Cracking the Code on Construction Sales Recruiting

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business

Finding top sales talent in construction feels impossible. The best salespeople are already crushing quotas. They’re not on job boards.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Ryan Hogan, Co-Founder and CEO of Talent Harbor. Ryan shares how his journey from Navy service to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures shaped his innovative approach to sales recruiting.

You’ll learn why traditional headhunters don’t work, how “recruiting as a service” changes the game, and why culture fit always wins. Whether you’re hiring estimators, roofing sales reps, or high-performing closers, this episode will help you rethink your strategy.

Key Takeaways

• [01:26] From Navy service to entrepreneurship: The lessons Ryan carried into business.
• [03:39] The rise (and pivot) of Hunt a Killer into a $48M subscription business.
• [06:59] Why traditional recruiting fees don’t work for small to mid-sized contractors.
• [08:19] What most owners get wrong about hiring salespeople.
• [10:57] Why the best salespeople are never on job boards like Indeed.
• [14:28] Average time-to-hire and why recruiting as a service changes the math.
• [16:22] Building the right compensation plan for roofing and construction sales roles.
• [20:48] Culture fit vs. sales skills: Which matters more when hiring?
• [22:39] Why competitive backgrounds (sports, games, etc.) predict sales success.
• [25:16] The deal-breaker: Why Talent Harbor won’t recruit without processes in place.

Connect With Ryan Hogan:

Website: https://talentharbor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/

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