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.
Episodes
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.
In this episode, he tells Mike how he went from paper résumés to revolutionizing re...
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June 26, 2025 • 31 mins
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.
Ben opens up about his entrepreneurial roots, the experience that made him realize s...
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May 1, 2025 • 26 mins
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 cu...
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April 24, 2025 • 20 mins
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,...
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April 17, 2025 • 26 mins
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, ulti...
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April 10, 2025 • 15 mins
In this episode of My First Job, host Mike Wood sits down with Daniel Chait, the CEO of Greenhouse, to discuss his career journey, starting with his first job as a programmer at a small software company right after engineering school. Daniel shares how his early entrepreneurial experiences and technical background shaped his understanding of business and the critical importance of hiring. The conversation delves into the origins of...
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April 3, 2025 • 8 mins
In this episode of My First Job, host Mike Wood speaks with Ben Hanna, the founder of Custom Camps, about his winding career path. Ben recounts his very first job making ice cream at the age of 14 and how that early experience shaped his work ethic and people skills. From scooping ice cream, Ben's journey led him through travels around the world with couchsurfing.com and into the tech startup scene before he ultimately created Cust...
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March 26, 2025 • 12 mins
In this episode of My First Job, host Mike Wood interviews Jocelyn King, CEO and founder of Virtual HR. Jocelyn recounts her eventful first job in HR at a large retail company, where she navigated high-risk employee relations issues and learned crucial leadership and communication skills. This foundational experience, coupled with her later roles in tech HR, ultimately led her to establish Virtual HR, a company revolutionizing empl...
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March 20, 2025 • 29 mins
In this episode of “My First Job,” host Mike Wood chats with Kevin Grossman about his very first job: a paper route. Kevin shares humorous and insightful anecdotes about the challenges and surprising lessons he learned as a young paperboy, from navigating tricky bike routes with a heavy bag to the daunting task of collecting payments from customers. He reflects on how this early experience, though sometimes scary and uncomfortable,...
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In this episode of "My First Job," host Mike Wood welcomes Michael O'Sullivan to discuss his career journey, starting with his surprisingly enduring first job as a baseball umpire, which he began at the age of 10 and continues to this day. Michael shares how umpiring taught him invaluable skills in decision-making, people management, and time management, and how he initially monetized his love for baseball. He recounts his experien...
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March 6, 2025 • 19 mins
In this episode of "My First Job," host Mike Wood welcomes Joel Lalgee, the "Realist Recruiter" and TikTok influencer, to share the surprising story of his early work experiences. Joel recounts his truly eye-opening first jobs, from illegal cash-in-hand demo work for a slum landlord in his teens to serving up complex coffee orders as a Starbucks barista. They trace his journey from finance to recruiting, and how he eventually embra...
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February 27, 2025 • 18 mins
Join Mike Wood in San Diego at TA Week as he chats with Adam Posner about his truly unique first job as a photographer's assistant, complete with tuxedo attire, film cartridges, and learning to navigate stressful wedding day dynamics. Adam shares hilarious and insightful lessons from his early days holding the flash, before diving into his career journey into recruiting and his current perspective on the chaotic hiring landscape. L...
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February 20, 2025 • 15 mins
Join Mike Wood in a special in-person episode from TA Week in San Diego as he chats with Keirsten Greggs of Trapper Cruder. Keirsten shares her surprising first job involving persuasive (and often unwelcome) telephone surveys and how that early experience built resilience and shaped her career. They delve into Keirsten's journey into recruiting "by mistake," her years in corporate, and the realities of today's tough job market, off...
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February 20, 2025 • 21 mins
Discover the unconventional journey of Sean Luitjens, from washing dishes at the Elks Club to becoming a leading voice in HR tech. In this episode of My First Job, Sean shares how the customer service and time management skills he honed in the restaurant industry laid the foundation for his success. Hear about his serendipitous entry into HR at Monster, his passion for fixing and building, and his take on the transformative power o...
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February 7, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode, Mike welcomes Kara Mignanelli, the leader of TA Week, ahead of the upcoming event in San Diego. They discuss the significance of TA Week, insights into talent acquisition trends, and what attendees can expect. Whether you're in HR, recruiting, or just curious about the industry, this episode provides valuable perspectives from a key figure in the field. Tune in to get the inside scoop before the big event!
Learn m...
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January 30, 2025 • 17 mins
In this episode of My First Job host Mike Wood sits down with Allie Wehlink and talks about her journey from working at a pizza parlor to her career as an applied industrial-organizational psychologist, leading the selection and assessment strategy at Splunk. In their conversation, they discuss her career journey, the challenges of talent acquisition, and insights into hiring best practices. Tune in to hear how Allie got her start ...
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January 23, 2025 • 37 mins
This episode of My First Job, hosted by Mike Wood, features an engaging conversation with Jeff Taylor, the founder of Monster.com, a groundbreaking platform in the online recruiting industry. The discussion delves into Jeff’s entrepreneurial journey, the origins of Monster.com, and its impact on the HR and recruiting space. Jeff shares insights about his early career, the challenges and milestones of building a transformative busin...
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January 17, 2025 • 24 mins
In this episode of 'My First Job,' host Mike Wood welcomes a special guest: a former colleague from WorkHuman with a fascinating career journey. Often referred to as the 'Forrest Gump' of the HR tech world for their diverse professional experiences, the guest shares stories from their varied roles and insights from years in the industry. Tune in to hear how they got started, navigated their unique path, and made an impact along the...
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January 10, 2025 • 24 mins
In this episode of My First Job, host Mike Wood sits down with Laurie Ruettimann, a trailblazer in the HR Tech space and the dynamic force behind Punk Rock HR. From her multifaceted career to her unique insights on workplace culture, Laurie shares her journey of reinvention, humor, and resilience. Tune in for an engaging conversation about professional growth, identity, and lessons learned from the frontlines of HR. Brought to you ...
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January 2, 2025 • 28 mins
In this inspirational episode of My First Job, Mike Wood sits down with the amazing Elena Valentine to details her journey going from performing in a T-Rex costume to community leader and a voice for empowering workers. It's an amazing episode, don't miss it.
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