If every résumé looks perfect, how do you find the real A-players? In this episode, John Rice sits down with Tom Welke, VP & Partner at RSM Solutions, to unpack a battle-tested hiring playbook for MSPs and IT firms, built for today’s AI-shaped talent market.
Tom shares the questions that cut through ChatGPT-polished résumés, how to screen for problem-solvers (not tool jockeys), and why your listening skills now matter more than your job description. You’ll also hear a flexible Recruiting-as-a-Service model that offloads your Friday status-report chaos and keeps projects moving—without blowing up cash flow.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Tom’s different take on recruiting: advocacy for the CIO/VP of IT and saving time as the core value
[03:22] From Thomas Publishing to tech: how deep manufacturing knowledge became a hiring superpower
[07:15] The résumé problem in 2025: AI-written applications and why conversation now outweighs credentials
[10:58] The interview opener that works: “Pivot points” and the 3–4 things a candidate does effortlessly
[15:36] Don’t ask “what is Kubernetes?”—ask for proof: examples, failures, and what they learned
[19:44] Screening at scale: send 4–5 must-answer questions first; non-responders self-select out
[24:10] Pricing models explained: staff aug, perm (20–25%), and Recruiting-as-a-Service for variable cash flow
Tags/Keywords
MSP hiring, IT recruiting, AI talent, recruiting as a service, staff augmentation, DevOps hiring, cybersecurity roles, interview questions, MSP growth, candidate screening, AI in hiring, tech staffing
Call to Action
To connect with John Rice and AI Savants:Website: https://www.aisavants.ioEmail: john@aisavants.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rice-31329526/
To connect with John Welke
Website: https://rsmsolutionsinc.com/
Email: tomwelke@rsmsolutionsinc.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomwelke
