Hiring, Developing and Retainins Top Tier Talent with Elana Burr, Episode #400

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Elana Burr, Co-Founder and President of Talent Harbor. They tackle one of the insurance industry’s biggest headaches: acquiring top-tier sales talent. David shares his own frustrating journey of trying to enter the industry without a “traditional” background, while Elana pulls back the curtain on how recruiters identify the “intangibles” that resumes often miss. If you are an agency owner tired of the revolving door of producers, or a candidate looking to break into the industry, this conversation provides the blueprint for finding the right fit.

Key Highlights:

Beyond the Resume:

Elana and David discuss why industry experience is often overrated. The best hires frequently come from outside the industry, possessing innate traits like drive, competitiveness, and grit rather than just a list of insurance certifications.

The “Good Conversation” Trap:

Salespeople are professional communicators. Elana explains the danger of hiring someone simply because they “sold” you during the interview and how to use behavioral questioning to verify actual performance metrics versus a good story.

The Passive Candidate Strategy:

Why relying on job boards is a losing game. Elana reveals that 90% of their strategy involves hunting “passive candidates”—A-players who are currently winning in their roles and aren’t looking for a job until they are approached.

The Sales Manager Paradox:

A common (and fatal) mistake agencies make is promoting their top producer to sales manager. The skill sets are often diametrically opposed, leading to a loss of revenue and a frustrated employee.

Social Media as a Double-Edged Sword:

Employers are looking at your profiles. The duo discusses how social media can be a massive asset for building a personal brand, or a liability that disqualifies a candidate immediately.

Connect with:

• David Carothers LinkedIn
• Elana Burr LinkedIn
• Kyle Houck LinkedIn

Visit Websites:

• Power Producer Base Camp
• Talent Harbor
• Killing Commercial
• Crushing Content
• Power Producers Podcast
• Policytee
• The Dirty 130
• The Extra 2 Minutes