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Takeaways
- Recruiting success is measured by a percentage of wins.
- Personal experiences can profoundly influence professional motivations.
- Life's challenges can provide clarity on what truly matters.
- Caring about your work leads to emotional investment in outcomes.
- Resilience is key in navigating the ups and downs of business.
- Perspective shifts can arise from significant life events.
- The importance of providing the right solutions in business.
- Emotional roller coasters are part of the people business.
- Understanding losses is crucial for growth in recruiting.
- Finding meaning in work can stem from personal experiences.
Chapters
[00:01] Welcome + Why We’re Here — Adam tees up the POZcast mission and today’s focus.
[00:01] Guest Intro: Jordan Gasparri — From growing up in recruiting to founding Exclusent and winning an Inc. Power Partner Award.
[01:16] Warming Up — Jordan joins; mutual respect and setting the table.
[02:16] Growing Up with a Recruiter Dad — Early exposure, high-school internship, and falling in love with the craft.
[03:21] Thrill of the Hunt — Why negotiation hooked Jordan and how recruiters drive real comp outcomes.
[04:19] Old-School Lessons — Pre-LinkedIn fundamentals: presentability, first impressions, and context by role.
[05:41] Art vs. Science — Motivation mapping, relationship foundations, and what tech can’t replace.
[06:37] Founding Exclusent After Loss — Channeling grief into purpose, betting on yourself, and early survival.
[08:08] Agency vs. Solo — The leap from desk to founder, support systems, and the “eat what you kill” mindset.
[10:17] ‘Unhireable’ Bias — The corporate return dilemma for entrepreneurs and what hiring teams miss.
[12:13] Taking Bigger Swings — Compounding courage, offices, gear, and managing the losses (baseball analogy).
[14:11] Handling Failures Fast — Day-of fury, next-day reset; contingency realities and resilience.
[16:47] AI + Authenticity — What Exclusent automates (sourcing, verification, notes) vs. what stays human (relationships).
[18:19] Tools in the Stack — Sourcing evolution, AI interviews for access + fairness, caution on agentic outreach.
[20:08] New Roles in TA — Vendor bets, process owners, and the rise of AI/TA SMEs.
[22:36] Volume, Speed, and CX — Instant assessments, fewer ghosted candidates, smarter human time.
[25:28] Negotiation Masterclass — Real-market intel over Glassdoor, lever trading (base, equity, PTO), and tough love.
[27:17] Salary Bands & Candor — Setting expectations, transparency on caps, and why companies pay for value.
[29:16] The Negotiation Room — Jordan’s new series: real back-and-forths, 3-minute breakdowns, teachable plays.
[31:41] Offer Horror Stories — Sunday-night reversals, bonus games, and ethics fails caught on Gong.
[36:23] The Next 5 Years — A tight team of 10 great recruiters, sensible AI, and protecting service quality.
[37:58] Advice to Younger Self — Calm down, ride the waves, keep shipping good work.
[38:52] Never Lift Off the Gas — Consistency lessons from dry spells; content + practitioner balance.
[40:10] What Keeps Him Up — Housing hunt, macro uncertainty, and waiting for clearer signals.
[41:33] Defining Success — Peace of mind over vanity metrics; doing work you’re proud of.
[42:48] Wrap + Calls to Action — Where to find Jordan/Exclusent and how to support the show.
