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3 New Episodes: The Unfair Advantage AI Is Giving Agency Recruiters, Why I Never Hire Recruiters (And Built a $5M Firm), and The Recruiters AI Will Replace (And the Ones It Won't)

Latest Episodes: The Unfair Advantage AI Is Giving Agency Recruiters, Why I Never Hire Recruiters (And Built a $5M Firm), and The Recruiters AI Will Replace (And the Ones It Won't)

Author

Benjamin Mena
March 18, 2026

This IS Your Year Recruiter Summit - Register NOW! 

e This Is Your Year Recruiter Summit kicks off on April 27th and it’s 100% free to attend live. Join 30+ expert speakers as they reveal the exact tactics behind landing more clients, closing bigger deals, and scaling faster in 2026. If you’re serious about increasing billings, this is your blueprint. - https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com/ 
Special Guests: Mark Whitby, Mike Williams, Sharon Hulce, Brianna Rooney, and many more

Calling all basketball fans!

 March is here, which means the madness is back! As a listener to The Elite Recruiter Podcast, you have an exclusive invitation to play in the NCAA men’s basketball Bracket Challenge Tournament from Recruiters Websites, where you’ll test your college hoops expertise for bragging rights and a chance to win cash prizes up to $500!

Entering is simple: sign up at the link below and fill out a bracket with your picks for each round of the tournament before noon ET on March 19. 

 It's completely free to enter. The more winning teams you pick, the better your bracket's score. You must work for a recruiting firm or staffing agency to participate.

 Make your picks by noon ET on Thursday, March 19 to play.

LATEST EPISODES:

NEW: The Unfair Advantage AI Is Giving Agency Recruiters

Hey Elite Recruiters,
This week’s episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about staying ahead in recruitment. I sit down with Jordan Shlosberg, founder of Atlas and AI evangelist, to unpack the seismic shift AI is creating in the recruiting world especially for agencies.

Highlights & Key Takeaways

  • AI Isn’t Optional Anymore
    Jordan Shlosberg pulls no punches: If recruiters or agencies don’t embrace AI now, they’ll fall behind—fast. Think of the difference between riding a horse and driving a car; the industry is moving, and expectations are rising with it.

  • Recruiters Have a Memory Problem, Not a Data Problem
    Recruiters sit on mountains of unique conversation data, but most of it gets buried and forgotten. Atlas unlocks this “forgotten gold,” making every interaction searchable and actionable.

  • Magic Search – Rethinking Candidate Discovery
    Imagine searching your entire database for “Who wants a 4-day week?” or “Who’s open to relocation next year?” in natural language, not keywords. That’s Magic Search—built by Atlas as a game-changer for sourcing.

  • The Future: Copilots, Automated BD, and the Rise of Relationship Skills
    Automation will take over admin and project management, freeing you to build relationships and focus on sales. BD (business development), in-person events, and account management are your edge. If you want to stay elite, double down on these human skills.

  • High-Performers: What Are They Doing Differently?
    Smart teams are ruthless about reducing admin and increasing billing—always leveraging AI to focus more time on winning business and nurturing relationships.

  • Pro Tip: Get Ready for "Vibe Coding"
    As recruiting tech becomes more customizable, basic coding knowledge (think APIs and quick integrations) will differentiate you. If you’ve always wanted to tinker, now’s the time.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here.

Episode Sponsors!

Atlas combines your ATS and CRM in a single, AI-powered platform. Try it free or book a demo →https://recruitwithatlas.com/

NEW: Why I Never Hire Recruiters (And Built a $5M Firm)

is a must-listen for anyone serious about scaling their desk or firm in today’s market. Josh Volinsky, President and Co-founder of Synergy Search, peeled back the curtain with Benjamin Mena on how his team built a $5M powerhouse—by hiring zero traditional recruiters.

Key Takeaways:

  • No Recruiters, Just Industry Insiders: Every producer hired is an accountant—no recruiting backgrounds necessary. Result? Seven people hit $400K+ their first year. Industry credibility beats learning “bad habits.”

  • Partnerships Built to Last: Josh Volinsky shared that picking the right partners—balancing complementary strengths and total trust—was as vital as their business model.

  • Culture & Accountability: Sudden market shifts exposed cracks. The fix? Get disciplined, track the numbers, and bring back daily accountability—even the best thrive with structure.

  • Obsess the Details: Why did they succeed where others stalled? Relentless focus on references, candidate conversations, and process at every step.

  • Mentorship Matters: Success means nothing if you don’t grow together. Make the journey about others, and everyone wins.

If you’re stuck on whether to hire “recruiters” or looking for a growth edge, this episode is pure gold.

Listen now to learn how to hire, train, and scale differently—and win big!

Atlas combines your ATS and CRM in a single, AI-powered platform. Try it free or book a demo →https://recruitwithatlas.com/

NEW: The Recruiters AI Will Replace (And the Ones It Won't) with Jeff Hyman

If you’re “waiting to hear back”… you’ve already lost.

This is a packed conversation with recruiting legend Jeff Hyman — and if you’re wondering what it takes to not just survive, but thrive in the age of AI, this is your wake-up call.

What You’ll Learn:

🚀 AI Isn’t Waiting
The future is here. Jeff Hyman warns: recruiters who don’t adapt could be out of business by 2026.

❌ Old Habits, Gone
Fetching resumes by keyword and hoping something sticks? That’s over. Sourcing without added value is now a commodity.

🧭 Winners Will Specialize
Your edge? Ultra-specialization. Become the go-to recruiter for a tightly defined niche.

🧠 “DNA” Over Credentials
Success isn’t just about checking boxes — it’s about finding candidates with curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset.

💡 Quick Wins:

  • Build a scorecard before every search.

  • Test new AI tools—especially for sourcing and phone screening.

  • Charge something, even if small, and work exclusively.

  • Fire clients who won’t partner with you.

🎁 Free Resources:

  • Get a free copy of “Recruit Rockstars.”

  • Try Jeff’s AI-driven Shortlist service for free (normally $3,000).

Final Thought:
2026 is right around the corner. Don’t wait. Adapt now — or get left behind.

Atlas combines your ATS and CRM in a single, AI-powered platform. Try it free or book a demo →https://recruitwithatlas.com/

Elite Recruiter Community has launched

Recruiters rarely have a place to learn, share and grow together. That’s why I created the Elite Recruiter Community. As a member, you’ll get:

  • Unlimited replays of our AI Recruiting, Finish the Year Strong and Sales & BD summits.

  • Bi‑weekly live roundtables covering billing strategies, sourcing, business development and more.

  • Access to our Billers’ Club and split board – stay accountable and partner on deals.

  • A trusted network of peers who understand your challenges.

👉 Pricing is $49/month.

📈TRENDING TOPICS and THINGS I AM CURIOUS ABOUT

📲Recruiting Tools:

❓Thought of the week - Check out who you guys voted for in The Elite Recruiter Awards - https://www.eliterecruiterpodcast.com/blog/elite-recruiter-awards/ 

Ready to Level Up?

Ready to Grow Your Recruiting Revenue in 2026? - Register NOW! 

The This Is Your Year Recruiter Summit kicks off on April 27th and it’s 100% free to attend live. Join 30+ expert speakers as they reveal the exact tactics behind landing more clients, closing bigger deals, and scaling faster in 2026. If you’re serious about increasing billings, this is your blueprint. - https://this-is-your-year-recruiter-summit.heysummit.com/ 
Special Guests: Mark Whitby, Mike Williams, Sharon Hulce, Brianna Rooney, and many more