💬 Summary
In this episode, we sit down with Cameron MacRae – Global Director at Bottle Rocket Search – to talk all things work, hiring and how to know if a job is actually right for you.
From front-of-house roles in coworking to global leadership in commercial real estate, Cameron shares a decade’s worth of lessons on what’s changed since Covid, how to protect your energy, and why understanding your own boundaries is the key to landing a role you love – and growing in it.
We also get honest about red flags in interviews (including when a company says “we’re like a family”), burnout from people-pleasing, and the difference between applying for a job and building a career that works for you.
💡 Takeaways
- Culture fit matters – but it’s about values, not vibes
- If a job spec says “we’re like a family” – run
- Front-of-house roles are some of the hardest in the business – and the least flexible
- You don’t need to say yes to everything to prove your worth
- If you’re interviewing, ask why the role exists and what success looks like
- Unlimited annual leave is great – if the culture supports taking it
- Knowing your boundaries is the first step to building a sustainable career
- Recruitment is more like matchmaking than sales – the right recruiter will help you reflect, not just apply
- Being honest (with yourself and others) is the fastest route to career growth
🔥 Favourite Soundbites
“Don’t just apply for a job – know what you
don’t want, too.”
“If you can’t explain what success looks like in a role, it’s not the right role.”
“A job interview isn’t a test – it’s a conversation. Ask your questions too.”
“Culture is who you hire – not what’s on the website.”
🕒 Chapters
02:21 – Meet Cameron: from sport science to global director
06:47 – The jump from student housing to coworking
10:06 – Post-Covid work shifts: what’s changed and what hasn’t
15:02 – Front-of-house roles: the underappreciated MVPs
17:22 – Unlimited leave, burnout and balance
23:10 – People pleasing, boundaries and how to say no
27:33 – Interview advice from someone who’s seen it all
31:01 – Red flags, green flags and spotting the truth
35:34 – What success really looks like (and how to ask about it)
42:03 – What company culture actually means
47:44 – Why younger employees struggle to set boundaries
53:12 – When saying yes too often starts to backfire
57:37 – Recruiters: how to use them, and how to know they’re good
01:00:01 – The power of honesty (with yourself and others)
01:01:00 – Cameron’s final advice: define what matters to you
https://bottlerocketsearch.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-macrae-the-office-space-recruiter/
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