Small business owners struggling to hire in a tight labor market may find a competitive edge by posting job ads on Sunday mornings, according to Shannon Black, Chair of SCORE Austin. In Episode 82 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled "Shannon Black | The Hiring Secrets Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know," Black outlined a systematic approach to recruiting developed during the post-COVID hiring shifts and the rise of AI-inflated resumes.
Black, a former math teacher who founded and sold Sunrise Montessori, told host Bryan Eisenberg that Sunday morning is the optimal time to post job ads. "It takes Google and other search engines about 24 hours to go through and pick up the SEO in your ad," she said. "The number one time of the week that people look for jobs are Mondays during lunchtime." By posting on Sunday, ads are indexed and ready for Monday searches. She also recommends using 30 or more hashtags at the bottom of listings to capture SEO without rewriting copy, and avoiding "masculine" language that can deter female applicants.
Black's hiring playbook includes a 10-minute Zoom pre-interview to screen candidates, asking unexpected questions like "What is your favorite color?" to gauge personality and fit. The episode, published July 14, 2026, arrives as small businesses across Central Texas face intense competition for talent. Eisenberg shared his own success applying Black's methods to his home care agency hiring.
Beyond hiring, Black discussed SCORE's free mentorship services. The national nonprofit offers more than 1,000 workshops per month and virtual mentor matching at score.org. She previewed an upcoming women's conference, a trades conference on June 13, and a four-day workshop series on valuing and selling a business. Black recounted helping client Justin launch a successful Austin clay studio and pointed to entrepreneur Desiree Fox of V Wear Love as an example of the idea-stage founders SCORE serves.
The conversation also touched on Black's recent recovery from a baby rattlesnake bite sustained while gardening in Georgetown, crediting St. David's in Round Rock for the antivenom treatment that allowed her to record the episode. Eisenberg added a lease near-miss rescued by Round Rock realtor Bacha Porter.
Black's advice offers a timely strategy for small business owners navigating a demanding hiring landscape. For more information on SCORE's free mentoring and workshops, visit score.org. Episode 82 of Rock Solid is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
