Desperate for a warm body to fill that open role? Here’s why that mindset will cost you way more than waiting another month. New leaders make the same hiring mistakes over and over and it’s wasting time, energy, and money.

Podcast guest, Mitch McDermott joins us to break down what actually works when you’re hiring new team members. As the Founding Partner of Talent Ascension Group, an executive search firm redefining how talent meets opportunity, Mitch has spent his entire career placing mid-level executives and coaching leaders on how to avoid the hiring traps that tank performance.

In this practical conversation, Mitch reveals why interviewing the resume instead of the person is your first mistake, how to know if you’re hiring builders, improvers, or maintainers (and why it matters), and what to do when you’re desperate to fill a seat but keep striking out with candidates.

Most importantly, Mitch explains why you’ll never have certainty in hiring—and why that’s actually okay. Whether you’re making your first hire or your fifteenth, you’ll walk away with practical strategies that help you hire smarter, not faster.

If you’ve ever hired someone out of desperation, misjudged a candidate based on their resume, or wondered why great interviewees turn out to be terrible employees, this episode will change how you approach your next hire.

Key Highlights

• Leadership isn’t about being in charge – it’s about radical responsibility for who sits on your team and where
• The biggest hiring mistake: interviewing the resume instead of the person, making assumptions about what’s not listed
• Job hopping is still a stigma – aim for 2.5 to 3-year stints to show stability without getting stuck
• Always hire from abundance, not scarcity – the wrong hire costs way more than keeping the search open another month
• Limit your must-haves to 4-5 key criteria that someone truly needs on day one to be successful
• Learn more from candidates’ questions than their answers. Questions reveal what they actually value.
• Three types of candidates: builders (create from scratch), improvers (take things from A to Z), and maintainers (keep the lights on)
• If you’re burning through good candidates, it might be your process—too many decision makers blocks good hires
• Build personal relationships in the first few weeks—it’s what keeps people from leaving when recruiters come calling
• You’ll never have certainty in hiring, and some hires just won’t work; accept it as part of leadership

Resources/Links Mentioned

• Mitch’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mcdermott-ba409387/
• Talent Ascension Group website: https://www.talentascension.com/
• Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themadeleader

Guest Bio:

Mitch McDermott is a purpose-driven executive and Founding Partner of Talent Ascension Group, an executive search firm redefining how talent meets opportunity. Mitch brings a dynamic blend of entrepreneurial spirit, global perspective, and a deep commitment to meaningful impact across the talent acquisition landscape. Mitch has built a career centered around unlocking potential—both in individuals and in the organizations they serve.

At the core of Mitch’s leadership philosophy is a belief in progress: progress for people, teams, and the future of work. Since founding Talent Ascension Group in 2020, he has led the company with a clear mission—to disrupt how companies find talent and how talent finds opportunity. Under his leadership, the firm has quickly emerged as a trusted partner for companies seeking to grow with intention, particularly in identifying and placing mid-level talent that drives long-term success. Mitch’s emphasis on a world-class, human-centered recruitment experience has helped his clients not only build better teams, but also shape stronger cultures.

Empowering teams. Elevating careers. Shaping the future of work. Mitch McDermott stands at the intersection of purpose and performance, offering more than just executive search—he delivers transformation.