Small business owners struggling to hire in Central Texas's competitive labor market can gain an edge by posting job ads on Sunday mornings rather than Thursdays, according to Shannon Black, Chair of SCORE Austin and former Round Rock ISD math teacher. Black shared her systematic recruiting approach on Episode 82 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, hosted by Bryan Eisenberg, offering practical strategies developed during her tenure as founder of Sunrise Montessori.
Black explained that the timing of job postings significantly impacts visibility. "The best time of the week to put an ad, to place it, is actually Sunday morning," she said. "It takes Google and other search engines about 24 hours to go through and pick up the SEO in your ad. The number one time of the week that people look for jobs are Mondays during lunchtime." By posting Sunday morning, the ad gains search engine traction by Monday, when job seekers are most active.
Beyond timing, Black advised using 30 or more hashtags at the bottom of job listings to capture SEO without rewriting the ad copy. She also warned against "masculine" language that can deter female applicants, suggesting a careful review of word choices. Her screening process includes a 10-minute Zoom pre-interview with unexpected questions like "What is your favorite color?" to assess cultural fit and creativity.
The episode, published July 14, 2026, arrives as small businesses nationwide navigate post-COVID hiring shifts and AI-inflated resumes. Black, who recently recovered from a baby rattlesnake bite while gardening, credited St. David's in Round Rock for her antivenom treatment. She also highlighted SCORE's free mentorship model, offering more than 1,000 workshops monthly and virtual mentor matching at score.org. Upcoming events include a women's conference, a trades conference on June 13, and a four-day workshop 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 idea-stage founders served by SCORE. Eisenberg shared his own home care agency hiring wins after applying Black's tweaks, plus a lease near-miss rescued by Round Rock realtor Bacha Porter.
Hosted by bestselling author Bryan Eisenberg, Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast explores founder journeys and community relationships in one of Central Texas's fastest-growing business hubs. Episode 82 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
