Episode Details

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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