The hiring process is broken, and both employers and job seekers are feeling the frustration. In this episode, host David Rice talks with Jessica Smith, founder and CEO of Savant Recruitment, about the unrealistic expectations plaguing talent acquisition today. From the “Goldilocks syndrome” of rejecting great candidates to drawn-out hiring processes, Jessica exposes the missteps that are costing companies top talent.

Jessica also unpacks why the hunt for “unicorn candidates” is setting companies up for failure and why scaling businesses need to rethink their hiring strategies. She offers practical solutions for streamlining recruitment, making decisive hires, and creating a process that actually attracts—not repels—top talent.

The digital product space is being inundated with disruptions that directly impact the job prospects for product people. The economic recession, industry-wide layoffs, and AI have changed the game for aspiring and ladder-climbing PMs, but great roles at great companies are still out there for those who know how to play the game.

In this part one of a two-part conversation, Hannah Clark is joined by Jessica Smith—Founder and CEO of Savant Recruitment—to share invaluable insights on how to come out on top in the competitive product management career landscape.

In the fast-paced world of product management, the role of a leader is crucial in shaping the success and growth of a team.

In this episode, Hannah Clark is joined by Jessica Smith—Founder & CEO of Savant Recruitment—to explore the intricacies of product leadership, talent acquisition, and team retention.