A decade into owning Original Sharp Barbershop, Drew Le was still relying on Instagram, Craigslist, and word of mouth to find talent. On this week’s Volume Up by The Tease, he shares how that frustration led to Barber Recruit and the bigger conversation around building a career behind the chair.

Rethinking How Shops Hire

Drew’s approach to hiring started with a request for résumés. But when applicants either didn’t have one or had never been asked for one, he realized he could be overlooking good barbers.

His workaround was a Google Form that collected the same information without expecting applicants to build a résumé from scratch. This helped him get the details he needed before an interview, but the larger search for candidates remained scattered.

“What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow,” Drew explained.

Making the Next Move

That experience informed Barber Recruit, a platform launching in New Jersey that brings portfolios, work history, and job opportunities into one place. Barbers can compare shops and use an earnings projection calculator to explore potential income.

For Drew, making compensation visible also helps people decide whether a shop’s pay model fits what they’re looking for before they apply.

“It’s not to create a profile only if you’re looking, but to have visibility online,” he said.

The idea is to give barbers a professional presence that can open doors beyond their existing network.

Giving Barbers a Reason to Stay

Finding someone for an empty chair is only half the work. Drew also talks about the structure, support, and shop culture that help people stay and grow.

At his own shop, success includes helping team members reach milestones like buying a car or a home. Those goals give his approach to hiring a bigger purpose:

Help barbers see a future in the profession.

Whether you’re hiring or considering your next move, listen to the full episode of Volume Up by The Tease wherever you pod. Follow @readthetease and @volumeupbythetease for more.