Lysha Holmes
Lysha Holmes
EP289: Sonny Dickenson, Director at CORElevate - Why cuddles are the key to your candidates and clients!
EP289: Sonny Dickenson, Director at CORElevate - Why cuddles are the key to your candidates and clients!
EP289: Sonny Dickenson, Director at CORElevate - Why cuddles are the key to your candidates and clients!
Monday 18th August 2025
Explore how Sonny Dickinson transforms recruitment with empathy, niche branding, and tech leadership. Discover the power of 'cuddle afternoons'.
Explicit
41 minutes
hopeful
informative
empathetic
inspiring
About this podcast
Author:
Lysha Holmes
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Get the buttons here!Cuddle Culture: Transforming Recruitment with Empathy
Episode Overview
- Sonny Dickinson emphasizes empathy in recruitment through 'cuddle afternoons'.
- Core Elevate focuses on niche branding in hospitality recruitment.
- Tech leadership roles are pivotal in evolving recruitment landscapes.
- Sonny shares his journey from hospitality to recruitment leadership.
- The podcast advocates for humanizing the candidate experience.
"If there's one lasting legacy from this podcast today, it's that we all need to block off at least an hour a week for a cuddle with our clients and our candidates."
In this engaging episode of the Recruiter's Recruitment Podcast, Lysha Holmes sits down with Sonny Dickinson, Director at Core Elevate, to explore the evolving landscape of recruitment in the hospitality sector. Sonny shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in London’s hospitality industry to becoming a pivotal figure in quick service restaurant recruitment.
Sonny's path was marked by a deep passion for hospitality, which led him to steer Core Elevate, a division of Core Recruitment, towards empowering his team through tech leadership roles. Despite opportunities to pivot into tech, Sonny remained committed to hospitality, a sector he believes is ripe for transformation. A significant part of Sonny's approach is his unique concept of 'cuddle afternoons', a practice designed to humanize the candidate experience.
In a world increasingly dominated by technology, Sonny argues for the importance of empathy and personal connection. He advocates for recruiters to take time to understand the candidates' perspectives and challenges, proposing that empathy can be as transformational as any technology. The episode also delves into the power of niche branding, particularly within the hospitality sector. Sonny discusses how focusing on specific areas such as quick service restaurants and hospitality retail can lead to exciting partnerships and continuous growth.
He emphasizes the importance of relationship-building and maintaining empathy, not just with candidates but also with clients. Lysha and Sonny engage in a thoughtful discussion on the future of recruitment, highlighting the need for more personalized interactions in an industry often seen as transactional. Sonny's belief in the power of human connections is a beacon for those looking to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
As the conversation unfolds, listeners are encouraged to create a movement for more 'cuddles' in recruitment. The hashtag #cuddleswithCore is introduced, symbolizing a call to action for empathy and kindness in professional interactions. This episode is a reminder of the importance of maintaining human elements in recruitment, providing listeners with insights that are both hopeful and practical for the future of hospitality recruitment.