This week in the Holistic Recruiter Club #018
Affiliation Based Hiring, Key Learnings from the Podcast, and what happened at the Talent Intelligence Conference
This week I have been in the data well and truly for our Presage Product! WEhich as been super fun and englighting. But it also got me thinking about whether it’s cutting through the noise of irrelevant metrics or refocusing on data that drives impactful decisions.
That said it’s been nearly 10 months since I have been recording episodes of the Holistic Recruiter Club Podcast and I thought as we draw closer to the 12 months and end of the year I want to take some time to reflect on what I have learnt. That was the whole point of starting it so practising what I preach I am using this time to write this and reflect at the same time.
So in that spirit, this is what I took away from Episode #001
Episode Insight: The Art of Aligning Hiring Managers and TA Teams
In the first episode Katrina Collier, we explored why communication between hiring managers and TA teams is often overlooked but critical. Katrina shared how a lack of involvement from hiring managers in job briefings leads to mismatched expectations and, ultimately, poorer hiring outcomes.
The takeaway was that active collaboration and clear communication with hiring managers are imperative. I love tools, products and systems but they can only do so much. It's the human connection and strategic alignment that bridge the gap between intention and execution. When everyone is on the same page, hiring success and retention naturally improve.
Watch the episode on YouTube or Spotify
This week I wanted to talk about something new I read about “Affiliation-based hiring”
But what exactly is it?
“Affiliation-based hiring” It refers to recruiting individuals who already have connections to the company, such as former colleagues, educational allumni, or mutual networks.
I’ve been geeking out and read a recent research paper around affiliation-based hiring and its impact on young start ups. The findings show that hiring people with existing connections to the company whether through previous work or educational, can significantly enhance team performance and growth, especially in the early stages!
The research highlighted that this practice can significantly enhance team performance and growth, especially during a startup’s formative phase. I’ve experienced this firsthand in those early days, having a team composed of trusted individuals who share your vision can create a place of trust and get shit done where everyone speaks up and is valued and respected. And have the ability to call bullshit that others may not. There’s a sense of comfort and reliability in knowing that your initial hires are aligned with your mission as you face the uncertainty of scaling up.
However, there’s a crucial lesson I’ve learned through experience, relying too heavily on familiar connections can limit diversity in thought and approach. While this alignment can drive initial growth, it may eventually start to repeat the same paterns as the company grows. I’ve sat in meetings where we had to consciously push ourselves to invite new perspectives to prevent becoming an echo chamber.
So for affiliation-based hiring, when used thoughtfully, can be a really good and quick way to build a solid and motivated team quickly. However, as a business scales, it is important to be conscious of integrating new people and different ideas.
Here is the full study below
The Two Tired Dads Talk Talent and Tech Latest episode and the Christmas Special
Every Tuesday until Christmas I will be sharing a joint article with my partner in crime
. It will be a wrap-up of the previous episodes and a different way for you to consume the knowledge of our guests :)Here was our latest episode with Jessie and Jeremy:
In two weeks Jean-Marie and I will dig deeper into some things ourselves and some research JM found! We will also have Jessie back again
Top tip of the week
Embrace a bias for action. Don’t wait for perfect clarity start now, iterate fast, and refine as you go. Progress beats perfection every time. In my world, taking that first step, learning, and adapting is what keeps momentum alive and delivers results. Waiting around? That’s where productivity goes to die.
If you found this valuable, please subscribe and share this newsletter with colleagues, peers, or anyone who could benefit from these insights. Your support fuels this community and helps more people discover the value of holistic recruitment strategies.
Subscribe and Follow for more here:-
YouTube: TTDTTT YouTube Channel and The Holistic Recruiter Club
TikTok: Follow Us
Spotify: Listen Here
LinkedIn: The Holistic Recruiter Club