Most job seekers think sending more applications is the answer. Hiring experts say otherwise.

In this episode of The Hiring Confessional, Michael Hayes sits down with Grand Canyon University students Kaitlyn Anderson and McKenna Martin to discuss what today's graduates are experiencing in the job market—and what employers actually want.

From networking and internships to LinkedIn, AI, communication skills, and multiple interview rounds, this conversation uncovers the career advice most colleges don't teach.

Whether you're a college student, recent graduate, young professional, or hiring manager, you'll learn practical strategies to stand out in today's competitive job market.

In this episode:

• Why networking beats online job applications
• The biggest mistakes new graduates make
• How to build a resume with little experience
• Why communication skills matter more than ever
• LinkedIn tips that can help you get noticed
• The truth about internships and entry-level jobs
• Should you take an unpaid internship?
• How AI is changing hiring and education
• Why employers care about problem solvers
• What recruiters actually look for during interviews

If you're trying to land your first job, switch careers, or hire better talent, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

From British Army to 150 Employees: The Leadership Rules That Built Air2O

What does it take to build a high-performance manufacturing company?

In this episode of The Hiring Confessional, Michael Hayes sits down with Tom Sullivan, Co-Founder and COO of Air2O, to discuss leadership, hiring, manufacturing growth, company culture, and the lessons he brought from the British Army into business.

Tom shares how Air2O grew from a small engineering startup into a global manufacturing company with 150+ employees, plans for a 6x facility expansion, and hundreds of new jobs on the horizon.

Topics include:

✅ Hiring for attitude over experience
✅ Why soft skills matter more than resumes
✅ Military leadership principles in business
✅ Building accountability and ownership at every level
✅ Scaling a manufacturing company through rapid growth
✅ Data centers, innovation, and mission-critical cooling technology
✅ Creating a culture where people take pride in their work
✅ The future of manufacturing and workforce development

Whether you're a business owner, hiring manager, entrepreneur, recruiter, or someone looking to grow your career, this conversation is packed with practical leadership insights.

Guest: Tom Sullivan, COO & Co-Founder, Air2O
Host: Michael Hayes, The Hiring Confessional

#Leadership #Hiring #Manufacturing #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #Recruiting #LeadershipDevelopment #Air2O #HiringConfessional #DataCenters #ManufacturingJobs

🎙️ In this episode of The Hiring Confessional, Michael Hayes sits down with media entrepreneur, broadcaster, and podcast pioneer Dave Pratt.

Dave shares why he left traditional radio before its decline, how he built Star Worldwide Networks, and what employers should really look for when hiring talent. The conversation covers networking, company culture, podcasting, AI, personal branding, leadership, and why relationships still matter more than resumes.

Key Topics:
• Why radio declined and podcasting exploded
• Hiring beyond the resume
• Building a strong company culture
• Networking strategies that create opportunities
• The future of AI, marketing, and media
• Why showing up still matters
• Lessons from decades in business and broadcasting

Whether you're a business owner, recruiter, job seeker, marketer, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

🎧 Subscribe for more hiring, recruiting, leadership, and career insights from The Hiring Confessional.

#DavePratt #MichaelHayes #HiringConfessional #Podcasting #Leadership #Networking #Hiring #Recruiting #CareerAdvice #BusinessGrowth