TTP - The Top 10% Podcast with Craig Whiting
TTP - The Top 10% Podcast
TTP - The Top 10% Podcast is a deep dive into the world of hiring, recruitment, and career growth, exploring the strategies, challenges, and trends that shape how companies attract, hire, and retain top talent.
Hosted by Craig Whiting, this series brings together tech leaders, recruiters, and industry experts to share their insights on what it really takes to build high-performing teams in today’s evolving job market.
What to Expect in Each Episode:
🔹 The Hiring Landscape – How companies find, assess, and secure top talent.
🔹 Recruitment & Industry Insights – The evolving role of recruiters, agencies, and internal hiring teams.
🔹 Leadership & Culture – How company culture and leadership styles impact hiring and retention.
🔹 Career Growth & Development – How candidates can stand out and advance in their careers.
🔹 Future of Work – The impact of remote work, AI, and new hiring trends on the job market.
Whether you're a business leader, recruiter, or job seeker, The Top 10% Podcast will challenge your thinking and provide practical, real-world insights to help you navigate the ever-changing world of work.
TTP - The Top 10% Podcast with Craig Whiting
The Top 10% Podcast with Craig Whiting-Ep.4: Alexander Unterrainer on KDB, Tech Hiring & Recruitment
In this episode, Craig sits down with Alexander Unterrainer, a seasoned KDB developer, to discuss the complexities of tech hiring, the role of recruiters, and what it takes to succeed in the finance industry. Alex shares his journey from a graduate at Citigroup to working with major investment banks, highlighting the challenges of breaking into the field and the importance of networking and specialization.
They dive into the common frustrations with recruitment, how companies filter candidates, and why hiring managers often struggle to find the right talent. Alex also explains why niche expertise can be both a blessing and a challenge in today’s competitive job market.
Whether you're a developer, recruiter, or hiring manager, this episode offers insights into career growth, hiring practices, and the evolving nature of tech roles in finance.
🎙 Key Topics:
🔹 The reality of tech hiring in finance & investment banking
🔹 Why recruiters and hiring managers often misunderstand each other
🔹 How candidates can stand out in competitive job markets
🔹 The value of specialization vs. general skills in tech
🔹 How the finance industry is adapting to AI and automation
Tune in for a deep dive into recruitment, hiring challenges, and the skills needed to thrive in financial technology.
Show Notes & Timestamps
[00:00] – Opening & Introduction
Alexander’s background in finance and tech hiring.
The competitive nature of investment banking graduate programs.
[01:00] – The Challenges of Breaking into Finance
Why investment banks filter heavily based on university prestige.
How candidates can improve their chances of landing top jobs.
The role of networking and personal projects in career growth.
[06:00] – Common Issues with Recruiters & Hiring Managers
Why recruiters often fail to understand technical roles.
The frustration of irrelevant job pitches.
The importance of recruiter-candidate relationships.
[12:00] – The Candidate Experience & Feedback Problem
The impact of ghosting in recruitment.
Why detailed feedback matters for candidates.
How better recruiter communication improves hiring outcomes.
[20:00] – Specialization vs. Generalization in Tech Careers
The advantages and risks of being a niche specialist.
Why KDB is highly valuable but has limited opportunities.
How developers can future-proof their careers.
[30:00] – The Role of AI & Automation in Tech Hiring
How AI is changing recruitment and candidate evaluation.
Why banks struggle to implement AI due to security concerns.
The future of AI in financial technology roles.
[40:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
Why companies need to rethink hiring strategies.
The importance of fair recruiter-candidate relationships.
How to navigate career growth in a competitive job market.
Connect with Alexander Unterrainer:
🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderunterrainer/
🔗 DefconQ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/defconq
Blog: https://www.defconq.tech/
📩 Free Newsletter: https://defconq.substack.com/