Season 7 Hire and Inspire: Stories from Employers
- Aleksandar Antevski
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
There is a special moment in every conversation with an employer when their shoulders relax, their voice softens, and they begin sharing the truth behind hiring—the part they never place in a job ad, never post on LinkedIn, and rarely say out loud. Season 7 of Hire & Inspire was created precisely for those moments.
This season is built around human stories from the other side of the table. Stories from leaders, founders, managers, and owners who carry the responsibility of choosing the right people, guiding teams, and shaping workplaces. And while the job titles may differ, the truth they share is beautifully similar: hiring is deeply human, vulnerable, and often emotional work.
This is the season where listeners finally get to hear what employers really think — the hopes, the fears, the frustrations, and the surprising things they wish every candidate understood.
⭐ The quiet thoughts CEOs wish candidates knew
Many leaders talked about the lonely reality of decision-making. They spoke about the pressure they feel when choosing someone who will influence the direction of a company they’ve built, protected, and sometimes sacrificed entire weekends for.
A CEO once described the moment after an interview, when the candidate had left the room, and the silence felt heavy. “People think we look only at achievements,” they said, “but more often we are looking for someone we can trust on a bad day.”
The message repeated itself through every story: employers are not searching for perfection. They are searching for humans who show up with honesty, humility, and energy.
⭐ HR directors reflecting on their hardest mistakes
Some of the most emotional stories came from HR professionals who admitted the decisions that still sit with them. Many remembered the times they hired someone who looked perfect on paper but was unkind to their colleagues. Others shared the guilt of rejecting someone who turned out to be exactly what another company needed.
One HR director said something unforgettable: “A CV rarely breaks my heart. But a bad culture fit can break a whole team.”
These stories reminded us that hiring is not a science. It’s a balance of instinct, responsibility, and sometimes a little bit of regret.
⭐ Small business owners searching for people who care
The stories from small business owners carried a different kind of emotion — the kind that comes from building something with your own hands.
One owner described staying late to clean the shop floor, wondering if they would ever find someone who cared about the business as much as they did. Another talked about the joy of finally hiring someone who treated customers like family.
Small businesses don’t look for employees. They look for partners, protectors, and believers. And when they find one, the story becomes personal.
⭐ Startup founders navigating chaos with hope
Founders spoke about the rollercoaster of building teams in environments where everything changes week to week. They shared stories of interviewing candidates in coworking spaces, cafés, and even in the back of electric cars between investor meetings.
One founder admitted laughingly that their first “office tour” was just a walk to a corner table they had reserved at a shared workspace.
Startups aren’t hiring skills—they’re hiring spirit. They look for people who can survive uncertainty, celebrate small wins, and build something meaningful from nothing.
⭐ Restaurant owners sharing the weight of hospitality
Those who work in hospitality talked about recruitment not as a process, but as survival. They described the challenge of finding people who can smile through exhaustion, handle stress with grace, and still make a guest feel at home.
One restaurant owner said, “Every time I hire someone, I’m not building a team—I’m shaping an atmosphere.”
Their stories remind us that hospitality is not a job. It’s an emotional performance, and the actors matter.
⭐ Hotel managers teaching the art of guest-first hiring
Hotel leaders spoke about the difference between someone who simply works and someone who genuinely cares. They told stories of employees who stayed late to help a lost guest and others who learnt to say “welcome” in five different languages.
Their voices carried pride when talking about employees who turned difficult days into positive reviews.
Hiring in hospitality is about heart, patience, and the ability to make strangers feel safe — even at midnight, even when tired.
⭐ Tech leaders searching for curiosity, not titles
People expect tech hiring to be all about certifications and advanced degrees, but the leaders we spoke to told a different story. They repeated that they value curiosity more than credentials.
One leader said, “Give me someone who asks ‘why’ three times, and I’ll train them in anything.”
They shared stories of candidates who didn’t have the right background but had the right hunger — and ended up becoming some of their best employees.
These stories show that the future of tech is built by learners, not know-it-alls.
⭐ Retail leaders and the art of customer experience
Retail managers told stories about the importance of energy, warmth, and the ability to read people. They laughed about the memorable employees who could recognize a returning customer after months.
One manager said, “My best staff are the ones who look at the door and see a person, not a purchase.”
Their hiring stories were deeply human, full of emotion and simple truths about connection.
⭐ Construction leaders are facing skilled labor shortages
Leaders in construction shared concerns that echo across the entire industry — the shortage of skilled workers. They talked about the pride in teaching young people trades that last a lifetime and the challenge of finding those who want to commit.
Their stories were filled with admiration for those who work with their hands, those who rise before the sun, and those who build the foundations we live on.
This part of the season felt grounded, real, and full of respect.
⭐ Healthcare leaders speaking about burnout and humanity
The most emotional stories came from healthcare. Leaders talked about burnout, compassion fatigue, and the heartbreaking responsibility of caring for people at their most fragile moments.
One manager said, “I don’t hire hands. I hire hearts.”
Their stories reminded us that hiring in healthcare is not about filling shifts. It’s about protecting the people who protect us.
⭐ The best employee they ever hired
Every employer smiled when describing the employee who changed everything. The one who lifted the team morale. The one who solved problems before being asked. The one who stayed curious, loyal, and humble.
These stories were full of gratitude, admiration, and sometimes emotion — proof that the right hire doesn’t just fill a role. They shape a workplace.
⭐ The nightmare hires
Every employer also had a story they told with a deep breath and a half-smile: the employee who created chaos, the one who looked perfect but acted the opposite, and the one who brought drama instead of value.
These stories weren’t shared with judgment, but with honesty — as reminders of why hiring is both beautiful and difficult.
⭐ The final reflection: understanding the other side
As this season closes, a clear message remains: employers are humans. They worry. They hope. They make mistakes. They try again.
Their stories show that hiring is not about power or hierarchy. It’s about trust. It’s about connection. It’s about finding people who make the work better — and the days brighter.
Season 7 is a tribute to the employers who opened their hearts and shared their truths. And it’s an invitation for every candidate to see hiring from a new perspective.
Hiring is human. Season 7 of Hire & Inspire explores the stories employers rarely share.
Leaders, founders, and managers open up about their hopes, fears, and the decisions that stay with them long after interviews end. They talk about the best employees who transformed a workplace, the hires that taught them lessons the hard way, and the subtle qualities they value most: trust, curiosity, and human connection.
This season is for anyone who wants to understand what happens on the other side of the hiring table — and why it matters for both candidates and teams.
🎧 Listen to Season 7: Stories from Employers
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