Skill Society: Level Up Your Hiring with a People-First Approach! | Ep 183 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo hosts Daniel Mawdsley, Co-Founder of Skill Society. With over 14 years of experience in product management and user experience, Daniel shares his insights on how Skill Society is transforming the hiring landscape. He emphasises the importance of assessing candidates' soft skills beyond traditional resumes and how leveraging AI can provide a more holistic approach to talent screening. Join us as Daniel recounts his journey from UX design to product management, detailing his passion for problem-solving and product optimisation, which ultimately led to the creation of Skill Society.

Daniel discusses his transition from the fast-paced agency world to working in-house, highlighting the shift in focus toward long-term strategies and scalable growth. He reflects on his time at CreditorWatch, where he played a crucial role in guiding the company through its three primary growth stages: establishing product-market fit, scaling operations, and transforming from a startup into a specialist-driven organisation. His experience showcases the challenges and strategies involved in adapting from a small, versatile team to a larger, specialised workforce.

Throughout the conversation, Daniel examines the different mindsets required for startup versus scale-up stages. He explains how startups thrive on high-risk tolerance and adaptability, while scale-ups demand structured processes and specialists with defined roles. He underscores the importance of finding the right people for each stage, capable of navigating the dynamic nature of startups versus those who excel in a more organized scaling environment.

Daniel delves into the complexities of managing a product in its early stages, emphasising the need to pivot based on customer feedback and market dynamics. He shares how the company streamlined its offerings from 53 initiatives to focus on the most profitable ones and segmented its target markets to tailor strategies effectively. This journey illustrates how insights from mid-market clients influence product development for both smaller businesses and larger enterprises.

The episode also explores the origins and vision behind Skill Society. Daniel discusses the challenges of finding candidates who match the specific growth stages of a business and how Skill Society aims to improve the recruitment experience by reducing subjectivity and providing better feedback to candidates. The conversation touches on the limitations of traditional application processes and the disheartening lack of feedback candidates often receive.

Finally, Daniel shares his vision for Skill Society's future, focusing on expanding services to address the full talent lifecycle, including team skill gaps and succession planning. He emphasises that their goal is to enhance productivity by streamlining hiring and improving candidate experiences rather than replacing jobs. As Skill Society continues to grow, Daniel sees opportunities to transform hiring across various roles beyond tech, aiming for scalable and seamless solutions to hiring challenges in today’s dynamic job market.