Ask the Collective

What are the best practices and platforms for recruiting drinks-industry talent?

Members report mixed success with traditional job boards. **LinkedIn** has become problematic due to its one-click apply feature, which generates high volumes of irrelevant applications; recruiters using the platform also tend to put forward the same candidates repeatedly, often with inflated salary expectations relative to the role. The community's preferred approach is **organic sourcing through personal recommendations and networks**. Several members emphasize this yields better-quality candidates than paid recruitment channels. Direct referrals from trusted contacts within the industry appear to be the most reliable method for finding relevant talent, particularly for specialist roles. Note: The market is currently challenging for mid-market employers without large recruitment budgets; candidates are increasingly seeking significant salary premiums (10–20%+ above advertised) even for standard roles.