Mike knows what it takes to build in the toughest markets. And what it’s like to go viral on TikTok and LinkedIn.
From leading recruiting teams to helping founders scale through chaos, his journey is packed with lessons on resilience, process, and what really matters when building companies that last.
Mike Peditto is author of Yes, You're Being Judged, Double #1 seller on Amazon. Founder of Realistic Recruiting LLC, former Director of Talent at Teal, keynote speaker, and recruiting consultant. Known as The Realistic Recruiter, Mike has spent over a decade leading hiring at startups and large companies, sitting across from thousands of candidates and managers, and helping organizations fix broken hiring processes. With over 400,000 followers and 100 million+ views on social media, Mike is a leading voice in talent and recruitment, featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Newsweek, and more. He also co-hosts the popular Is it still a good time, breaking down corporate life with honesty and wit. His keynotes and workshops deliver actionable strategies—whether it’s improving your ATS, leveraging employee branding, or turning candidate judgment into an advantage.
In this episode, we get into:
• The realities of hiring when the market turns
• What founders actually want from their recruiting partners
• Why recruiter storytelling is an undervalued superpower
Episode 005 of Building the Talent Machine is out now 🔊
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