APositive Insights

Sean Anderson: The Next Generation Recruiter Playbook

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:08:20 GMT

In this episode of Apositive Insights, host Darren Cottrell sits down with Sean Anderson from Hoxo to break down what’s really driving growth for recruiters in 2026.

They explore why personal branding has shifted from optional to essential, the growing gap between visible and invisible recruiters, and how consistency in content is directly impacting pipeline and performance.

The conversation also dives into the rise of Ai and technology, where recruiters are getting it wrong and how to use AI to increase output without losing authenticity. Sean shares practical ways to stay visible, build authority and turn attention into real opportunities.

This episode is an important and practical discussion for recruiters looking to stay competitive, build their pipeline and grow with more control.

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Richard Spencer: Breaking the Old Age Stereotype in Recruitment

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:48:28 GMT

In this episode of Apositive Insights, host Darren Cottrell sits down with Richard Spencer from AgeInc to challenge outdated perceptions around age in recruitment and explore why mature workers are one of the most overlooked talent pools in today’s market.

They discuss the real impact of age bias, why many businesses continue to overlook experienced candidates, and the commercial risks of failing to adapt as workforces age. Richard shares insights on performance, loyalty, adaptability, and the value older employees bring to businesses facing talent shortages.

The conversation also explores how agencies and employers can build stronger multi-generational teams, reduce unconscious bias, and create more inclusive hiring practices that unlock talent across every age group. A practical discussion for recruitment leaders looking to widen opportunity and strengthen long-term growth.

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Khanh Pham: AI, Experience and the Next Era of Recruitment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:00:00 GMT

In this episode of APositive Insights, host Darren Cottrell sits down with Khanh Pham from Bullhorn to explore what the recruitment data is really telling us as the industry heads toward 2026.

They unpack why fewer candidates are working with recruiters, how expectations around speed and transparency have shifted, and where AI is already making a measurable impact across the recruitment lifecycle. Drawing on Bullhorn’s GRID Talent Trends, the conversation looks at how leading agencies are using automation to improve candidate experience, free up recruiter time, and build stronger relationships with clients and talent.

The episode also dives into generational differences, including why Gen Z is currently the least satisfied group and why that presents a real opportunity for agencies willing to adapt. A practical, data-led discussion for recruitment leaders looking to stay competitive in a tougher, faster-moving market.

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Guy Day: Building a Resilient Business & What Data Really Matters

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Kamal Founder Guy Day joins us to unpack how data and real-time insights are transforming the recruitment and labour hire industry. Guy shares why he built Kamal, the gap he saw in recruitment tech, and the metrics agency owners should actually be paying attention to.

We discuss common data misconceptions, the early warning signs leaders often miss, and which performance indicators matter most in a slow market. Guy also reveals what future-ready recruitment firms will be tracking in the years ahead and the key advice he’d give agency owners planning for sustainable growth.

A must-listen for recruitment leaders who want clearer data, stronger decisions and a competitive edge.

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Kim Seeling Smith: Future-proofing Recruitment for 2035

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:30:00 GMT

In this episode of Apositive Insights, Kim Seeling Smith joins us to unpack the disruptions transforming recruitment. From AI and talent shifts to reimagined leadership. Hear how her 9 Keys can help agencies stay agile, human, and future-proof for 2035 and beyond.

Powered by Apositive, helping recruitment and labour hire businesses grow stronger, smarter, and more sustainably. Follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube.

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Tania Evans: Turning Compliance into Competitive Advantage

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 21:40:10 GMT

Compliance is not just a box to tick. Done well, it can become a powerful competitive advantage. In this episode of APositive Insights, Darren Cottrell sits down with Tania Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of WorkPro, to explore how embedding compliance into your DNA from day one sets agencies up for sustainable growth.

Tania shares insights on scaling smart, reducing risk, and using automation to streamline onboarding and screening. She also explains how technology can transform compliance from a burden into a value driver, improving efficiency for recruiters and confidence for clients.

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Ben Wood: Scaling Smarter and Preparing for Exit

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 08:17:21 GMT

Ben Wood believes scaling a recruitment business is not about growing fast, it is about growing smart. In this episode, he shares how recruitment founders can build businesses that are profitable, sustainable and ready for exit.

Darren Cottrell talks with Ben about shifting from being a top biller to building high-performing teams, the importance of having a clear strategy, and how to prepare your business for long-term success.

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Jessica Kimber: Million Dollar Biller to Brand Builder

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 23:35:37 GMT

Million dollar biller. Branding powerhouse. Recruitment strategist.

In this episode of APositive Insights, we speak with Jessica Kimber, Founder of Raire Group and one of the most forward-thinking minds in recruitment.

We dive into:

•How she built community groups to fill dozens of roles daily

•The One to Many Method for nurturing candidates and clients at scale

•How recruiters can show up authentically online

•What most people get wrong about business development

•Why only 5 percent of recruiters are happy with their BD strategy

Plus, an exciting announcement: Raire Group is now partnering with APositive to help recruiters scale smarter.

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Steve Tolen: Change the Game in Business Development

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:50:46 GMT

Steve Tolen doesn’t believe in scripts or shortcuts. He believes in showing up, knowing your value, and building real relationships.

In this episode, he chats with Darren Cottrell about how business development has evolved, why your personal brand matters more than ever, and how to master modern BD without losing the human touch.

Steve also shares his six pillars for success in sales, his thoughts on AI in recruitment, and why his event Change the Game is focused on connection over competition.

If you’re in sales or recruitment and want to do it better, this one’s a must-listen.

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Erin Devlin: Building Teams That Deliver

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:49:28 GMT

Erin Devlin believes high performance isn’t about finding unicorns, it’s about building the right environment. In this episode, she shares how she’s created a culture of accountability and support inside her agency.

Darren Cottrell sits down and talks with Erin about the importance of values alignment, how to set a clear social contract with consultants, and why trust is the real differentiator. Erin also discusses her career transition program for athletes, the reason she wrote her book Get the Job You Really Want, and how her early career as a ballerina shaped her leadership style.

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Pete Watson: Building Community Over Competition

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:59:06 GMT

In this episode of APositive Insights, we sit down with Pete Watson, long-time agency owner and founder of Recruitment United, to talk about the power of community in the recruitment space.

Pete shares the stories that sparked Recruitment United, why he believes the “lone wolf” recruiter is no longer the future, and how genuine collaboration is helping agency owners save time, grow faster, and stay sane.

From WhatsApp groups that respond faster than Google, to members even offering financial support, this is the kind of recruitment network you actually want to be part of.

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Shaun Henry: Post It and Prosper

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:00:50 GMT

In this episode of APositive Insights, Shaun Henry, founder of floats.ai, dives deep into the power of personal branding and how his unconventional, creative approach to social media has brought global opportunities to his business.

Shaun shares insights on navigating the recruitment landscape, lessons from viral success, and the importance of "just posting" to build momentum. Learn how Shaun is preparing Floats.ai to go global, integrating automation and partnerships like APay, while embracing the unpredictable nature of social media storytelling.

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Reece Percy and Matt Said: Trends and Challenges in Rural and Metro Medical Recruitment

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:55:47 GMT

In this episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of medical recruitment, focusing on the unique challenges faced by agencies recruiting for rural and remote locations compared to metro hospitals. We explore the impact of telehealth, the shifting market trends, and the importance of quality over quantity in recruitment.

Join us as we discuss how travel incentives, telehealth support, and the competitive recruitment environment are shaping the future of medical staffing.

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Colin Cuthbert: Right People, Right Seats

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:35:27 GMT

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of aligning your team with your business values. Colin Cuthbert shares his journey from direct sales to leadership, highlighting the challenges of delegation and the importance of trusting your team to flourish. Learn how to identify the "right people" for your organisation, create a values-driven culture, and avoid the pitfalls of holding onto tasks for too long and the importance of spreading your risk. Plus, discover why most businesses fail to sell and the steps you can take to make yours stand out in the market.

Whether you’re a business owner, team leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers actionable advice to scale your business and lead with purpose.

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Laura Cole: Quality Over Quantity

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:07:30 GMT

In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of face-to-face meetings in recruitment and how they transform client relationships from transactional to personal. We also explore how recruiters can stand out in today’s market by adopting a value-add mindset and prioritising quality over quantity in their outreach.

From tips on creating meaningful client connections to actionable advice for showcasing both your product and service, this episode is packed with insights that will help you build trust and close deals more effectively. Whether you're a seasoned recruiter or just starting out, you’ll gain valuable strategies to refine your approach and demonstrate your expertise.

Tune in to discover how simple changes—like personalised outreach and sharing useful insights—can make a big impact on your recruitment game.

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Adrian Byra: Building An Agency For High-Performing Consultants

Thu, 02 May 2024 02:44:12 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, host Darren Cottrell is joined by Adrian Byra, co-founder and director of recruitment agency Lead Group and recruitment outsourcing specialists The Outsource People. Adrian discusses how Lead Group have created a home for high billing recruiters, the opportunities created by the COVID lockdown, the importance of diversification and how outsourcing has helped their consultants consistently achieve record numbers.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Greg Savage: Scaling A Recruitment Company

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:35:00 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Brendan Herlihy are joined by Greg Savage. With a career spanning four decades, Greg is a founder of multiple highly successful businesses, a trusted advisor and respected voice across the global recruitment industry and a regular keynote speaker at conferences around the world. In the second of two podcasts recorded in the offices of JobAdder, the conversation is on the topic of scaling a recruitment agency; covering points such as strategy, goal-setting, hiring and retaining and rewarding consultants.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Greg Savage: Starting A Recruitment Company

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:50:05 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Brendan Herlihy are joined by Greg Savage. With a career spanning four decades, Greg is a founder of multiple highly successful businesses, a trusted advisor and respected voice across the global recruitment industry and a regular keynote speaker at conferences around the world. In the first of two podcasts recorded in the offices of JobAdder, the conversation is on the topic of starting a recruitment agency; covering points such as hiring, setting goals, mentorship, technology and more.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Doris Talent: Going Out On Your Own And The Importance Of A Network

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 03:48:11 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers are joined by Arron Johnson and Rob King, founders of new recruitment agency, Doris Talent. Both Arron and Rob come from successful careers as recruitment consultants and after years of talking about it, recently took the plunge and started their own business. They discuss the lessons and skills learnt from going out on their own, the importance of leaning on your network and where the name Doris comes from.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Nicholas Cox: Starting a Recruitment Agency and The Importance of Planning, Mentors and Advice

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:34:56 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers are joined by special guest Nicholas Cox, founder of The People Place. The People Place is a new creative recruitment agency servicing the Australian market & based in Melbourne. Nic's story is unique in that he founded a recruitment agency with no prior experience working in recruitment. Instead, he comes from a successful career working in and running a creative content studio & creative agency. He talks about the value of planning and learning, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and speaking with mentors and people who have done it themselves.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Ross Clennett: The Traits of High Performing Teams and Why Recruiters Should Focus on Recruiting

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:43:18 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Harry Chambers and Brendan Herlihy are joined by special guest Ross Clennett, a high performance recruitment coach. Ross discusses the traits of high-performing teams and what can be learnt from sport, why many recruitment agencies fail at their own recruitment and how technology can be a distraction if not used to support the human element of recruitment.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Martin Richardson: The Importance of Terms when Launching a Recruitment Business

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 02:03:34 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Brendan Herlihy are joined by special guest Martin Richardson, founder of Ready, Set, Recruit, a legal firm built to assist Australian recruitment agencies. They discuss the importance of writing and understanding terms when launching an agency, why you shouldn't borrow legals from a previous workplace, the potential pitfalls of poorly defined terms and the impact modern technology, such as ChatGPT is having on the industry.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Martin Herbst: JobAdder CEO on the 'State of the Market' Recruitment Industry Report

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 03:44:26 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers are joined by special guest Martin Herbst, CEO of JobAdder. JobAdder have recently released their biannual recruitment report, titled 'The State Of The Market'. He joins Darren and Harry to discuss highlights; including how the post-COVID recovery and economy have affected the industry, how different sectors are faring and the growth in temporary and contract recruitment.

Download the JobAdder 'State Of The Market' report here.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Edan Haddock: Managing Wellbeing and Avoiding Burnout in the Recruitment Industry

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 03:57:44 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers are joined by special guest Edan Haddock, experienced recruiter and founder of industry community Rubberband. Edan talks about how Rubberband offers a safe space for recruiters to get together and how it allows them to focus on their wellbeing and avoid burnout. With experience in both internal and agency recruitment, he also discusses the relationship between the two and how they can learn from one another.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Sophie Robertson: Establishing Recurring Revenue by Making the Jump from Perm to Temp

Thu, 25 May 2023 04:47:45 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Brendan Herlihy are joined by special guest Sophie Robertson, Recruitment Advisor and Coach from Younique. Sophie shared her insights on the path to success when transitioning from perm to temp recruitment, including tactics for establishing a reliable revenue stream.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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The Recruitment Company: Culture - The Secret Sauce to Success

Mon, 15 May 2023 23:55:25 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers are joined by special guest Geoff Millar, CEO of The Recruitment Company. TRC group has offices in both Ireland and Australia. This episode focuses on the importance of culture to grow a successful brand, hiring strategies and how to maintain a healthy work life balance in the wild world of recruitment.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Aspirante Recruitment: The Impact of Seizing Opportunity

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 22:59:51 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, Darren Cottrell is joined by special guest host Brendan Herlihy as they chat with Aspirante's Co-Founder and Director, Sean Roocroft. Aspirante is a specialist technology recruitment agency with offices in Melbourne and Brisbane which has grown steadily over the last few years to become a trusted name in the market. Key points from this episode include overcoming obstacles, using acquisitions as a growth strategy and essential recruitment tech in 2023.

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Collar Group: Australia's Fastest Growing Recruitment Agency

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:48:12 GMT

On this episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers chat with Collar Group's Founder and CEO, Ephram Stephenson. Ephram is at the helm of Australia's fastest growing recruitment agency, growing to over 100 consultants across 8 offices in just 18 months. Key points from this episode include attraction and retention strategies, how to scale growth and much more!

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

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Change Recruitment: From Shared Office to Harbour Views

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:24:15 GMT

On this first episode of APositive Insights, hosts Darren Cottrell and Harry Chambers chat with Co-Founder's Mike Hollowbread and Michael Carter from the award-winning recruitment start up, Change Recruitment. "The Mike's" share some invaluable and fascinating insights about their journey from a shared office in Bondi Junction, to sharing an office with breathtaking Harbour views with their growing team of consultants. Key points from this episode include when and how to take the leap, how to scale growth sustainably, how to respond to market shifts and much more!

For more information on how APositive can help grow your business, head to www.apositive.com.au

For specialist technical recruitment head to www.changerecruitment.com.au

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