--- title: "Kitchen Side: Lessons Learned Hiring & Tips for Job Seekers" id: "3404" type: "post" slug: "kitchen-side-lessons-from-hiring" published_at: "2023-09-08T12:05:00+00:00" modified_at: "2025-01-10T17:53:58+00:00" url: "https://beomniscient.com/blog/kitchen-side-lessons-from-hiring/" markdown_url: "https://beomniscient.com/blog/kitchen-side-lessons-from-hiring.md" excerpt: "In this Kitchen Side episode, discussed a range of topics..." taxonomy_category: - "Podcast" --- In this Kitchen Side episode, discussed a range of topics including their recent hiring process, remote work, and the importance of being analytical in content and SEO fields. Omniscient Digital founders, [Allie Decker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliecdecker) , [Alex Birkett](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexbirkett) , and [David Ly Khim](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlykhim) shared insights into their hiring process, emphasizing the skills and traits they look for in candidates, and also discussed the challenges of remote work and the value of face-to-face communication. This episode highlights the importance of thoroughness, self-awareness, and alignment with company values in the hiring process and also the need for curiosity, analytical skills, and the ability to ask thoughtful questions. ## **Topics** - Remote work etiquette - The value of in-person interaction - Filtering out candidates based on attention to detail - Filtering candidates in the hiring process - Assessing self-awareness and drive in candidates - The importance of independent thinking and setting strategy - Structured thinking and clear justifications - Curiosity and asking the right questions - The role of analytics in SEO and content strategy - The unique combination of skills at Omniscient Digita - The importance of hearing from people in the weeds ## **Show Links** - Connect with David Khim on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlykhim) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/davidlykhim?lang=en) - Connect with Alex Birkett on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexbirkett) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/iamalexbirkett?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) - Connect with Allie Decker on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliecdecker) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/alliecdecker?lang=en) - Connect with Omniscient Digital on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/omniscient-digital?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/beomniscient_) ***What is Kitchen Side?*** One big benefit of running an agency or working at one is you get to see the “kitchen side” of many different businesses; their revenue, their operations, their automations, and their culture. You understand how things look from the inside and how that differs from the outside. You understand how the sausage is made. As an agency ourselves, we’re working both on growing our clients’ businesses as well as our own. This podcast is one project, but we also blog, make videos, do sales, and have quite a robust portfolio of automations and hacks to run our business. We want to take you behind the curtain, to the kitchen side of our business, to witness our brainstorms, discussions, and internal dialogues behind the public works that we ship. ## Listen to the podcast: ## Key Takeaways: **[00:04:10] Remote work etiquette** Discussion about the etiquette of remote work, including dressing up for client calls and meetings, finding a balance between comfort and professionalism, and the impact of outfits on productivity. **[00:08:19] The value of in-person interaction** Discussion about missing the social aspect of being around people and the lack of shared environments for conversation. **[00:14:35] Filtering out candidates based on attention to detail** Explanation of the “brown M&Ms clause” and the importance of candidates following instructions and paying attention to details in the application process. **[00:18:33] Filtering candidates in the hiring process** Explanation of the multiple phases of the [hiring process](https://jake-jorgovan.com/blog/servicenow-recruiters-staffing-agencies-headhunters-search-firms) and the purpose of each phase in filtering out candidates to find the best fit for the job. **[00:21:22] Assessing self-awareness and drive in candidates** Exploration of the interview questions used to assess candidates’ self-awareness and motivation, including discussing strengths, weaknesses, and reasons for wanting to work remotely. **[00:25:23] The importance of independent thinking and setting strategy** Discussion about the qualities needed for the strategist role, including independent thinking, setting strategy alone, and building relationships with clients alone. **[00:37:03] Structured thinking and clear justifications** Discussion on the importance of structured thinking, taking time to think before responding, and providing clear justifications for decisions. **[00:40:55] Curiosity and asking the right questions** Importance of curiosity in the role, asking probing questions, and digging deeper into data to gain insights and understand trends. **[00:45:06] The role of analytics in SEO and content strategy** Exploration of the analytical mindset required for SEO and content strategists, and the value of learning analytics in different roles. **[00:47:39] The unique combination of skills at Omniscient Digital** Reflection on the team’s diverse strengths, including analytical skills, and the importance of balancing production and analysis in content agencies. **[00:52:02] The importance of hearing from people in the weeds** Discussion about the value of hearing from individuals who are currently going through experiences rather than those who have already figured everything out. ## Get the Field Notes Weekly learnings from working on B2B content & SEO for dozens of companies.