What happens when a recruiter stops relying purely on cold calls and starts building an audience instead?

In this episode of the Marketing Rules Podcast, James Whitelock sits down with Joel Lalgee, widely known as The Realest Recruiter. Joel has built one of the most recognisable personal brands in recruitment, growing a global following across TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube while continuing to operate as an executive recruiter.

Joel shares the story behind how he went from agency recruiter to content creator, why he committed to posting consistently, and what happened when that visibility started turning into real business opportunities.

The conversation digs into the changing reality of recruitment. Outreach is easier than ever thanks to automation and AI, but getting someone’s attention is harder than ever. Joel explains why personal branding, authenticity and trust are becoming the most valuable assets recruiters can build.

James and Joel also discuss the evolving role of content in recruitment, the mistakes people make when trying to copy influencer-style formats, and why the recruiters who succeed in the next decade will look more like media creators than traditional salespeople.

In this episode they discuss:

 * How Joel accidentally fell into recruitment and built a decade-long career in agency
 * Why personal branding started as an experiment on LinkedIn
 * What happened when Joel committed to posting content every single day
 * Why attention and trust are now the hardest things for recruiters to earn
 * The real impact AI and automation are having on outreach and sales
 * Why the traditional “50 cold calls a day” model is becoming less effective
 * How recruiters can combine marketing, content and relationship building
 * The story behind The Realest Recruiter brand and how it became a business
 * How Joel monetises content through speaking, partnerships and executive search
 * Why authenticity and originality beat copying influencer-style content

What listeners will take away:

 * A clear understanding of why personal branding is becoming essential in recruitment
 * Practical ideas for creating content that actually builds trust and visibility
 * A new perspective on how recruiters can stand out in a crowded, AI-driven market
 * Inspiration to think differently about business development and relationship building
 * Why the future recruiter may look more like a creator than a salesperson.



The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by Smart Sifty

smartsifty.com [https://www.smartsifty.com/]

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Joel:⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellalgee/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joellalgee/]

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]



The Truth About Recruitment Content Nobody Talks About With Joel Lalgee

James is joined by Dave Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Wave, who has spent 25 years building recruitment websites and watching them evolve from simple brochure sites to powerful marketing and tech platforms.

We get into the future of the recruitment website, the impact of AI, candidate experience, and why your site should be your hardest-working asset, not just something that sits online looking pretty.

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Dave:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefromwave/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]



Is Your Recruitment Website Already Obsolete With Dave Jenkins

This week, James was joined by Manan Shah, co-founder and CEO of Recruiterflow.

They get into what recruitment data really matters, why most agencies obsess over the wrong metrics, and how velocity, productivity, and AI are reshaping how recruitment businesses scale.

If you care about building a faster, smarter, more resilient recruitment operation, this one’s for you.



#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Manan:⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mananshah212/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mananshah212/]

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]



AI Isn’t Replacing Recruiters. It’s Exposing Who Actually Scales With Manan Shah

In this episode James is joined by Zoe Shackleton, Head of HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Huddersfield Town Football Club.

Zoe sits on the other side of the table to most of TMRP listeners, she’s the end client recruiters are trying to win over.

They talk candidly about talent attraction in football, what genuinely inclusive hiring looks like in practice, and how strong culture and smart use of technology drive retention in high-pressure environments.

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Zoe:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-shackleton-fcipd-38167418/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]

Why Football Clubs Attract Talent Better Than Most Businesses with Zoe Shackleton 

In this episode, James is joined by Thomas Vose, co-founder of HireAra, to unpack what it really takes to build a recruitment tech business from scratch and successfully exit it.

They discuss the challenges of bootstrapping, angel investment, avoiding the VC trap, and what life is really like after being acquired. 

If you’re building, scaling, or thinking about selling a rec tech business, this one is packed with real lessons from the front line. 



#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Thomas:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-vose-149788108/



Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]





What No One Tells You About Selling Your Recruitment Tech Company with Thomas Vose

The Marketing Rules Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you real conversations with the people shaping recruitment, talent, and RecTech. Each episode gives you practical strategies, sharper thinking, and the stories behind the ideas that move our industry forward.



This is The Marketing Rules Podcast

In this episode, James sits down with Rudi Bauer, someone we’ve wanted on the show for a long time.

They explore his journey from software developer to leading Europe’s largest developer community and dig into what developers really want today, how their values are changing, and what skills will shape the future of tech talent.

It is a sharp, honest look at where the market is heading and what it means for employers and candidates alike.



The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.rchilli.com/]

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Rudi:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudi-bauer-1b325813/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]



The Developer Revolution Is Here. Are You Ready? With Rudi Bauer

In this episode, James is joined on the couch, in person, by Ross Thompson, founder of Infinity Staff Global, to unpack how he has successfully expanded from Australia into the UK recruitment market.

They get into why he chose South Africa over the Philippines for offshore talent, how cultural fit and time zones impact performance, and why clients are turning to offshore solutions as the cost of employing in the UK and Australia continues to rise.



The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.rchilli.com/]

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Ross:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]



Why Everyone’s Talking About South African Talent With Ross Thompson

Every now and then, you meet someone who doesn’t just imagine the future — they build it.
In this episode, James talks to Benn Klewpatinond.

A designer, engineer, and inventor whose creations blur the line between technology and humanity. From rethinking the rowing machine with his Float Rower invention to shaping inclusive, purpose-driven products through his company INOND, Benn’s work is all about empathy, innovation, and impact.

Bennhow the mind of a modern inventor works: where ideas come from, how they take shape, and what it really means to design for everyone.



The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.rchilli.com/]

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Benn:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennklewpatinond/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]

Why True Innovation Starts with People, Not Products With enn Klewpatinond

In this episode, James is joined by Howard Flint, a strategist with over 25 years of experience helping HR and recruitment technology businesses scale and realise their full potential. 

They explore what it really means to grow from startup to scale-up, the challenges these companies face as they professionalise, and why understanding the problem you truly solve is the foundation for success. 



The Marketing Rules Podcast is sponsored by RChill

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rchilli.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.rchilli.com/]

#MarketingRules

#TheVoiceOfRecruitmentMarketing

⁠To connect with Howard:⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardflint/

Learn more about James and ThinkinCircles:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkincircles.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thinkincircles.com/]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.themarketingrules.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.themarketingrules.com/]

Why Most RecTech Startups Fail to Scale with Howard Flint

One take. No script and no edits! Your host James Whitelock talks to interesting and influential people about the new Rules of Marketing, Business, Recruitment and Technology.