In this episode of <i>Executive Connect</i>, small business hiring expert <b>Jamie Van Cuyk</b> joins host <b>Melissa Aarskaug</b> to reveal why finding the right person for your team isn’t about passion or personality, it’s about skill, fit, and clarity. Jamie shares her journey from corporate to consulting and breaks down exactly where business owners go wrong when they hire, even if the candidate looks “perfect” on paper. You’ll learn why defining your ideal candidate before you post the job is essential, how to interview like a pro, and why outsourcing hiring doesn’t mean giving up ownership of the outcome. If you’ve ever made a hire you regretted, this episode is full of practical, real-world advice you can use immediately.<br /><br /><b>What You Will Learn:</b><br /><ul><li>Why passion is not enough when hiring for small businesses</li></ul><br /><ul><li>The biggest hiring mistakes most founders make</li></ul><br /><ul><li>How to build a detailed ideal candidate profile</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Ways to review resumes without wasting hours</li></ul><br /><ul><li>Interview questions that separate real talent from smooth talkers</li></ul><br /><ul><li>When to hire freelancers vs. employees</li></ul><br /><ul><li>How to make staffing agencies work with you, not for you</li></ul><br /><b>Chapters:</b><br /> 00:00 The myth of “just get them on the bus”<br /> 01:14 Jamie’s path from corporate to hiring consultant<br /> 04:17 Why most small business owners struggle to hire<br /> 05:12 How to define your ideal candidate<br /> 08:00 Resume red flags and what to really look for<br /> 10:46 Must-have vs. nice-to-have criteria<br /> 13:40 How to shortlist the right candidates<br /> 15:10 Interviewing: real skill vs. polished answers<br /> 17:03 The power of asking about failure and conflict<br /> 21:44 Skill vs. passion — what matters more<br /> 24:31 The most common outsourcing mistake<br /> 26:41 What you still need to do when using staffing agencies<br /> 28:12 Where to find Jamie online<br /><br /><br /><b>Guest Bio:</b><br /> <b>Jamie Van Cuyk</b> is the founder of Growing Your Team, a consulting agency that helps small business owners hire employees who are worth every penny. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Jamie teaches entrepreneurs how to create a repeatable hiring process that gets results without overwhelm.<br /><br /><b>Connect with Jamie Van Cuyk:</b><br /> <b>Website</b> → <a href="https://growingyourteam.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://growingyourteam.com/</a><br /> <b>Podcast </b>→ Growing Your Team on all major platforms<br /> <b>LinkedIn</b> → <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamievancuyk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamievancuyk/</a><br /><br /><b>Watch more in our Mental Wellness and Leadership Performance playlist:</b><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1</a><br /><br /><b>Connect With Us:</b><br /> Website → <a href="http://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.executiveconnectpodcast.com</a><br /> YouTube → Executive Connect YouTube Channel<br /> LinkedIn → Melissa Aarskaug<br /> Instagram → @executiveconnectpodcast<br /> TikTok → @executiveconnectpodcast<br /> Facebook → Executive Connect<br /><br />