Recruiting isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about helping people and businesses thrive – Blake Williams.

In episode 11 of the Humans of Recruiterflow series, we spotlight Blake Williams, Founder of Hyperdrive Recruiting.

As a kid, Blake dreamed of racing under stadium lights, a NASCAR driver in full gear, roaring down asphalt tracks. But like many childhood dreams, life redirected him.

After college, while his friends jumped into staffing, Blake entered the insurance industry, following in his dad’s footsteps. It didn’t stick.

“I suffered through it for three years, I just knew this isn’t what I want to do.”

So he did what many only fantasize about: he hit pause on everything. Packed up. Moved to Hawaii. Took a job as a waiter on a cruise ship. No plan, no timeline, just space to breathe.

When he returned to the mainland, his friends, now thriving recruiters, had something he wanted: momentum, purpose, energy.

Blake wanted in.

What followed was a string of humbling rejections. Nine interviews. No offers. Even referral applications fell flat.

“I was bad at interviewing, ironic, I know. Eventually, a friend helped me land a recruiting gig at ZipRealty. That hourly job became the first step to something bigger.”

From the Desk to the Driver’s Seat

After years of growth at ETN Group and JobBot, Blake reached a point many recruiters dream of: a strong reputation, leadership roles, and peak performance in a thriving market. But when the tech market slowed and organizational shifts hit, he faced a choice. Stick it out, or bet on himself.

“I always knew I wanted to run my own show. I just kept thinking why am I giving up 60% of my commission?The math made sense: even if I did half the deals, I’d keep 100%. But more than that, I wanted freedom, mental space, balance and impact.”

In July 2023, Hyperdrive Recruiting was born.

So he pivoted, placing revenue-generating talent in sales, marketing, and advertising roles. 

“Those jobs are tied directly to ROI. They make more sense in a tight market.”

Redefining Success

Success, for Blake, has evolved.

“Initially it used to be about the numbers. I wanted to top the leaderboard and get the biggest paycheck. Now, it’s about how I feel when I close my laptop. Did I help someone? Did I make a difference?”

He no longer wakes up at 5 a.m. to chase deals. Instead, he balances work with being a present dad to three kids, a podcast host, and a learner.

“I want to work at a pace I can sustain forever. I don’t want to retire. I want to enjoy the ride.”

Blake’s No-Nonsense KPI Framework

At one point in his career, Blake was tracking everything: calls, emails, networking events, conversations — all in the name of performance. But it wasn’t sustainable, and it wasn’t helping him focus.

Then came a shift.

Inspired by a simplified system he picked up from recruitment trainer Mark Anderson, Blake decided to boil his metrics down to three key actions:

• Submissions
• Interviews booked
• Signed agreements

Each had a point value: 2 points for a submission, 3 points for an interview, and 5 points for a signed agreement. The target? 20 points a week.

“At first I was like, damn, 20 points? That’s a lot. But once I got the hang of it, I became a submachine gun for submissions. I was hitting 30, sometimes 50 points a week.”

That framework changed everything.

It gave Blake clarity. It gave him control. And most importantly, it gave him peace of mind in a volatile market where results can be delayed but actions are always within reach.

He no longer obsesses over noise. He tracks what matters. He adheres to a system that enables him to stay productive without burning out.

“For anyone running solo or just starting out, this is what I’d recommend: forget about vanity metrics. Focus on what you can control — submissions, interviews, and signed deals. That’s the real heartbeat of your pipeline.”

Tech-forward, people-first

As a solo founder, Blake leans heavily on automation and AI. He’s practical about AI’s role in recruiting and unafraid of the future.

“AI will absolutely replace some recruiters,” he says. “Especially in high-volume, transactional spaces. Screening, scoring, scheduling, all of that can be automated.”

But he draws a firm line.

“Top talent? Passive candidates? The people you actually want to place? They don’t want to talk to a bot. They want trust, nuance, and empathy. AI can’t do that.”

For Blake, the future of recruiting isn’t AI or human, it’s AI and human. Let the tech do the grunt work. Let the recruiter do the connecting.

Be the Recruiter They Remember for the Right Reasons: Blake’s Advice to Founders and Recruiters

If you ask Blake what separates a good recruiter from a forgettable one, his answer is simple: how you made people feel.

“It’s not the number of placements or the size of your commission check. It’s the lasting impression you leave in the quiet moments — the phone call that didn’t lead to a deal, the candidate who wasn’t quite the right fit, the client who didn’t sign today but might one day remember your professionalism and hear”

For Blake, that mindset is everything.

In his own words, “Every conversation is a seed. Some sprout right away. Some take years. But if you treat people right, something always grows.

To founders starting their own agencies, Blake offers something both practical and personal:

• Focus on impact. You don’t need to scale fast. Just build something sustainable, where you can help people every day.
  
• Leverage your skill set: Blake turned years of free candidate support into a paid coaching offering. “If you’ve got a skill, don’t undervalue it.”
  
• Make tech work for you: Tools like Recruiterflow, Juicebox, and Gemini help Blake automate the busywork, freeing him up to focus on people, not processes.
  
• Don’t fear AI, but know your edge: “AI can filter resumes. It can schedule interviews. But it can’t build trust. That’s still your job.”
  

Blake also reminds founders to stay curious and connected. He watches more YouTube than he’d probably admit. Podcasts, newsletters, Slack groups — they’re all part of his learning loop.

“Don’t get stuck in your own head. The minute you stop listening and learning, your desk goes cold.”

But his biggest advice? Don’t lose the human in recruiting. Not in the metrics. Not in pressure. Not in the shiny automation.

In a noisy, fast-changing industry, Blake’s words are a grounding reminder: recruiting isn’t just about filling roles. It’s about building relationships that stand the test of time, one genuine connection at a time.

Inspired by Blake’s journey?
We’d love to hear yours.

If you have a powerful story to share with the recruitment community, email us at sagrika@recruiterflow.com and become the next face of Humans of Recruiterflow.