# eLearning Unscripted Podcast Examines Relational Recruiting in Education
The twentieth episode of eLearning Unscripted features Lauren Blood and Cathy Sands, Senior Talent Solutions Consultants at SweetRush, discussing relational recruiting as a strategy for building stronger education and training workforces.
Relational recruiting moves beyond traditional job postings and applicant tracking systems. The approach prioritizes authentic human connection and relationship-building to identify, attract, and retain talent. Rather than treating hiring as a transactional process, relational recruiting emphasizes long-term relationships with potential candidates, current employees, and professional networks.
Blood and Sands explore how educational institutions and training organizations benefit from this method. Relational recruiting helps schools and companies understand candidate motivations beyond salary. It creates pipelines of engaged professionals who understand organizational culture before joining. It also improves retention by building trust earlier in the hiring process.
The podcast addresses practical applications. Organizations implement relational recruiting through mentorship programs, alumni networks, professional community engagement, and personalized outreach. These methods prove especially valuable in competitive education markets where quality instructors and program managers remain in short supply.
Educational institutions face persistent staffing challenges. Teachers leave the profession at record rates. Ed-tech companies struggle to fill specialized instructional design and curriculum development roles. Relational recruiting offers one response to these pressures by shifting from competitive job postings to collaborative talent development.
The episode reflects broader trends in talent acquisition. Organizations increasingly recognize that hiring extends beyond filling immediate vacancies. Strategic workforce planning requires nurturing relationships with potential candidates over months or years. This approach aligns with how schools and districts already operate, emphasizing community and connection as core values.
Educators and administrators interested in strengthening recruitment efforts can access the episode through eLearning Industry's podcast platform. The discussion provides action