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The New Talent Playbook
The New Talent Playbook
Hosted by serial entrepreneur Rob Levin, The New Talent Playbook podcast dives into the strategies that drive business success through the power of exceptional talent. With over 30 years of experience and a reputation as a top speaker on business and entrepreneurship, Rob shares practical, impactful insights alongside industry experts, helping leaders navigate challenges and optimize their talent strategies. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or talent professional, this show provides actionable advice to build stronger, more resilient businesses.
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Oct. 6, 2026

The New Reason Candidates Are Turning Down In-Office Jobs

The New Reason Candidates Are Turning Down In-Office Jobs
The New Talent Playbook
The New Reason Candidates Are Turning Down In-Office Jobs
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Season 7

Rob Levin makes the case that remote work is becoming a talent requirement, not a nice-to-have. Using commute data and hiring trends, he argues that SMBs need to widen their talent pool, manage through KPIs, and build culture intentionally across distributed teams.

Key Takeaways

  • Remote is a talent strategy: Commute friction is pushing candidates away from on-site roles.
  • Location should not limit hiring: Nearshore and offshore are natural extensions of remote.
  • Manage by outcomes: KPIs reviewed weekly are better than watching people work.
  • Culture must be designed: A distributed team can still have a strong culture when leaders are intentional.

Timestamps

(01:03) Rob opens with a Monster commute report and says remote is something many companies will have to do.

(01:37) He shares the story of Marty Adelson requiring a 15-minute commute and points to how strongly people react to commuting.

(02:38) Rob cites hiring-market data: most new roles are still on-site, while remote jobs get more applications.

(04:28) He argues that remote expands the talent pool and that geography should not block access to great people.

(05:00) He says WorkBetterNow runs fully remote, uses KPIs weekly, and encourages companies to consider more remote roles.

Other Resources

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More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

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Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.