Ever wondered how the brightest minds in HR, talent acquisition, and recruiting got their start? My First Job, hosted by industry insider Mike Wood, takes you on a journey through the early beginnings of today’s top thought leaders in the world of HR. Each episode dives into the formative first jobs that shaped their careers and the lessons they learned along the way. With engaging conversations and plenty of inspiring moments, My First Job offers valuable insights into the people behind the policies, the strategies that lead to success, and the power of embracing humble beginnings. Whether you’re an HR pro or just starting your career, this podcast will spark new ideas and remind you that every journey has a first step.
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Ever wondered how the brightest minds in HR, talent acquisition, and recruiting got their start? My First Job, hosted by industry insider Mike Wood, takes you on a journey through the early beginnings of today’s top thought leaders in the world of HR. Each episode dives into the formative first jobs that shaped their careers and the lessons they learned along the way. With engaging conversations and plenty of inspiring moments, My First Job offers valuable insights into the people behind the policies, the strategies that lead to success, and the power of embracing humble beginnings. Whether you’re an HR pro or just starting your career, this podcast will spark new ideas and remind you that every journey has a first step.
Cleaning Toilets, Cracking CVs, and Changing Recruiting with Steven McGrath - My First Job ep24
My First Job hosted by Mike Wood
26 minutes
4 months ago
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 to learn more.
My First Job hosted by Mike Wood
Ever wondered how the brightest minds in HR, talent acquisition, and recruiting got their start? My First Job, hosted by industry insider Mike Wood, takes you on a journey through the early beginnings of today’s top thought leaders in the world of HR. Each episode dives into the formative first jobs that shaped their careers and the lessons they learned along the way. With engaging conversations and plenty of inspiring moments, My First Job offers valuable insights into the people behind the policies, the strategies that lead to success, and the power of embracing humble beginnings. Whether you’re an HR pro or just starting your career, this podcast will spark new ideas and remind you that every journey has a first step.
