Recruiter Spotlight: Meet Shayaz Mohammed

📍 Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Behind every great hire is a human who cares deeply about the experience. In this edition of our Recruiter Spotlight series, we’re featuring Shayaz Mohammed, one of the people at Flight Centre Travel Group connecting talent with opportunity every day.

Shay has been part of FCTG since October 2021, bringing more than five years of full-cycle recruitment and HR experience, grounded in a people-first approach and a strong belief that candidate experience should always feel personal, not transactional.

AI vs. the human touch

As technology continues to reshape recruitment, Shay is clear on what should never be lost in the process.

One thing Shay would never leave to automation:
The initial contact with a candidate. First impressions matter. That early interaction sets the tone for the entire experience and should always feel welcoming, authentic, and human.

Where the human touch cannot be replaced:
Personally updating candidates on next steps, guiding them through the process, and delivering feedback with care. Even when the outcome is a rejection, receiving it from a real person ensures respect, empathy, and a far better candidate experience than any automated response could provide.

Most memorable candidate moment:
As AI tools become more present in hiring, Shay recalls a live coding interview for a Software Engineer role where an AI tool briefly appeared during screen sharing. This sparked an important conversation about interview expectations and guidelines. It became a valuable reminder that while AI is evolving rapidly, clear communication and fairness in process remain essential.

When the human element matters most:
At the beginning of the recruitment journey and at the end, whether delivering an offer or a rejection. These are the moments that define how candidates remember the experience.

Recruitment with a travel mindset

Shay describes recruiting through a travel-inspired lens, reflecting the broader culture across FCTG.

Recruiting style as a destination: Fiji - a calm, relaxed, and enjoyable experience.

Bringing the “Flightie” spirit into conversations:
Talking openly about culture, benefits, and the unique experiences available across FCTG, including moments where teams come together to celebrate success.

Getting to know Shay

Desk essential: Mini sneakers (a nod to a love of sneakers)
One piece of advice for candidates: Do your research and understand the role to ensure a strong fit
Window or aisle: Always aisle for the leg space
Beach or city: Beach, ideally with sunshine and downtime
Recruiter fuel: Black espresso followed closely by a protein smoothie

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Final thought

Thoughtful, approachable, and consistently human, Shay reflects what recruitment looks like at Flight Centre Travel Group today. It’s not just about matching skills to roles, it’s about creating experiences that respect people, value connection, and bring authenticity to every interaction.

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