What would you do if you got fired while sipping wine on vacation in France - even as the top biller at your firm? For Benjamin Mena, that shocking moment became the spark he needed to bet on himself and build a thriving government contracting recruitment agency.

In this heartfelt and unfiltered conversation, Benjamin shares the real story behind his career pivot, from a struggling rookie recruiter nearly let go for not closing deals (despite hitting every metric), to launching a business and growing The Elite Recruiter podcast into a community powerhouse with over 170,000 annual downloads.

You’ll hear how turning down early sales training became his biggest professional regret, and why the lessons he learned from that mistake now shape the way he mentors others. Benjamin also opens up about a critical mindset shift: why chasing fewer, higher-value deals can have more impact than grinding out endless small placements.

We also unpack:

• How content creation and podcasting unexpectedly became his best business development strategy
• Why the AI hype is distracting recruiters from what actually drives results
• The difference between UK and US recruiting models and what it means for your career growth
• Why Benjamin now hosts free recruitment summits to give back to the industry that shaped him

Whether you’re a new recruiter, a team leader, or thinking of starting your own agency, Ben’s journey is full of practical takeaways and honest insights that can help you take your next step with confidence.

Connect with Benjamin Mena on LinkedIn or tune into The Elite Recruiter podcast for more stories, strategies, and straight talk from the frontlines of recruiting.

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