business relationships ✅ Why having a partner with the same commitment and values is a gamechanger. ✅ How they get their vacancies and find their candidates. ✅ What makes them stand out to their clients and prospects. 

Without a doubt the hardest part of winning new clients is speaking to well protected decision makers (who don't want to speak with you). That's why Kirsty and I will be featuring it as our next topic on the hashtag#MARShow. We're going to start at the beginning by looking at the obstacles in your way – and there are plenty of these. Then we're going to show you three and half practical approaches to start that first conversation. These are proven and professional tactics I, and others, have used successfully for years. They'll draw on the very latest tools around but rely on desires that are as old as human beings. ❌ You don't need any fancy tech. ❌ You don't need to be an AI expert (we don't use it). ❌ You don't need to be one of those annoying people who are as confident AF. ✅ You just need to follow a process and be prepared to put a little time in perfecting your use of it. ADDED BONUS: I'm also going to give you a high-level framework for when you get thru and have that all important "first call". 

In simple terms the more you can automate the more you can get done in your business for less cost. In turn this will make you more efficient and more profitable (you'll probably need less staff too). With the explosion of AI products this has never been easier but there's a problem – too much choice! With so many products and options available you're probably asking yourself: what can I automate and what can I use to do so? Well, Dualta Doherty is the first guest in our new series of the MARShow and can answer both questions. This is what we'll be discussing: - ✅ As a recruiter, what should I be automating? ✅ What tools can I use to do this? ✅ What are the beartraps I can fall into (and how can I avoid them)? ✅ What should I do first. This episode of the show is a must-see if you're looking for some clarity on how you can make tech work harder for you. Is "automate or die" too strong? Probably, but it's along the right lines, I think.

Most recruiters want to stand apart from their competitors. Give their clients a positive reason to choose them. This is how anybody can do that. The good news is, it's free, it's quick to implement and no special skills are needed. All you need do is ask your clients what they really think of your people and your service. "Is that it? " I hear you cry, "you got me all excited just for that?". I promise it's not what you think – it's soooo much more. Our guest is Gemma Sleight, Group Marketing Director for FMC Talent. We're going to be exploring VOTC, a powerful way to strengthen relationships and lift revenue by getting feedback. Honestly folks, 'Voice Of The Customer' is not what you think it is. Together we'll be discussing: - ✅ What is VOTC ✅ What are the significant benefits of a VOTC programme ✅ The steps to run a VOTC Programme and who does it ✅ What you do with the feedback ✅ How you can also use it to help you win more sales pitches So, if you want to stand out, boost service levels and send a strong message out to the market, why not join us.

Account management on its own is definitely NOT client care. It's a part of it, but not the most important part. Great client care needs other ingredients. If you want to max out your client revenues and keep your competition at bay, you need an Apex Client Care system. It's where the BIG MONEY is and why some companies keep growing whilst others falter. Let's look at all four parts of such a client care system. ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Getting vacancies, placing candidates and an escalation point for problems. DELIVERY How good you are at finding and vetting great candidates and placing them in an efficient and convenient way is a big part of client care. 'Average' is not good enough anymore. QUALITY Finding out what your clients really think about your people and the service they provide and then having a system to process the results. Called Voice of the Customer (VOTC) – so important we have a whole show on it next time. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT Building personal relationships with your key client stakeholders. Moving them from the 'client zone' to the 'friend zone'. Absolutely crucial.

Two things: we all need to find candidates and most of us use AI. But how can we bring the two together: use AI to find better candidates? This is the theme of our next MARShow, and we are delighted to welcome Vanessa Raath 🌍👩🏼‍🏫 onto the show to enlighten us. Those who don't know Vanessa should just Google her – that should satisfy your curiosity. This is what we'll be talking about: - ✅ What's your AI gameplan? Without this you'll only be partially successful. ✅ What tools can you use to find candidates ✅ Where should you look to find candidates ✅ How can you use AI to build your brand and so attract more candidates (and clients too). Let's face it, whatever the market, there are never enough good candidates around. This is a real problem, especially if you're basing your BD strategy on selling in MPCs. So, having new ways to find and engage with more candidates must be a good thing, right? - Vanessa Raath's Tried & Tested AI Tools: https://start.me/p/l6bkk7/vanessa-raath-s-tried-tested-ai-tools

Lots of people are using Chat and other AIs to generate copy and search the web but this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to recruitment. In this edition of the #MARShow we are delighted to have Nitin Sharma as our guest. He will be exploring a wide range of uses that recruiters can put these powerful AIs tools to: - ✅ Coach you thru difficult business situations with clients ✅ Rate candidates against a vacancy from their CV and any of your notes and emails ✅ Provide powerful Boolean searches for any vacancy type. ✅ Bring job adverts to life, by creating engaging, SEO optimised adverts that work ✅ Help you offer a CV assistance service to help your candidates optimise their CVs. These are only a few of the uses Nitin will explain how to do with AIs. He'll also be exploring many more uses with us that may surprise you. The key is in the way you prompt the machine to do what you want, so we'll also be looking at the best way to do that too. Finally, we'll end up by predicting how AI will affect the rec industry in the future – who knows what Deepseek and its descendants will do! So, please join us if you want to make the most of this very powerful tool. Practical, powerful, and easy to use – a bit like us really. 

We didn't always have job boards, emails, and LinkedIn and yet we still placed people. Want to know how we did it and why you should care? Let's start with the "why". There are two reasons: - Firstly, your online sources are becoming increasingly expensive. Wouldn't it be great to have an alternative? Secondly, if you only use LinkedIn and the job boards, you're searching for talent in the same place as your competitors. Which means, you'll come up with the same candidates they do – not a brilliant outcome. So, in this edition of the #MARShow, Kirsty and I will be exploring alternative ways to find great candidates your competition won't get. Yes, we will be leveraging LinkedIn but there are other ways too. One thing though, please don't think I am suggesting you turn the clock back 30 years. Dear God, no! What I am saying though, is what would happen if you combined today's modern tech with older but equally effective sourcing methods If you're curious to find out and have a desire to outpace the competition, turn in for more.

On average, UK contingent recruiters get paid for 20% of their efforts. For retained recruiters it's 98%. Fancy learning how to only do retained work? To be clear, switching to retained could boost your profits by 500% (just do the maths). Our next guest on the MARShow is Greg Elton of search firm Day-2, is 100% retained and has been for years. Some of you might be saying "he probably only does mega-deals which is why they are retained" Well, you'd be wrong. True, some of his placements are very chunky, but Greg maintains any salary over £40k can be on a retained basis, if pitched properly. And that's the rub, many recruiters just don't pitch in the right way to win retained work. In this show we'll explore the following: - ✅ Which roles can be retained ✅ How to pitch to win retained deals ✅ How to overcome client objections ✅ The difference between retained and exclusive and why it matters ✅ What to do if the client is unconvinced ✅ How retained searches differ from contingent searches Moving to retained can massively boost your profits, well of course it will if you get paid for every role you work.

Those UK-based recruiters who decide to start placing people in America, rarely switch back to the UK. there are plenty of reasons for that. 💥 The market is less crowded: 12,500 rec firms in the US to 30,000 in the UK (and the market is 4 times bigger). 💥 Almost all candidates are open to a chat, even if they aren't active. 💥 The fees are larger than the UK and clients haggle about them less, plus counteroffers are rare 💥 US hirers are easier to speak to and they seem to like UK recruiters a lot. You get treated with respect. But surely, it's a nightmare to start trading in America from the UK? Well, no, it isn't and Lindsay Hartland, our guest on this episode of the #MARShow, is going to prove it. He left being a partner at SThree and started again even though he hadn't been "on the tools" for years. ✅ He chose his state (Florida) ✅ He chose his sector ✅ He chose his niche and then he started trading. Now he has a thriving business where he only does retained work or senior MPCs. He's going to come on the show and explain in detail how you can start placing people in the States. His instructions will be so detailed you could probably start work that afternoon! 🤣🤣🤣