Talent Matters Podcast

Are job boards really dead? 🤔 Simon Malpas of TRS Media offers a fresh perspective. Job boards aren’t dying, but the 'no brainer' era is over. Recruitment used to be simple – pick a job board, post an ad, and renew without much thought. But today: 🔹 Costs have skyrocketed – far beyond the £15 per post days. 🔹 A strategic, data-driven approach is critical to see ROI. 🔹 Choosing the right boards for your market takes effort and insight. It’s time to rethink how we use job boards, not abandon them. They’re still valuable, but only if we use them wisely.

"They're not dead, and they're not dying. I think them being a no-brainer is what's probably dying or dead. It now requires thought, insight, and a bit of data analysis." – Simon Malpas For years, job boards were the go-to solution for recruiters, often renewed without much thought or strategy. Those days are over. The reality today is that job boards demand careful planning, smarter investments, and, most importantly, a deep dive into data to understand their true value. Recruiters can no longer rely on the "no-brainer" status of job boards. Instead, they need to assess whether they’re getting the ROI they expect. Are the placements coming from these sources worth the cost? Are job boards still meeting expectations in a recruitment market where alternatives like LinkedIn, networking, and AI tools are thriving? The game has changed, and adapting your approach is critical.

Recruitment agencies often overlook one of the most important metrics: ROI. As Simon Malpas from TRS Media explains, knowing your ROI isn’t just about reviewing it at renewal time. It’s about analysing performance throughout the contract, identifying what’s working (or not), and making strategic changes while you still can. 💡 Start reviewing your contracts after three months. 💡 Spot issues and fix them. Whether it’s better content, adding salary details, or adjusting your approach. 💡 Use the remaining nine months to implement changes and optimise your results. Don’t wait until the last minute. Data-driven decision-making can make or break your success.

How IT can bridge the gap between the sales floor and management 👇 In this clip from Talent Matters, Richard Caldicott explains his approach to IT, where he works directly with both management and the sales floor to understand their needs. By breaking down barriers between teams and improving processes, Richard shows how IT can drive business success and help teams work more efficiently. They cover: ✅ Why IT professionals should engage with both management and team members on the sales floor ✅ How bridging communication gaps can align business goals and improve outcomes ✅ The value of understanding daily tasks to spot inefficiencies and save time ✅ How small process improvements can lead to significant time and cost savings You can watch the full episode here - https://buff.ly/4fqhNe8 #IT #Recruitment #ProcessImprovement

"Security seems to be something that always comes after an event, you know, in the same way a lot of people install burglar alarms in their homes after they've been burgled." Cybersecurity is often treated like a reactive measure rather than a proactive safeguard. Richard’s analogy paints a vivid picture of how organisations, like homeowners, frequently wait for a breach before considering serious security measures. But just as burglar alarms are installed to prevent a break-in, a robust cybersecurity strategy should be in place to protect valuable data and maintain trust. For recruitment businesses, it’s not just about protecting data—it’s about securing relationships and reputation before it’s too late.

Why cybersecurity matters - even for small recruitment businesses 👇 In this clip from Talent Matters, Richard Caldicott shares the story of a one-man recruitment business that faced major setbacks after a cybersecurity breach. He explains why implementing simple security measures, like password management, can prevent devastating consequences and why cybersecurity should be a priority for all businesses, no matter the size. They cover: ✅ How even small recruitment businesses can be vulnerable to cyber threats ✅ The importance of cybersecurity as your business grows and you add team members ✅ Why password management tools are essential for protecting sensitive accounts ✅ The dangers of waiting until after a breach to implement security measures You can watch the clip here - https://buff.ly/4fqhNe8

"I've always been keen to plonk my backside in the middle of a sales floor and not only operate at management level and board level...you can almost be a representative for the floor and you can also be a representative for the management team as well." Richard Caldicott dives into his approach to bringing IT and recruitment closer together, quite literally. By positioning himself alongside recruiters on the sales floor, he ensures that IT initiatives align directly with the team’s needs. This proximity allows him to represent both the recruiters on the ground and the leadership at the top. It’s a rare perspective that fosters collaboration and better tech solutions, creating real, tangible impact across the organisation.

Why recruitment agencies should embrace AI 👇 In this clip from Talent Matters, Richard Caldicott shares why recruitment agencies should embrace AI to improve efficiency and consistency. From CV formatting to job advert writing, using tools that streamline repetitive tasks can elevate the quality of the final product and ensure it’s consistently polished - even at the end of a busy week. They cover: ✅ The benefits of AI for time-consuming tasks like CV formatting and advert writing ✅ How AI can enhance consistency and quality across all documents ✅ The value of embracing new tech to boost productivity and free up time for other tasks You can watch the clip here - https://buff.ly/4fqhNe8 #AI #RecruitmentAgency #Recruitment

"Always have one eye on the future...Don't just buy something because it looks flashy. Make sure that it is going to work for you." Richard’s advice on selecting a CRM is straightforward but often overlooked: think beyond today. A flashy CRM might look appealing, but will it still serve your business when you expand into new markets or add new services? He encourages recruitment agencies to think about both current needs and future growth when investing in tech. Choosing a CRM with flexibility can be the difference between a system that holds you back and one that grows with you.

Why cyber awareness training should be part of your onboarding process 👇 In this clip from Talent Matters, Richard Caldicott explains the importance of incorporating cyber awareness training into onboarding for new employees. He emphasises that understanding cybersecurity risks and having policies in place for reporting suspicious activity should be routine for everyone in the business - not just new hires. They cover: ✅ The importance of cyber awareness training during onboarding ✅ How to recognise and respond to potential cybersecurity risks ✅ The need for continuous training to keep cybersecurity top of mind ✅ How having clear policies can improve response to potential security threats You can watch the clip here - https://buff.ly/4fqhNe8 #CyberSecurity #CyberAwareness #Onboarding