Hidden Job Market: Exec Hiring 2025 with Adam Ward

Adam Ward (founding partner, Growth by Design) discusses the current landscape of executive hiring in people/talent roles, particularly the prevalence of "pocket listings" - positions filled through private networks rather than public postings. He offers insights into what CEOs value in people leaders (business-driven mindset, operational excellence), how candidates can effectively navigate professional networks, and the importance of structured hiring processes.*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: [email protected] coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccessSupport HR Heretics Sponsor:Metaview is the AI assistant for interviewing. Metaview completely removes the need for recruiters and hiring managers to take notes during interviews—because their AI is designed to take world-class interview notes for you. Team builders at companies like Brex, Hellofresh, and Quora say Metaview has changed the game—see the magic for yourself: https://www.metaview.ai/hereticsLINKS:Growth By Talent: https://www.gbdtalent.com/—KEEP UP WITH ADAM, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINAdam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampward/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—REFERENCE:“Give and Take” by Adam Grant:https://adamgrant.net/book/give-and-take/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(00:57) The "Pocket Listing" Phenomenon in Executive Hiring(02:22) Unpacking the Reasons Behind Covert Hiring Practices(03:59) Practical Strategies for Candidates to Expand Their Networks and Access Hidden Opportunities(05:03) Cultivating a Personal "Board of Advisors" for Career Guidance and Opportunity Awareness(08:41) The Importance of "Give and Take" in Networking and Building Mutually Beneficial Relationships(09:43) Defining the Qualities of a Successful Head of People/Talent: The CEO's Perspective(11:10) A "Business-Driven" Approach to HR Leadership(13:04) Moving Beyond Quantity to Focus on Quality(16:04) Sponsor: Metaview(18:07) Identifying Must-Have Skills and Experiences for a Head of People Role(19:14) The "CEO Whisperer" Role: Balancing Support and Independent Counsel(21:57) Identifying Traits That May Hinder a People Leader's Job Search Success(23:08) Addressing Polarities and Calibrating Expectations Within Hiring Teams(26:48) The Resurgence of Candidate Experience as a Differentiator in a Competitive Market(28:53) Why Top Talent Approaches Job Opportunities with Caution(31:24) Defining the Scope and Focus of the Head of Talent Role in Today's Environment(36:04) How Candidates Should Effectively Interact with Executive Search Firms(41:52) Values Alignment: How To Find a Successful Values Match For Company Culture(42:05) What Causes Executive Placements to Fail?(44:55) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com