My First Job hosted by Mike Wood

Cleaning Toilets, Cracking CVs, and Changing Recruiting with Steven McGrath - My First Job ep24

Steven McGrath, Product Experience Manager at Poetry, kicks off his recruiting story far from the tech world—scrubbing bathrooms at 13 and cycling uphill to wash dishes and walk dogs in rural Scotland. From Canada’s hot tub scene to oil and gas recruitment back home, Steve shares how his unconventional path gave him an empathy-first view of hiring. In this episode, he tells Mike how he went from paper résumés to revolutionizing recruiter productivity with Poetry. Along the way, Steve opens up about staying human in an AI-powered world, why recruiters deserve better tools, and how being “too nice” can actually be your greatest strength. Highlights Include: * Manual labor in Canada and how immigration laws changed his life * Recruiting in pre-LinkedIn days using paper files and intuition * Giving free résumé help to overlooked candidates * How Poetry is giving recruiters their time (and sanity) back * What makes Scottish OnlyFans truly unforgettable 📍 Connect with Steven on LinkedIn and visit poetryhr.com [https://poetryhr.com] to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Women’s Shoes to Workforce AI with Ben Mones - My First Job ep23

Before launching Fama, one of the most innovative companies in talent screening, Ben Mones was hustling on the Nordstrom sales floor selling women’s shoes. In this episode, Ben joins host Mike Wood to reflect on lessons from retail, grilling whole hogs, and the early mistakes that inspired him to build a company around online behavioral screening. Ben opens up about his entrepreneurial roots, the experience that made him realize social media should be part of background checks, and how Fama helps companies hire smarter while staying compliant. He also dishes on AI’s impact on hiring, Gen Z’s digital footprint, and why good judgment still beats a great résumé. Key Moments: * Selling Uggs and learning upsell tactics at 18 * Running a barbecue business inspired by his dad, a former pork cook-off champ * The turning point that led to founding Fama * How to responsibly screen online behavior during hiring * What the future of work looks like in the age of AI 📍 Learn more at Fama.io [https://www.fama.io] or find Ben on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Landscaping to Director of Partnerships w Tom Horne - My First Job ep 22

On this episode of My First Job, host Mike Wood talks with Tom Horne, Director of Partnerships at Hari, about his initial foray into the working world: landscaping for a tough neighbor. Tom shares how that challenging first job, along with a subsequent lifeguarding role, instilled crucial lessons in efficiency, hard work, communication, and taking responsibility, which have shaped his career path. The conversation moves to Tom's current role in HR tech, the current state of the job market dynamic, and the potential impact of AI, highlighting how prioritizing skills and using AI to offload tasks can free up time for professional growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Admin Assistant to Parental Leave Coach w Ariana Hillis - My First Job ep 21

Join host Mike Wood as he chats with Ariana Hillis about her diverse and entrepreneurial career path on "My First Job." Ariana shares how her actual first job, starting at age 15 as an Administrative Assistant for the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce (a role she took to save for her first car!), ignited a passion for the business world. Follow her journey from that early office experience and a surprisingly lucrative tanning salon gig, through building a successful real estate career, founding multiple companies including an event planning business and an e-commerce venture, to her current role. Today, inspired by her own experiences, Ariana is the founder of Shoshana's Daughter, providing crucial coaching and consulting to support parents and employers navigating the complexities of parental leave and reintegration into the workforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

From Counting Money to Equity Activations w T. Tara Turk-Haynes - My First Job ep 20

In this episode of "My First Job", host Mike Wood speaks with T. Tara Turk-Haynes, the founder and consultant for Equity Activations. Turk-Haynes shares the unconventional story of her very first job counting money for her father’s business, which was not your typical job but certainly taught her valuable skills. She recounts how this early experience, along with her journey through nonprofit theater, PBS, and corporate roles, ultimately led her to her current position in helping companies embed equitable actions into their operations for a stronger future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]