Zero industry experience. No relevant title. Not even close to what the client asked for.

Most recruiters would've moved on to the next candidate without a second thought but Sam Hodz didn't.

I sat down with Sam on this week's episode of Recruiter Wins and this story is a masterclass in what separates order takers from true recruiting partners.

Here's what happened: A business owner came to Sam looking for a technician. But instead of just taking the order and running, Sam dug deeper and realized what this client actually needed was an operations manager who could free them up to scale.

Then came a resume that checked almost none of the traditional boxes.

But Sam has a simple rule that told her to proceed:

"If there's a 75% match, if there's something at least 75% there, it's worth hearing the story to get the other 25%."

So Sam picked up the phone to explain why she was sending the resume before the client ever saw it.

That first meeting turned into a three hour lunch and today, they're building and growing the business together.

A few things from this conversation worth mentioning:

• The best recruiters consult. Sam's intake call completely reshaped what the client was hiring for.
• Trust is built before you ever need it. Because Sam invested time upfront understanding the company’s culture, personality and business goals, the client was willing to take a chance on an unconventional candidate.
• Never just send over a resume. Sam's approach of calling first and framing the "why" turned what could've been an instant rejection into a perfect match.

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to truly advocate for a candidate or if you want a reminder of why recruiting matters, this one's for you.