Episode 5 Show Notes: The Talent Recruitment Rat Race

Introduction

• Tevi introduces Katie and sets the stage for a discussion on talent recruitment, the current job landscape, and how to ace interviews.

• The episode will explore the shift away from traditional resumes and the potential of DNA's skills-based approach.

• Katie shares her experience starting in recruitment in 2020, just before the pandemic.

• She began in an agency environment, which she describes as a sales-focused "rat race" with high stress due to commission-based pay.

• Recruitment agencies are heavily sales-focused, often prioritizing speed over finding the best candidate.

• Companies frequently work with multiple agencies, creating a competitive environment where agencies rush to submit candidates.

• Katie expresses her concerns about the fundamental problems with recruitment agency processes, noting that the focus is on finding a "decent" candidate quickly rather than the "best" fit.

• Recruiters often skim the top of available candidates, contacting whoever responds quickly to their LinkedIn messages or cold calls.

• The agency model can be frustrating for recruiters who want to provide the best candidates but are limited by time and competitive pressures.

• Hiring managers may not always provide complete information, leading to inefficiencies and wasted effort.

• Recruiters act as middlemen, potentially losing important information in communication between hiring managers and candidates.

• Katie moved to an RPO company, working more directly with internal hiring teams and gaining better insight into company processes.

• She worked with TikTok during a period of rapid growth, recruiting for technical roles like site reliability engineers and machine learning engineers.

• TikTok had high standards for candidates, considering factors like education, previous companies (e.g., FAANG), and specific boot camps.

• The conversation shifts to the importance of skills over traditional criteria like education and company pedigree.

• Tevi and Katie discuss the tendency for companies to prioritize "thinkers" over "doers" and the need to focus on skills required to execute the job.

• They highlight the underappreciation of soft skills and transferable skills, which can set top-tier candidates apart.

• Many candidates struggle to recognize and articulate their own transferable skills.

• DNA aims to help candidates identify their transferable skills and connect them with opportunities based on their abilities.

• The platform addresses the limitations of traditional hiring systems, which often narrow the talent pool based on superficial criteria.

• Focusing on skills broadens the talent pool and helps companies find the right people to execute their vision.

• Hiring managers should prioritize the skills needed for the job and recognize that traditional criteria may not always be the best indicators of success.

Katie's Background in RecruitmentThe Realities of Recruitment AgenciesThe Impact on Candidates and CompaniesTransition to Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)The Focus on Skills vs. Traditional CriteriaDNA's Skills-Based Hiring Platform

Episode 4

Are you feeling LinkedOUT?

Is the perpetuation of toxic corporate culture on LinkedIn leaving you feeling lost and confused? Us too.

In this episode we unpack the inauthenticity of LinkedIn, how and why its designed that way, and places you can go if you want to show up as your real self (spoiler alert - LinkedIn is not necessarily the place).

Tevi and Katy tackle "hustle culture" in this episode of Work Sucks and Then You Die, arguing for intentional productivity over constant grinding. They dissect the origins of this always-on mentality, from the Industrial Revolution to social media, and its impact on well-being and work environments. They emphasize rest, realistic expectations, and aligning work with meaningful goals. The pair also highlights the need for transparent communication between employers and employees to avoid mismatched expectations and toxic workplaces.

Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode, and follow along on our social channels:

Instagram: @do.not.apply

YouTube: Do Not Apply

Tik Tok: @do.not.apply

Facebook: @DoNotApply

LinkedIn: @Do Not Apply

Episode 3

In this episode of Work Sucks and Then You Die, Tevi and Katy challenge the glorification of "hustle culture" and advocate for intentional productivity. They discuss how the pressure to constantly work can lead to burnout, stress, and toxic work environments. They explore the origins of hustle culture, from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of social media, and share their own experiences with balancing work and well-being. They emphasize the importance of rest, setting realistic expectations, and focusing on activities that drive meaningful progress.

Hustle Culture: The idea that constant work and productivity are the keys to success, often at the expense of rest and personal well-being.

Intentional Productivity: Focusing your efforts on activities that directly contribute to achieving your goals.

The Origins of Hustle Culture: From the Industrial Revolution and capitalism to the tech boom and social media, the glorification of constant work has evolved over time.

The Downsides of Hustle Culture: Burnout, stress, mental health issues, and toxic work environments.

Work-Life Balance: It's not always a 50/50 split, but taking breaks and resting is essential for long-term success and well-being.

Cultural Expectations: The importance of transparent communication between employers and employees about expectations regarding time, energy, and work style.

Toxic Work Environments: How mismatched expectations and resentment can create a negative atmosphere within an organization.

DNA's Approach: Creating matches between people and companies that are compatible in terms of cultural expectations and work styles.

Episode 2: Catfishing in the Startup World – Confidence, Delusion, and Ethics**

Welcome to Episode 2 of *Work Sucks and Then You Die*, the podcast dedicated to navigating bad jobs, toxic workplace culture, and finding work that truly aligns with your values. In this episode, hosts Tevi and Katy dive deep into the concept of "catfishing in the startup space"—a phenomenon where ambition crosses the line into deception. From Theranos to Fyre Festival, we explore real-world examples of overpromising and underdelivering in the entrepreneurial world.

Episode Highlights:

- What Is Startup Catfishing?: The culture of "fake it till you make it," vaporware, and overstating capabilities without proof.

- Confidence vs. Delusion: How founders can balance ambition with ethics and avoid crossing into harmful territory.

- Theranos Scandal: A breakdown of Elizabeth Holmes’ rise and fall, raising $700M for technology that didn’t work—and its devastating consequences for patients and investors.

- Fyre Festival Debacle: Revisiting Billy McFarland’s disastrous music festival and the psychology behind why people keep buying into unproven ideas.

- The Courage to Admit Failure: Why stopping a failing project takes more confidence than pushing forward against all odds.

Key Takeaways:

- Authenticity Matters: Tevi shares how building a company rooted in truth is critical for long-term success.

- Delusion vs. Vision: Katy discusses how ambition can spark innovation but must remain grounded in reality.

- Lessons for Investors: Why due diligence is essential when evaluating startups to avoid falling for empty promises.

What you'll hear about in this episode.

- Startup catfishing

- Fake it till you make it culture

- Theranos scandal

- Fyre Festival failure

- Toxic workplace culture

- Ethical entrepreneurship

- Startup ethics

- Lessons for founders

- How to admit failure in business

---

Links & Resources:

- Watch The Dropout on Hulu (Theranos story)

- Fyre Festival documentary on Netflix

- Follow us on Instagram @do.not.apply

---

Join the Conversation:

Have you experienced toxic workplace culture or witnessed startup catfishing firsthand? Share your story with us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

This episode is packed with relatable stories, expert insights, and actionable advice for entrepreneurs, employees, and anyone curious about startup culture. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion about ethics, ambition, and the fine line between confidence and delusion. Listen now!

Welcome to Work Sucks And Then You Die - Because life is too short for bad jobs.

In this raw and racy podcast we dive deep into the world work of work. We cover the current trends in work and recruitment, the current office and corporate trends and the culture trends we see and experience experience in the start-up space.

Your hosts, Tevi Legge and Katy Hudak keep it more than real when it comes to the ridiculous things that take place in the workplace. You can expect, some dark humour, some rawness, some laughs, and guaranteed guarantee you will be able to relate to at least one or more of the hilarious stories they share.

Download and follow today to stay up to date on all the new episodes!