How to Turn a Job Board into a Lead Engine Using Cold Email, with Jordan Whilden

What if your job board wasn’t just a place to post jobs—but the top of your sales funnel? In this episode of The Resilient Recruiter, Jordan Whilden shares how he scaled Ministry Hub, a faith-based executive search firm, by transforming a niche job board into a predictable lead generation machine. Fueled by a cold email campaign that delivers a 17% reply rate, Jordan’s model shows how recruiters can generate clients consistently—without cold calling or high-pressure tactics. We dive into the exact steps Jordan took to build a multi-service recruitment business, from his transition out of pastoral ministry to launching a proprietary ATS (MinistryHire) and leading a fully remote team. If you’re a recruitment agency owner looking to build smarter systems, offer tiered services, or grow recurring revenue, this episode is packed with actionable ideas and inspiration. Episode Highlights: From full-time ministry to launching a job board side hustle Evolving from job board to full-service search firm First-year lessons: underpricing, overwhelm, and early wins Why building a custom ATS was a game-changer Creating flexible, tiered service models How “serve first” creates long-term client wins Cold outreach strategy: 89% open rate, 17% replies The tools behind his tech stack: Loxo, Instantly, Hireflix, Asana, Scribe Scaling with a 3-person offshore team One-way video interviews and standout candidate presentation Recurring revenue through subscription-based ATS Leading with values while balancing family and business growth Key Takeaways: A job board can be more than a job board—it can be your client magnet Value-first cold emails build trust before selling Scaling is easier with systems, SOPs, and the right offshore support Serving your niche exceptionally well creates both impact and revenue About Jordan Whilden: Jordan is the founder and CEO of Ministry Hub, a faith-based executive search firm. With a Master’s in Theology and an MBA, he brings a rare mix of pastoral insight and business acumen. Prior to launching Ministry Hub in 2021, Jordan served churches on both coasts, including leadership at one of America’s largest congregations. He’s also the creator of MinistryHire, a purpose-built ATS and job board platform serving mission-driven organizations. Today, Jordan helps churches and nonprofits build world-changing teams—and has grown Ministry Hub into a go-to talent partner in the faith sector. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife Brittany and their son. Outside work, they love kayaking, the beach, and traveling as a family. Connect with Jordan: Jordan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanwhilden/ Ministry Hub Website - https://ministryhub.org/ MinistryHire Website - https://ministryhire.com/ Connect with Mark Whitby: Get a FREE strategy call: recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session Mark on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwhitby/ X: @MarkWhitby Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter - https://plinkhq.com/i/1489513354