David Hiford, Lead Talent Acquisition at Hitachi Rail, challenges the dangerous assumption that experience always equals competence. With nearly four years in recruitment across New Zealand and the UK, David has witnessed firsthand how companies miss out on exceptional talent by refusing to consider career switchers, from engineers becoming project managers to military personnel transitioning to civilian roles.

In this episode, David reveals the hidden conformity bias that's creating homogenous workforces and limiting organizational strength. He shares why hiring managers gravitate toward candidates who mirror their own educational backgrounds and experience, particularly in industries like finance where Russell Group university preferences still dominate decision-making. David's insights on unconscious bias training and the importance of acknowledging our inherent biases provide a roadmap for more inclusive hiring practices.

David's surprising hire story perfectly illustrates his philosophy of prioritizing potential over paper credentials. His approach to spotting talent comes down to one fundamental question: "Do you feel like this is a good person?" This human-centered perspective, combined with skills-based assessment tools, has helped him build stronger, more diverse teams at Hitachi Rail while navigating the complexities of organizational mergers and transformations.

Resources Mentioned

• David Hiford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhiford/ - Lead Talent Acquisition at Hitachi Rail
• Hitachi Rail: https://www.hitachirail.com/ - Global rail solutions and technology company

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

Derek Polowyj from Eden Scott brings a unique perspective to hiring, having studied recruitment as part of his graduate apprenticeship while working full-time in deep technology recruitment. His academic approach combined with real-world experience recruiting for everything from space tech to AI companies gives him fascinating insights into why traditional hiring keeps failing.

Derek reveals the "red pen exercise" that transforms bloated job descriptions into focused requirements, exposing how most companies haven't actually identified what they need versus what they want. He breaks down the dangerous combination of network bias and affinity bias that's quietly undermining diversity efforts, even in companies that think they're progressive. From one-page CVs to buzzword-filled personal profiles, Derek explains why our current approach to CVs is fundamentally broken.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Derek shares the story of an overseas engineer whose CV was full of "red flags" but became one of the best hires his client ever made. It's a compelling reminder that the most surprising successes often come from candidates who don't look good on paper but have incredible stories to tell when given the chance.

Resources Mentioned

• Derek Polowyj: https://linkedin.com/in/derek-polowyj - Recruitment specialist at Eden Scott focusing on deep technologies sector
• Eden Scott: https://edenscott.com - Scotland's largest independent recruitment agency operating across 12+ sectors including renewable energy, deep tech, and professional services

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan

Joshua Sklüt, Chief People Officer and co-founder of MyStandard, joins us to discuss how traditional hiring methods are fundamentally broken. As the creator of the first employment and talent acquisition service built on Web3 technology, Josh argues that platforms like LinkedIn have become "the Tinder of recruiting" - focusing on superficial details rather than actual ability to do the job.

Josh reveals the biggest hiring mistakes companies make, from reactive hiring decisions driven by desperation to unconscious biases that limit talent pools. He shares powerful insights about how diversity improves business quality - not just for social responsibility, but for bottom-line results. The conversation covers why companies unknowingly perpetuate hiring biases even when they believe they're progressive, and how verification of candidates can transform the entire interview process.

The episode culminates with Josh's surprising hire story about bringing on a quadriplegic team member who became an invaluable employee, challenging preconceptions about ability and cultural fit. His wildcard response about abolishing resumes focuses on skills assessments as the only information that truly matters - a philosophy that drives MyStandard's encrypted, candidate-controlled platform where companies pay candidates directly for access to their verified professional data.

Resources Mentioned:

• Joshua's LinkedIn: Chief People Officer and co-founder of MyStandard
• MyStandard: Web3-powered employment platform giving candidates control of their professional data

Studies & Examples Referenced

• Bertrand-Mullainathan Study (2004): American Economic Review research showing identical resumes with white-sounding names (Emily, Greg) vs. African American names (Lakisha, Jamal) resulted in 50% more callbacks for white applicants (Josh referenced this as a "New York Times study" in the episode, but the actual research was published in the American Economic Review)
• Ivy League Hiring Bias - Example of companies that "only hired out of Ivy League schools" blocking 90% of qualified candidates
• Quadriplegic Employee Success Story - Josh's experience hiring a wheelchair-using employee who became an invaluable team member, challenging assumptions about ability and cultural fit

Show Resources

• CV Free Toolkit: cvfree.me/join - Break up with the CV and get everything you need to modernize your hiring approach with skills-based assessments
• Willo: willo.video - The most cost-effective way to screen candidates at scale. Interview candidates anywhere & at any time
• Connect with the Hosts:
  • Andrew "Woody" Wood: linkedin.com/in/andrew-douglas-wood
  • Anita Chauhan: linkedin.com/in/anitachauhan