The Candidate Experience Toolkit: Referrals, Follow-Ups & CRM
Release Date: 03/19/2025
The Talent Tango
In this episode, Amir sits down with Ashley Wines from Carta to dig into what it really means for talent teams to be proactive, not reactive. They unpack the need for talent leaders to embed themselves into the business earlier, how to build trust fast, the importance of internal product roadmaps, and how to handle stakeholder dynamics—especially when you're navigating complex matrix organizations. Whether you’re an HRBP, TA leader, or people ops pro, this episode is your blueprint for becoming a strategic talent partner. 🔑 Key Takeaways Embed Early: Talent needs to be in the room...
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In this episode, Amir sits down with Michelle King, Head of People and Talent at Notable Health, to break down what it really means to have a strategic relationship with the CEO. From spotting red flags in the interview process to pushing back (with impact) once you're in the seat, Michelle shares lessons from the trenches—no fluff, all substance. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a people/talent role looking to elevate their business partnership game and hold their own in the executive room. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Start Before You Start: The foundation of a strong CEO relationship...
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In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Kate Esterman, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Integral Ad Science. Together, they dive deep into the ever-evolving landscape of candidate experience, discussing how market shifts—from candidate-driven to client-driven—impact the way companies engage talent. Kate shares actionable strategies, real-world examples, and her perspective on balancing high-touch human interactions with the scalability of automation, all while maintaining a standout candidate journey. Whether you're scaling your TA team, facing hiring freezes, or juggling...
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In this episode, we dive into Brittany Rohde’s unconventional journey into the HR and people space. With a background in mathematics and a love for admin, Brittany has successfully navigated the world of people operations, compensation, and leadership. We explore how she transitioned from a math degree into HR, her philosophy on taking opportunities, and why she believes every people team should have an engineering component. Key Takeaways 🔹 Diverse Backgrounds Can Drive Success – Brittany’s transition from math to HR showcases the power of transferable skills and how technical...
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In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Cory Eustice, a seasoned talent leader, to dive into the importance of transparency in the hiring process. They explore how organizations can improve candidate experiences, hiring outcomes, and long-term retention by fostering open and honest conversations from the very start. Key Takeaways: Transparency in Hiring Matters – Candidates should be given a full, honest picture of the role, the company, and the challenges they might face. Hiring Managers Play a Role – Recruiters must work closely with hiring managers to ensure they openly discuss both...
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In this episode, Amir sits down with Meg Henry, Head of People & Talent at Companyon Ventures, to explore why onboarding deserves just as much attention as hiring. Meg shares practical insights on structuring an effective onboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition for new hires, and increasing business efficiency through thoughtful onboarding. If you’re in a people or talent leadership role, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways to refine your onboarding strategy. Key Takeaways ✅ Onboarding is often neglected – Companies spend months hiring but little time...
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In this episode, we dive deep into Talent Acquisition (TA) playbooks—how recruiting leaders bring their experiences, frameworks, and best practices into new roles, and how they adapt them to different company environments. Henry shares his insights on onboarding into a new company, assessing existing hiring practices, and implementing change management strategies that actually stick. Key Takeaways: 🔹 The Art of the TA Playbook – Bringing structured frameworks from past roles, but adapting them based on company culture and business needs. 🔹 Assess Before You Act – Why it’s crucial...
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In this episode of The Talent Tango, Amir Bormand is joined by Alex Kim, Head of Talent at NewLimit, to discuss the nuances of expectations and requirements in talent acquisition. They dive into how talent professionals can better understand and serve domain experts, establish success criteria, and adapt to the unique challenges of niche and bleeding-edge industries like biotech. Whether you're an early-career recruiter or a seasoned talent leader, this conversation offers invaluable insights into building trust, setting realistic expectations, and aligning talent strategies with business...
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In this episode, we dive deep into community building and the hiring challenges founders face with Michelle McHargue. As an early-stage investor, Michelle has a front-row seat to the pressure founders experience when hiring top talent. We explore why founders are so selective, how curated communities can impact hiring, and why hiring at early-stage startups is uniquely difficult. Key Takeaways ✅ Top Talent Is Subjective: Every startup defines “top talent” differently, making hiring a challenge. ✅ Early-Stage Hiring Is Cutthroat: Startups compete for the same small pool of talent,...
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In this episode, Amir speaks with Tiffany Chandra, Director of People and Talent at Sapphire Ventures, about the intersection of program management and talent acquisition. Tiffany shares her journey into program management, the skills she cultivated, and how program management principles can transform talent functions in organizations of any size. Whether you’re in a small company or a large organization, Tiffany’s insights offer practical ways to enhance recruiting strategies and improve team alignment. Key Takeaways Program Management in Talent: Effective program management aligns...
info_outlineIn this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Kate Esterman, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Integral Ad Science. Together, they dive deep into the ever-evolving landscape of candidate experience, discussing how market shifts—from candidate-driven to client-driven—impact the way companies engage talent. Kate shares actionable strategies, real-world examples, and her perspective on balancing high-touch human interactions with the scalability of automation, all while maintaining a standout candidate journey.
Whether you're scaling your TA team, facing hiring freezes, or juggling high-volume hiring demands, this conversation is packed with valuable insights for anyone passionate about elevating talent experiences.
Key Takeaways:
- Consistency is Key: Regardless of market conditions, ensure candidates walk away wanting to work with your company—even if they don't get the job.
- Communication First: Regular, transparent communication can’t be skipped. A simple follow-up message goes a long way, especially when bandwidth is tight.
- Leverage the Whole Organization: Activate your employees as brand ambassadors and referrers—especially valuable in tight-knit or small markets.
- Be Transparent Early: Set expectations around compensation, timelines, and processes upfront to minimize surprises and drive offer acceptances.
- Personalized Automation: Automation tools are helpful but should never feel robotic—infuse human touch into every automated message.
- Think Long-Term: Build your CRM and talent community today for tomorrow’s hires. Candidate experiences linger far beyond the immediate role.
Timestamped Highlights:
- [00:01:00] Kate introduces IAS and their work partnering with major platforms like TikTok & YouTube.
- [00:02:08] How market swings—from candidate-driven to surplus talent—impact candidate experience.
- [00:03:50] Resource constraints and bandwidth challenges: why both hiring booms and slowdowns affect communication gaps.
- [00:05:30] Creative solutions: How IAS doubled referral bonuses and engaged employees as recruiters in niche markets like Dublin.
- [00:08:00] Speed, flexibility, and upfront transparency: The pillars of a great candidate experience, regardless of market.
- [00:12:20] “Follow-Up Fridays”: Kate’s simple yet powerful hack to prevent candidates from falling through the cracks.
- [00:14:00] Can GenAI and automation improve candidate experience? The fine line between efficiency and personal touch.
- [00:16:30] Why long-term thinking matters: Stories of candidates who declined offers but re-engaged years later.
- [00:22:30] How talent teams can think like marketers—keeping candidates warm through events, brand building, and community engagement.
Quote Highlight:
"No matter what market we're in, every candidate should walk away wanting to work for your company—whether they got the offer or not." – Kate Esterman
Connect with Kate:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitertech