The Modern Recruiter #78: Building a Recruiting Brand Through Content, Benjamin Mena, Managing Partner @ Select Source Solutions

Hey everyone,

This week on The Modern Recruiter, I had a great conversation with Benjamin Mena, host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast and Managing Partner at Select Source Solutions. Benjamin then interviewed me on his own podcast - give it a listen here. It was fun to do a crossover episode - and I know many of you are already big fans of Benjamin's!

Benjamin shared a lot on his personal story from getting almost fired as a young, hungry recruiter, to launching his successful practice and scale his personal brand:

1. The power of consistent content creation Benjamin's journey with The Elite Recruiter Podcast shows how regular, valuable content can build strong relationships and generate business. He emphasized the importance of sharing others' stories and industry insights rather than always focusing on yourself.

2. Specializing in government contracting recruitment The virtues of niching are something I hear again and again on this podcast (most recently on episodes #73 and #74 with Diane and Clark). By focusing on this niche, Benjamin built a deep expertise that set him apart. He explained how understanding the unique challenges of government contracts has been crucial to his success.

3. Overcoming early career struggles Benjamin started at Aerotek and faced significant challenges in his first few months. He turned things around by learning from top performers, a strategy that helped him become a top biller within a year.

4. Evolving business models in recruitment We discussed how Select Source Solutions shifted from primarily direct placements to offering more consulting services, allowing them to better serve government contracting clients and diversify revenue streams.

5. Advice for recruiters at different career stages Benjamin offered targeted advice:

   • For newcomers: You can't help everyone. Just focus on helping clients find the best person.

   • For experienced recruiters: Go back to basics, hit your metrics, but also find ways to stand out in a crowded market.

   • For all recruiters: Don't neglect sales training, even if you prefer recruiting.

This episode is packed with practical advice for recruiters at all stages, especially those interested in government contracting or looking to leverage content creation for business growth.

What do you think about Benjamin's approach to content creation and specialization? Have you tried similar strategies in your own recruiting business?

I'd love to hear your thoughts - just hit reply and let's chat!

Until next time, Robin