EP 46 – Mass Spec-Outs Are Lazy. Here’s What to Do Instead w/ Dani-Louise & Kate
In this episode of The 1% Better Recruitment Podcast, I’m joined by Dani-Louise Barkley and Kate Leigh-Ellis, Co-Founders of Barkley Ellis Talent Solutions, Rec2Rec specialists, and fierce advocates for raising the bar in recruitment. We talk all things Rec2Rec, from why they never spray-and-pray, to what actually works when building trusted relationships and placing great candidates. If you're still relying on mass e-shots and blind spec-outs... this episode might make you rethink your strategy. 💥 We cover: ✅ Why most Rec2Rec firms get spec-outs totally wrong ✅ The problem with e-shot culture and lazy outreach ✅ What it really means to work a candidate, not just a job ✅ How to build relationships that last 10+ years (and pay off) ✅ DEI, parenting, disability, and building a business that actually supports people ✅ The truth about the US market, Broadgate culture, and personal branding ✅ Why mastering the basics (and being a good human) still wins Whether you’re a junior recruiter, a Rec2Rec pro, or a founder scaling your team, this one’s packed with honesty, humour, and hard-earned wisdom. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro to Dani-Louise & Kate, and Barkely Ellis Talent Solutions 04:00 – Working jobs vs. working candidates 08:30 – Which markets are job-led vs. candidate-led? 12:10 – The spec-out & e-shot debate 15:00 – WhatsApp, trust, and personal recruiter stories 18:00 – Why they meet every candidate, no exceptions 22:00 – Presentation disasters and keeping standards high 26:00 – Relationship-led recruitment and “Project 200” 30:00 – Market breakdown: Tech, sales, Rec2Rec, exec search 34:30 – Why they love (or hate) US, London, Bristol, Amsterdam 39:00 – Rec2Rec: Then vs. Now 44:00 – Personal branding and attracting the right attention 47:00 – DEI, disability, and being more than a tick-box 54:00 – Labels, privilege, and real inclusion 57:00 – How to get 1% better in recruitment 🔗 Connect with Dani & Kate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-louise-barkley/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiele-kle/ Barkely Ellis Talent Solutions: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barkley-ellis-talent-solutions/posts/?feedView=all 🔗 Connect with Charles Kyriakou LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakou?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46LjJfw0Y4IVJwnigCdxJX LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712/?displayConfirmation=true 👇 Enjoyed this? Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe!
