The Human Side of Hiring

in the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors on the Nomad Futurist podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence. With over 16 years of experience in the industry, DeMartino offered a nuanced perspective on talent acquisition that goes far beyond traditional hiring practices.DeMartino’s journey into recruitment began with his father's decision to start a recruiting firm after leaving MCI. He joined the family business in 2009 bringing a unique blend of professional backgrounds, including experience in politics and military service, to the table. DeMartino described the dynamic of working in a family business:"The beautiful part about working for family is you scream, you yell, you fight, you have lunch, and you kind of rinse and repeat. And then you go home and it starts the normal family type of dynamic after that. To do it for this many years – it's actually a treat."DeMartino discussed how the company has grown and expanded its focus over the years:"We've grown the business pretty significantly from working on voice-related positions in the early 2000s to high level data center operations roles, Chief Revenue Officers, Chief Financial Officer positions – I mean, we've pretty much gone up the stack."One of the key points DeMartino emphasized was the importance of the human aspect in recruitment, especially in an age of AI and automated hiring processes. He further highlighted the significance of building relationships and truly understanding clients' needs to be successful in recruitment:"For years I never realized how important [it] was to go to conferences… In the last couple of years, [these conferences have been] focusing on understanding the client's needs and understanding the client in general. That's what ultimately leads to a long-term relationship and partnership."DeMartino offered essential insights into the recruitment industry, highlighting the significance of personal connections, company culture and the human touch in aligning candidates with the right roles.Stay connected with Matt DeMartino on LinkedIn.