1% Better Recruitment Podcast17 Juni 2025

EP 44 – Why Relationships Will Always Beat AI in Recruitment w/ Julian Lisaunskas

What if the best recruiters are still the ones who care the most?

In this episode, I’m joined by Julian Lisaunskas, Founder of 5Q Consultancy and a seasoned Rec2Rec with 18+ years of battle-tested experience.

We dive into what’s really missing in modern recruitment — genuine human connection.

From donut deliveries that led to six-figure accounts to WhatsApp voice notes that win deals, Julian unpacks how building meaningful relationships can’t be replaced by tools or AI. We also explore what it means to be a “recruitment geek,” how to prep candidates like a pro, and why caring about your future now pays off tenfold later.

We cover:

✅ Why most recruiters get relationships wrong

✅ How to stand out in a noisy market

✅ Real-world examples of building loyalty (donuts included 🍩)

✅ The truth about AI, sourcing tools & how to modernise without losing your edge

✅ Why every great recruiter is a bit of a 5-year-old (in the best way)

Whether you’re a rookie recruiter or running a £10M agency, this episode will challenge your thinking.

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Julian’s backstory

04:20 – Why Rec2Rec is harder than people think

08:00 – The power of old-school relationships

13:55 – How a donut delivery won £100K in business

17:30 – What makes a killer job brief

22:15 – Being “the geek” in recruitment

30:42 – Prepping candidates like a pro

37:00 – ChatGPT vs. human intuition

44:40 – Why most interview prep is broken

50:25 – How to challenge your boss with confidence

57:40 – Why businesses MUST invest in training

1:03:00 – The split model, loyalty & what legacy really means

1:06:12 – Final tip: Always ask one more question

🔗 Connect with Julian LisaunskasLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlisauskas/5Q Consultancy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5q-consultancy/posts/?feedView=all

🔗 Connect with Charles KyriakouLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakou?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46LjJfw0Y4IVJwnigCdxJXLinkedIn Newsletter:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712/?displayConfirmation=true

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