#63- Reimagining the Recruiter Marketplace with Darren Koontz

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down once again with agency leader and recruiting innovator Darren Koontz, marking him as the first-ever two-time guest on the show. And for good reason.

Together, they dig into the evolving challenges of today’s recruitment landscape, from broken split models to the burnout caused by overhyped tech and explore what it really takes to build a system that works for real recruiters and growth-minded companies in 2025.

At the center of the conversation is Darren’s newest project, Onyx Labs, a new marketplace aiming to make recruiter collaboration more effective, transparent, and trustworthy. But the episode goes beyond platform talk. Clark keeps the focus on what actually drives success: clarity of process, smart positioning, strong candidate relationships, and staying consistent with content that attracts the right people.

Whether you’re a solo recruiter trying to build predictable revenue, an agency owner refining your top-of-funnel, or a hiring manager looking to partner with recruiters who actually get it, this conversation delivers high-level insights and tactical clarity.

Darren’s Bio

I'm hyper-focused on doing two things well..

1) Empower companies to hire the best people as quickly as possible

2) Maximize the earning potential for all recruiters we work with

My challenge to everyone, think outside-the-box, go against the grain, use logic - it's an underutilized talent we all have.

You can find Darren on LinkedIn or https://www.getonyxlabs.com/ 

Join myself and Josh at the ERE Summit for cutting-edge recruiting strategies, how to leverage AI and leadership insights.

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Virtual and in person tickets available.

 

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