Claim OwnershipBecoming a Hiring Machine
Subscribed: 7Played: 347
Subscribe
© 2025 Loxo
Description
Becoming a Hiring Machine is the key to unlocking the future of recruitment. You’ve probably heard that traditional recruitment is broken, inefficient, and in dire need of fresh perspectives. This show is dedicated to not only rooting out those perspectives, but more importantly, the practical wisdom they hold. We dig deep to go beyond simply saying what needs to change and, instead, equip you with the tools that teach you how to make the change.
Each episode features the sharpest minds in recruitment finding solutions to the real-world challenges you face every day. Whether it’s a mindset shift or a tactical change, Becoming a Hiring Machine will help you find the answers you seek.
If you want to become more efficient and competitive, you need insights you can actually put into practice — insights that will help you on your journey to Becoming a Hiring Machine.
Each episode features the sharpest minds in recruitment finding solutions to the real-world challenges you face every day. Whether it’s a mindset shift or a tactical change, Becoming a Hiring Machine will help you find the answers you seek.
If you want to become more efficient and competitive, you need insights you can actually put into practice — insights that will help you on your journey to Becoming a Hiring Machine.
252 Episodes
Reverse
Thank you for tuning in for (gasp) 2.5 years! We can hardly believe it ourselves!Stay tuned for a better, bigger, stronger season 2. We'll be back soon, and you'll love it. Love, - Sam
The traditional headhunter is dying and if you’re still searching for talent based on job titles, you’re already being outpaced by the machines. In this episode, we break down why the old-school keyword match is now a liability and how to transform your sourcing strategy to find the hidden gems your competitors are completely missing.You will learn:The Title Obsession Trap: Why searching for candidates by their previous job title is a mathematical guarantee that you’ll miss the best talent in the market (and how to fix it).The Skills First Pivot: How to leverage AI to "decode" the DNA of an ideal candidate so you can identify high-performers hiding in adjacent industries.The Value Add Secret: Why the average recruiter is seen as a commodity and the specific, intelligence-backed approach that forces hiring managers to view you as a strategic partner.The Adaptive Advantage: The exact strategy for moving away from linear career paths to spot candidates with "transferable brilliance" that your competitors are blind to.P.S: if you want to modernize your sourcing strategy but lack the tools, go to loxo.co/products/source and book a demo today.
In this episode, Sam explains the playbook he's seen work a cross B2B SaaS, B2B hardware, services, and countless other models: Account Based Prospecting.In this episode, you'll learn:How to escape the feast or famine cycle so many firms find themselves inHow to stop relying on the 5% of companies hiring right now for revenue growth How to build and nurture client relationships long before you need them And so much more!P.S: if you want to learn more about ABP, grab a copy of our ABP playbook. No opt in required. Absolutely free.
In this episode, we'll discuss the critical yet often overlooked aspect of the interview process: the interview debrief. You will learn about:The "Politeness Paradox": Why your candidate thinks they nailed the interview (when they actually failed) and the one question you must ask to shatter this illusion before they lose interest.The 10-Minute Window: Why waiting until the next day to debrief is a death sentence for accuracy, and how to capture the "raw" impressions that candidates bury once the nerves settle.The "Pregnant Pause" Technique: Why the smartest recruiters ask one simple question and then go dead silent, and why this silence is the only way to uncover a candidate’s true, unfiltered perspective.The "Hiring Manager" Blind Spot: How to reconcile the massive gap between what the interviewer felt and what the candidate heard, so you don't end up losing your best talent to a misunderstanding.P.S: if you want to speed up your hiring workflows (interview debriefs included), head to loxo.co and book a demo today.
What do history's greatest entrepreneurs all have in common? Answer: they all know recruiting is their #1 job, and they're all excellent at it.In this episode, Sam breaks down:How Ernest Shackleton attracted over 5,000 applicants by telling them they could dieHow to build an organization full of A playersWhy inbound is not enough and why you must go hunt for talentWho should lead recruiting efforts at top companiesAnd so much more!P.S: If you want to hire top talent, check out Loxo's 1.2 billion candidate database and custom recruiting workflows at loxo.co
Wow. Today’s a big day at Becoming a Hiring Machine — it’s our 250th episode. Crazy to say, and even crazier to look back and realize we’ve been doing this for over two years! Thank you for listening — and if you’ve been here since the very beginning, thanks for being along for the ride with us. Today, as we go into reflection mode at the end of the year and at this milestone episode, we’re pulling together a compilation of some of our favorite nuggets of wisdom and mic drop moments from Loxo’s founder, Matt Chambers, that have been shared on the pod over the past few years.Each of the individual episodes those clips come from can be found here, so you can easily listen in full if something tickles your fancy: 025: The intangibles of a great hire 059: The year of the Full Stack recruiter 076: Why your ATS and your workflow need to evolve 111: Becoming the 50X recruiter133: The future of recruitment doesn’t include your ATS
If you audited your recruiting technology stack the same way you audit your P&L, many would be shocked by the grade.We tend to look at software as a line item expense. But in 2025, your platform is your operating system. If it’s broken, your business is bleeding revenue, even if the subscription cost seems “manageable.” To help you see whether your technology investment is helping or hurting you, we developed a 5-point framework to objectively grade your current setup. It’s a strategic audit to help you figure out exactly where your bottlenecks are.
No one likes getting ghosted. Not candidates, not recruiters. Luckily, there are easy ways, at least on the recruiter side, to minimize ghosting occurrences. In this episode, Vivien dives into the nuances of candidate motivation during the hiring process—particularly focusing on how responses to screening questions can indicate a candidate's level of commitment and genuine interest in job opportunities.
In this solo episode, Sam ties a bow on our ratios series — walking us through how to go from a rookie to an expert. Many recruiters are flying blind — not knowing what exactly is working, or why. Not knowing, definitively, what it takes to make a great placement. Sam breaks down the ratios of candidates needed for screening calls, interviews, and placements, contrasting the approaches of rookie and expert recruiters.Another takeaway? The importance of tracking recruitment metrics and creating a structured plan to achieve your goals effectively. You can't double-down on winning behaviors if you don't know what they are — so step one is to experiment, step two is to document, and step three is to create a feedback loop that ensures continued success.
In the finale of our Recruitment Ratios series, Sam and Vivien tackle the Interview to Placement metric, defining the efficiency gap between the rookie standard (10:1) and the expert target (5:1).The discussion moves beyond simple numbers into the tactical "control" variables of the closing process, including how to preempt scheduling bottlenecks by requesting block availability upfront and how to navigate hiring slowdowns during the holiday season. Viv also reveals a crucial anti-ghosting formula: asking candidates what they love about their current job to predict—and prevent—last-minute withdrawals during the offer stage Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
How they think. How they operate. What their archetype is. In this solo episode, Sam discusses the common pyramid of the 5 Levels of Employee Agency — breaking down each of these levels and how to find Level 5 Simplifiers when you're seeking to make a hire or placement. In this conversation, Sam gives some examples of how Loxo is facing this challenges, emphasizing how, in his personal experience, the most impactful team members are often not defined by their job titles. Instead, their success is attributed to their thinking processes, operational styles, and underlying archetypes that contribute to the team's overall performance. Screening for this is hard — but this is what sets the best recruiters apart from the pack. Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Hiring beyond the job title in recruiting02:30 - Understanding the 5 levels of employee agency04:35 - Finding high-agency talent: How top recruiters find Level 5 simplifiers07:30 - Case studies: Examples of high-agency talent in action09:30 - Shifting your recruiting mindset: Focusing on high-impact contributionExplore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
In the third installment of our Ratio series, Sam and Vivien break down the critical Screening Call to Interview metric, exploring how recruiters can bridge the gap between rookie stats (10:1) and advanced benchmarks (5:1).This episode focuses on diagnosing the "why" behind your drop-offs—whether it’s refining your initial sourcing strategy or understanding why interested candidates withdraw—to ensure you aren't wasting time on the wrong profiles. Vivien shares a practical three-step framework for vetting success, emphasizing the importance of validating competence, uncovering the true motivation behind a career move, and aligning on compensation early.Tune in to learn how to tighten your feedback loop and optimize your screening process for higher conversion rates. Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
![243: Death to the Frankenstack [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]](https://hosting-media.rs-prod.riverside.fm/media/imports/podcasts/63c4e008-ca58-4fc2-bc80-eae1350621f3/episodes/a0680db0-2461-4cd8-9d9e-92991dce15de/c967b0268950fbf9efbbe66192374dfd.jpg "243: Death to the Frankenstack [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]")
It started innocently enough: you adopted one "perfect" tool....But then you needed another for sourcing, another for contact data, and one more for outreach.Before you knew it, you weren't running a recruiting firm — you were Dr. Frankenstein to a ghastly Frankenstack monster.The scary reality is that operational chaos is the #1 silent killer of growth for modern recruiting firms. Data silos make a single source of truth impossibleRecruiter frustration causes burnout and turnoverBudget drain from a dozen different, underutilized platform feesIn this episode (pulled from a recent webinar on the same subject) we walk you through how to put the Frankenstack to rest...for good. Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
In this Part 2 of our Ratios series, Sam and Vivien dive into the intricacies of job placement dynamics, focusing on the ratio of job orders to placements, the importance of managing these orders effectively, and strategies for overcoming challenges in recruitment.Don't worry—you don't have to remember middle-school math or statistics to follow along. Chapters:00:00 - Dive into job order to placement ratios02:01 - The critical job order to placement ratio08:40 - Actionable strategies to boost job order to placement ratioExplore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
In this conversation, Amarbir is joined by Will Grashoff, Founder and Managing Partner of Will's Talent.Will covers a lot of ground, referencing his wealth of experience running a rec-to-rec firm. One thing he's seen time and time again? Great—not just good—billers follow a consistent routine. Their days don't look wildly different from one to the next. In making this point, he highlights that, while personality traits can aid success, the key to high performance is actually a bit more fomulaic, with no "secret sauce." If that's the case: then anyone can become a top biller...which means you should probably listen in to learn how. Chapters:00:00 - Will's Talent Founder on the Consistent Routine to Recruitment Success06:10 - Strategies for Growing Your High-Impact Personal Brand as a Recruiter10:03 - The High-Biller's Routine for Continuously Growing Your Talent Network16:20 - How to Move From Good Performance to Outstanding Billings With Consistency28:10 - The Power of a Strong Company Brand in the Recruitment-to-Recruitment (Rec-to-Rec) SectorExplore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
We're talking about ratios today — but don't worry, you don't need to be a math whiz to follow along. Sam and Vivien chat through the importance of understanding recruiting ratios, for both rookie and expert recruiters. They break down key metrics that can help recruiters optimize their hiring processes — including the ratios of job orders to placements, screening calls to interviews, and interviews to placements. Chapters:00:00 - The recruiting KPIs that actually matter (and why)02:16 - Decoding your job-to-placement conversion rate03:35 - Ratio benchmarks for rookie recruiters05:05 - Moving from basic metrics to expert-level kpis06:10 - Actionable strategies to optimize your recruiting funnelExplore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
Modernity has opened the door to a lot of new opportunities for recruiters — but it’s also introduced some brand new nightmares. Things R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps never could’ve prepared us for. On this spooky edition of the pod, Sam and Lex break down some of these modern recruitment nightmares, including: The Frankenstack, the Accidental Ghost, and the risk of going Zombie Mode. And of course, they give you actionable tips on how to make sure you don't fall prey to these monstrous beasts. There's also a very cute mention of Sam's daughter's pronounciation of "spooky," which is worth listening to in and of itself. Chapters:00:00 - What's haunting today's recruiters?03:30 - The horrors of a disjointed recruiting stack07:30 - Candidate ghosting: How to avoid becoming the ghost story10:56 - How to stay human in an automated recruiting worldExplore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
![238: Build Effective Nurture Campaigns for Clients & Candidates Pt. 2 [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]](https://hosting-media.rs-prod.riverside.fm/media/imports/podcasts/63c4e008-ca58-4fc2-bc80-eae1350621f3/episodes/e3e825a8-de92-4d70-9e2b-5b668d5453dc/c967b0268950fbf9efbbe66192374dfd.jpg "238: Build Effective Nurture Campaigns for Clients & Candidates Pt. 2 [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]")
Nurture campaigns are how you stay top of mind with both clients and candidates in the in-between — so that you're always the first to come to mind when the time is right. Listen to the audio from our recent webinar, The Fast and the Follow-Ups and learn how to build effective nurture campaigns that keep both clients and candidates engaged. This episode will focus more on the prospect side of things, helping you grow your business. You’ll hear all about how to set up nurture stages in Loxo, move prospects into campaigns, and track them with statuses so nothing slips through the cracks. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to take your outreach to the next level, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable steps to strengthen your pipeline and stay top of mind.Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
Ah, a look ahead — and through the generational gap. In this episode, Sam sits down with Amarbir to explore the evolving expectations of Gen Z in the workforce as we look ahead to 2026 (because it'll be here before you know it).They discuss:The importance of transparency in compensationThe significance of work-life balance, andThe need for meaningful career progression At the end of the day, the conversation emphasizes how important it is to understand the unique values and preferences of Gen Z candidates in order to effectively connect them with the right job opportunities. But more than that? It's a reminder of the fact that, those each generation may have their own special interests or desires — we're really not that different. Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
![236: Build Effective Nurture Campaigns for Clients & Candidates Pt. 1 [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]](https://hosting-media.rs-prod.riverside.fm/media/imports/podcasts/63c4e008-ca58-4fc2-bc80-eae1350621f3/episodes/3cd357c9-5a23-4c25-9c09-221bf392e361/c967b0268950fbf9efbbe66192374dfd.jpg "236: Build Effective Nurture Campaigns for Clients & Candidates Pt. 1 [RECORDING FROM LIVE WEBINAR]")
Nurture campaigns are how you stay top of mind with both clients and candidates in the in-between — so that you're always the first to come to mind when the time is right. Listen to the audio from our recent webinar, The Fast and the Follow-Ups and learn how to build effective nurture campaigns that keep both clients and candidates engaged.You’ll hear all about how to set up nurture stages in Loxo, move prospects into campaigns, and track them with statuses so nothing slips through the cracks. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to take your outreach to the next level, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable steps to strengthen your pipeline and stay top of mind.Explore all our episodes and catch the full video experience at loxo.co/podcastsBecoming a Hiring Machine is brought to you by Loxo. To discover more about us, just visit loxo.co
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States