Ep. 3: Donal McCarthy on Recruitment, Tech Hiring & Teams

In this episode, Craig sits down with Donal McCarthy, a seasoned leader in the tech financial industry, to explore the recruitment landscape from a hiring manager’s perspective. They discuss why hiring should be about more than just checking boxes on a CV, how recruiters can add real value, and the importance of understanding company culture when making hiring decisions.

Donal, who has led hiring at energy trading firms, buy-side institutions, and sell-side banks, shares his candid thoughts on the state of recruitment today. He discusses the common pitfalls in tech hiring, why recruiters often miss the mark, and what companies can do to improve their talent acquisition strategies.

Whether you’re a hiring manager, recruiter, or candidate, this episode will challenge your thinking on recruitment, candidate engagement, and building high-performing teams.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 Why most recruiters fail to understand hiring managers' needs
🔹 The importance of deep recruiter-hiring manager relationships
🔹 How centralized recruitment can slow down hiring
🔹 Why hiring for culture is just as important as technical skills
🔹 How candidates can stand out in the hiring process

Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of hiring, how recruitment should evolve, and what really makes a great hire.

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction

• Donal’s first thought when hearing the word “recruiter.”

[01:00] – The Role of Recruiters in Tech Hiring

• Why hiring is about more than just filling a role.
• The biggest mistakes recruiters make when engaging with hiring managers.
• Why relationship-building is key to successful recruitment.

[06:00] – Why Recruitment is Broken

• The low barrier to entry in recruitment and its consequences.
• Why cold calls and irrelevant CVs frustrate hiring managers.
• The disconnect between recruiters and hiring managers.

[10:00] – The Importance of Culture in Hiring

• Why hiring should focus on long-term fit, not just technical skills.
• How companies can communicate their culture to recruiters.
• Why culture impacts employee retention and job satisfaction.

[18:00] – The Downsides of Centralized Recruitment

• Why limiting agency access can slow down hiring.
• The problem with rigid hiring processes.
• How businesses should balance internal hiring vs. agency partnerships.

[27:00] – The Candidate Experience: How to Stand Out

• Why job hunting should be about more than just salary.
• How recruiters can help candidates position themselves better.
• The role of personal projects and open-source contributions in hiring.

[37:00] – Rethinking Hiring & The Role of Recruiters

• Why recruiters should focus on understanding the industries they serve.
• How recruiters can add real value beyond just sending CVs.
• The importance of proactive career conversations.

[50:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

• Why companies need to rethink their approach to hiring.
• How hiring managers and recruiters can work together more effectively.
• The future of recruitment and its impact on the tech industry.