How to Hire Good Talent

About this episode

In this episode of The eCom Show, host Shan A Salam sits down with Hamzad Basheer, founder and CEO of Dotin Digital Academy, to discuss career progression, skill-based education, and marketing strategies. Basheer reflects on his early career journey, moving from accounting studies to entry-level jobs in digital marketing, and balancing learning with part-time work. He explains how hands-on experimentation with search engine optimisation, performance marketing, retargeting campaigns, and conversion rate optimisation enabled him to transition from marketing execution into running an academy. The conversation examines the disconnect between traditional college degrees and practical industry demands, highlighting why conventional university syllabuses often fail to prepare students for modern jobs. Basheer and Salam discuss how proactive self-learning, leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube, and building real-world portfolios are essential for new graduates. They conclude by emphasising the value of adopting standard operating procedures, taking calculated entrepreneurial risks, and learning directly from business failures.

Key takeaways

1. 1Prioritise building practical skills over chasing high starting salaries in the early stages of a career.
2. 2Active self-learning and asking questions directly to mentors accelerate professional development faster than passive study.
3. 3Conversion rate optimisation and mobile responsiveness are vital because most ecommerce traffic arrives via mobile devices.
4. 4College degrees often focus on theoretical marks, whereas skill-based academies prioritise live projects and execution.
5. 5Proactively sharing insights and building a network on platforms like LinkedIn can attract unexpected employment opportunities.
6. 6Implementing standard operating procedures is essential when transitioning from an informal team to a scalable business organisation.

Chapters

1. 0:00Introduction
2. 5:43Focused on Skills, Not Salary
3. 9:22Building Connections
4. 11:14Entering Social Media Marketing
5. 20:47Starting Something New
6. 24:20Launching the Academy
7. 30:25College vs. Skill-Based Courses
8. 34:54Why 100% Placement Isn’t Always Possible
9. 40:06The Story Behind The eCom Show
10. 43:10The Top 1% Eventually Become Entrepreneurs
11. 46:45Failure Is Must!
12. 48:13What to Do After Plus Two?
13. 54:10YouTube as Our Mentor & Developing a Growth Mindset
14. 59:59Conclusion