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.

My First Job hosted by Mike Wood is a business podcast hosted by Purple Acorn, with 24 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Purple Acorn hosts My First Job hosted by Mike Wood, a business show with 24 episodes published.

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  My First Job hosted by Mike Wood

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

  Jul 3, 202527 minS0

  <p>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.</p> <p>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 be...

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  My First Job hosted by Mike Wood

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

  Jun 26, 202532 minS0

  <p>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.</p> <p>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...

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  My First Job hosted by Mike Wood

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

  May 1, 202527 minS0

  <p>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...

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  Episode #21

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

  Apr 24, 202522 minS0

  <p>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...

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  Episode #20

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

  Apr 17, 202527 minS0

  <p>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.</p>

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