What does it take to go from being laid off to becoming a successful leader in the recruiting industry? In this inspiring episode of the Elite Recruiter Podcast, "From Layoff to Leader: Starting a Recruiting Business," host Benjamin Mena sits down with Zach Keen to uncover his remarkable journey from corporate setbacks to launching and growing his own recruiting firm, Keen Search and Staffing.
Zach shares the valuable strategies and actionable advice that helped him navigate the challenges of starting a business while balancing life as a parent of three. From the power of mentorship and securing investors to building authentic client relationships and cultivating a winning mindset, this episode is packed with insights for recruiters looking to achieve success in their careers or take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Discover how Zach leveraged over a decade of experience in business development and staffing to create a thriving company focused on authenticity and inclusivity. Learn his approach to overcoming funks, setting meaningful KPIs, and adapting to the ever-changing recruiting landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned recruiter or just starting out, Zach’s real-life experiences and success habits will motivate you to chase your dreams and succeed in today’s competitive market.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insider tips and learn how to navigate the recruiting industry with confidence. Tune in now, subscribe to the Elite Recruiter Podcast, and join a community of professionals dedicated to growth, innovation, and achieving success. Your next big breakthrough starts here!
#fullcyclerecruiter #recruitingforbeginners #talentacquisition #businessdevelopment #recruitingniche
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - Getting Laid Off to Start Your Own Firm
02:50 - Journey into Recruiting
06:30 - Attracting Investors for Your Business
10:28 - Securing Your First Clients
11:14 - Marketing Yourself Effectively
13:31 - Focus on the Houston Recruiting Market
14:50 - Finding Your First Recruiter
16:37 - Strategies for Rapid Growth
17:14 - Business Development Success
18:20 - AI Recruiting Summit 2025
19:20 - Impact of Cold Calling on Business
20:20 - Key Performance Indicators for Success
22:43 - Future Vision for Your Business
23:50 - Life Without Investor Funding
25:21 - Additional Insights to Share
26:10 - Advice for New Recruiters
28:10 - Influential Book for Zach
29:06 - Overcoming Personal Challenges
29:45 - Balancing Multiple Responsibilities
31:05 - Overcoming Introversion in Business
33:46 - Starting Out in Recruiting: Tips
34:40 - Launching Your Own Agency: Advice
35:15 - Connecting with Zach
35:35 - Final Thoughts
37:04 - Sponsored by OT Assistants
AI Recruiting Summit 2025 – Registration: https://ai-recruiting-summit-2025.heysummit.com/
Finish The Year Strong 2025 – Registration: https://rock-the-year-2025.heysummit.com/
This episode is brought to you by Remote Assistants https://www.remoteassistants.ai/ – the go-to partner for recruiters who are done wasting time on operations, sourcing, or marketing. Their Remote Assistants are pre-vetted and fully trained for an entire 4 months. We’re talking sourcing, candidate follow-up, backend automation, marketing support – all the things that pull you away from actually growing your business. So if you’re serious about scaling your agency, and want to buy back your time with real, plug-and-play talent – go to www.remoteassistants.ai and get matched in under 48 hours.
Free Trial of PeopleGPT and its AI Agents: https://juicebox.ai/?via=b6912d
Free Trial of Talin AI: https://app.talin.ai/signup?via=recruiter
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YouTube: https://youtu.be/VNFxVYkLw1k
Follow Zack Keen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachkeen/
With your Host Benjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/
Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/
Benjamin Mena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/
