“The competition isn’t other recruiters. It’s anyone trying to get your audience’s attention.”

Today, simply being a great recruiter isn’t enough. You need a personal brand that sets you apart from the competition.

In this episode of The Recruitment Podcast, host Kate O’Neill is joined by Joel Lalgee, a recruitment industry veteran turned personal branding coach. 

With over a million followers and deep expertise in social selling, Joel shares his journey of building an influential personal brand—and how recruiters can do the same.

From why consistency is key to leveraging video content for visibility, this episode is packed with strategies that will help recruiters stand out online.

What are some common personal branding mistakes? 

Joel shared the most shocking personal branding mistakes in his interview. Check them out: 

• Introducing yourself in every video

→ “You have five seconds to hook someone. No one cares who you are—get to the point.”

• Not evolving over time

→ “What worked last year won’t work now. The game is leveling up—are you?”

• Focusing on vanity metrics

→ “Recruitment isn’t about views. It’s about whether the right people in your market know who you are.”

• Neglecting video content

→ “Written posts are easy. Video is harder—but it’s also way more impactful.”

Is there a need for a personal brand of recruiters?

Yes. Many recruiters underestimate the power of branding, assuming that business development and personal branding are separate. 

However, as Joel explains, they are deeply intertwined. Here’s how:

1. Builds trust and familiarity 

Potential clients and candidates recognize your name before you even reach out. This makes cold calls warmer and business conversations smoother.

“When I reach out to someone, they often say, ‘Oh, I’ve seen your content!’ That instantly creates trust.”

2. Reduces outbound effort

Recruiters constantly struggle with business development. 

A well-established digital presence ensures that prospects are already familiar with you—reducing rejection and making inbound leads more likely.

“I still do outbound. But because of my personal brand, I don’t start from zero—I already have credibility.”

3. Scales visibility with zero cost

Unlike paid ads, building a personal brand is free. Joel emphasizes how a single 10-minute video can generate days’ worth of visibility.

“Imagine trying to get four days of phone time. That could take months. But with video content, I achieve that reach effortlessly.”

Joel has LEAKED some more epic personal branding strategies in the episode. But for that, you need to 👇