Hawthorne Recruitment: Insights https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/ Essays by Scott McGaw on hiring, leadership and career moves. en-ca Sun, 24 May 2026 14:12:15 -0300 You didn't get the job. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/you-didnt-get-the-job/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/you-didnt-get-the-job/ Sun, 24 May 2026 14:12:15 -0300 Scott McGaw Maybe they told you why. Maybe they told you nothing at all. And if they did give you feedback, there's a decent chance it was abstract nonsense. Nobody writes this in a LinkedIn announcement. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/nobody-writes-this-in-a-linkedin-announcement/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/nobody-writes-this-in-a-linkedin-announcement/ Wed, 20 May 2026 17:29:55 -0300 Scott McGaw Nobody writes this in a LinkedIn announcement: "Thrilled to accept a role that sounds impressive, pays well, and slowly turns me into someone my family… Am I staying because this is still right, or because I have gotten too good at explaining why it is not wrong? https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/am-i-staying-because-this-is-still-right/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/am-i-staying-because-this-is-still-right/ Thu, 07 May 2026 11:54:24 -0300 Scott McGaw You know the answer before you admit it. You know it every Sunday night. You know it in the way you edit yourself before you speak. I had a candidate say… I named Hawthorne Recruitment after the street I live on. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/i-named-hawthorne-recruitment-after-the-street-i-live-on/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/i-named-hawthorne-recruitment-after-the-street-i-live-on/ Wed, 06 May 2026 17:12:54 -0300 Scott McGaw Before I launched, I'd walk around Banook Lake most days at lunch, working through the business. Stop overcorrecting. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/stop-overcorrecting/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/stop-overcorrecting/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:34:24 -0300 Scott McGaw When people tell me why they're leaving, I don't believe the first answer. Usually not the second one either. Because it's almost never one thing. It's a… The biggest driver of retention isn't compensation. It's trust. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-biggest-driver-of-retention-is-trust/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-biggest-driver-of-retention-is-trust/ Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:04:43 -0300 Scott McGaw I've had hundreds of conversations with candidates who would be a strong fit for an opportunity. They say no. Care less. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/care-less/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/care-less/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:26:56 -0300 Scott McGaw This is one of the most annoying pieces of career advice I give to high performers. The strongest leaders share one trait. Accountability. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-strongest-leaders-share-one-trait/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-strongest-leaders-share-one-trait/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 23:58:28 -0300 Scott McGaw The strongest leaders I've worked with share one trait consistently. Accountability. It's also the thing I've most often seen break them. The most important work I do doesn’t happen in a search. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-most-important-work/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/the-most-important-work/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:03:36 -0300 Scott McGaw Some of the most important work I do doesn’t happen in a search. It happens in a conversation with someone who has forgotten who they are. Job boards create depression. https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/job-boards-create-depression/ https://hawthornerecruitment.com/insights/job-boards-create-depression/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:29:35 -0300 Scott McGaw I’ve watched thousands of people pour themselves into applications on these platforms only to meet silence. No feedback. No clarity. Just a void where answers should be.