The Top 10% Podcast with Craig Whiting - Ep. 2: Greg Osinaike on Culture, Hiring Challenges & The Role of Recruiters

In this episode, Craig sits down with Greg Osinaike to dive deep into the hiring process from a hiring manager’s perspective. They discuss why recruitment is more than just a transactional process, the importance of understanding company culture, and how recruiters can truly add value beyond just sending CVs.

Greg, who has led hiring across various financial institutions and trading firms, shares his candid thoughts on the relationship between hiring managers and recruiters. He explains the common pitfalls in hiring, why culture should be a top priority, and what companies get wrong when they centralize recruitment.

Whether you’re a hiring manager, recruiter, or candidate, this episode will give you valuable insights into hiring strategies, candidate engagement, and why the best hires aren’t always the most obvious ones on paper.

🎙 Key Topics:

🔹 Why recruiters often struggle to understand hiring managers' needs
🔹 The importance of culture fit over technical skills
🔹 How centralizing recruitment can hurt hiring outcomes
🔹 Why relationships between hiring managers and recruiters matter
🔹 How candidates can stand out and transition to new industries

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of hiring, company culture, and how recruitment should evolve to meet modern challenges.

Show Notes & Timestamps

[00:00] – Opening & Introduction

• What Greg looks for when hiring: "Conscientiousness and batteries included."

[01:00] – The Recruiter’s Role in Hiring

• Why hiring is more than just filling roles.
• The challenges recruiters face in understanding company needs.
• How recruiters can add value beyond matching keywords on CVs.

[06:00] – The Disconnect Between Recruiters & Hiring Managers

• Why most recruiters don’t understand company culture.
• The risks of poor recruiter relationships.
• Why hiring should be about potential, not just skills.

[10:00] – Culture Beats Strategy in Hiring

• Why culture is the most critical factor in hiring decisions.
• How companies should communicate their culture to recruiters.
• The impact of poor cultural alignment on long-term success.

[18:00] – The Problem with Centralized Recruitment

• Why large companies limit recruiter access—and why that backfires.
• How internal recruitment teams often create more hiring friction.
• The unintended consequences of talent acquisition centralization.

[27:00] – The Candidate Experience: Finding the Right Fit

• Why moving jobs is more than just a salary decision.
• How recruiters can help (or hurt) a candidate’s career progression.
• The importance of proactive career development.

[37:00] – Rethinking Hiring & The Problem with Job Descriptions

• Why rigid job specs don’t work in a fast-changing market.
• How hiring for adaptability leads to better long-term success.
• The role of recruiters in shaping better hiring strategies.

[50:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

• Why companies need to rethink how they engage with recruiters.
• How hiring managers and recruiters can work better together.
• The importance of hiring great people and letting them grow.