🎧 In Episode 118 of Talk To Th3 Doc, host Steve “The Doctor” Meek sits down with staffing strategist James Bier to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing today’s SMB leaders — the 42-day hiring drag and the hidden costs that come with it. From AI-generated resumes that blur candidate quality to LinkedIn networking that opens new recruiting pipelines, this episode unpacks how proactive hiring strategies can help SMBs stay competitive, protect productivity, and strengthen culture. 💬 Top Takeaway: “Proactive hiring strategies are essential.” – James Bier If your organization struggles with staffing gaps or slow recruiting processes, this conversation will help you rethink how to find and retain great people before vacancy costs start adding up. ⏱️ Timestamps & Key Highlights: 00:00 – Intro: Why hiring delays cost more than you think 02:54 – The current state of staffing and recruitment 05:48 – How SMBs can build proactive hiring pipelines 09:03 – Leveraging LinkedIn for talent networking 14:56 – Why job postings alone don’t work 17:46 – AI-generated resumes: benefit or barrier? 20:46 – The hidden cost of vacancy and productivity loss 26:59 – Career growth and employee retention strategies 37:20 – Remote vs. in-office: the modern workforce balance 56:17 – Interviewing for coachability and long-term fit 💼 Guest Bio: James Bier is a staffing and recruitment strategist who helps organizations transform how they hire and retain talent. With over two decades of experience in staffing and workforce solutions, James has worked with leaders to build scalable recruitment strategies, strengthen culture, and improve overall productivity. 🔗 Connect with James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbier/ 🌟 Why This Matters for SMBs It takes an average of 42 days to fill a key role — and the cost of vacancy can exceed $30,000 in lost productivity. AI resumes are reshaping the hiring landscape — but not always for the better. LinkedIn networking and proactive recruiting outperform job boards in both quality and speed. SMB leaders must treat hiring like business development — build relationships before they’re needed. 🚀 About This Episode This episode dives deep into the intersection of technology, staffing, and leadership—and how small to mid-sized businesses can apply Fulcrum’s proactive mindset to their hiring and operations. At The Fulcrum Group, we help DFW organizations align their technology with business goals through SPOT Managed IT Services and the STARPower framework—a proactive, strategic approach to IT and process improvement. Just like in staffing, our philosophy is simple: Don’t wait for something to break to start fixing it. 🔗 Links & Resources 🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ 📺 Watch the full playlist: Talk To Th3 Doc YouTube Playlist 📩 Subscribe for updates: https://pod.link/1807560282 💼 Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemeekcissp/ 🔑 Suggested Hashtags: #TalkToTh3Doc #DFWBusiness #ManagedITServices #StaffingChallenges #HiringDelays #AIResumes #LinkedInRecruiting #CostOfVacancy #SMBLeadership #RecruitmentStrategy #FulcrumGroup #NoITJerks #ITLeadership #SMBTech #TechnologyStrategy