Human on the Inside with Muse Digital’s Viv Farrington
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Viv, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight!
You’re the Founder and Principal Consultant at Muse Digital.
In 1 sentence (ok, we’ll give you 3), what does your role entail?
Viv Farrington: Running a recruitment business means constantly juggling the needs of clients and candidates, where I’m matching the right people to the right roles while staying ahead of shifting timelines and priorities. It’s a fast-paced, people-focused game of connection, intuition and organised chaos.
M: You're the Founder and Principal Consultant at Muse Digital, where you connect top-tier product, design and engineering talent with some of Australia’s most forward-thinking brands. Your focus is on making recruitment more human—balancing deep industry insight with a personal, relationship-first approach.
Before launching Muse, you built your expertise in specialist tech recruitment through senior roles at Morgan Consulting, Davidson Technology, and Absolute IT, helping clients grow high-performing teams across design, product and technology..
How does all this work speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
VF: Connecting talent with different organisations speaks directly to my personal purpose - helping people realise their potential while driving meaningful growth for businesses that are shaping the future. What drives me is the impact: knowing that a single great match can change the trajectory of someone’s career and fuel innovation within a company. It’s that sweet spot where people, purpose and progress collide.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
VF: When I started studying Human Resources, I thought I’d found my calling; a career all about people, culture, and making workplaces better. I was eager to get hands-on experience, so I jumped into an HR role before I’d even finished my degree, thinking it would cement my path. But by the time I graduated, I realised something wasn’t clicking. While I loved the idea of supporting people, the traditional HR route just didn’t feel like me.
Like so many of us in recruitment, I kind of fell into it by accident and I haven’t looked back since. It gave me the fast-paced, people-focused and impactful work I was looking for, with the added buzz of helping both businesses and candidates grow. Sometimes the path you plan isn’t the one you stay on and I’m glad I trusted myself enough to follow where my strengths really shone.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...
VF: Say yes to opportunities, even the ones that scare you and don’t be afraid to change direction when something doesn’t feel right. You don’t have to follow the path you thought you’d take just because you started on it. Trust yourself to pivot.
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?
VF: Human skills are absolutely at the heart of recruitment. it’s not just about matching resumes to job descriptions, but about truly understanding people, their motivations and their potential. Skills like empathy, active listening and genuine communication allow me to build trust, connect on a deeper level.
In recruitment, these human skills turn a transactional process into a meaningful experience, where I’m helping candidates feel valued and clients feel confident. At the end of the day, it’s people helping people and mastering those human skills is what makes all the difference.
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. What’s your strongest trait / personal super power?
VF: My ability to connect the dots is what makes me stand out. I can see patterns, spot potential others might miss and bring together people, ideas and opportunities in a way that just makes sense. In recruitment, this skill is invaluable - it’s what allows me to match the right candidate with the right client, even when it’s not obvious at first glance.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
VF: Emotional resilience for sure. This industry is full of highs and lows - candidates drop out at the last minute, clients change their minds, roles get put on hold and sometimes no matter how hard you work, things don’t always go to plan. I’ve had to work on my emotional resilience, to help handle rejection without taking it personally, bounce back from setbacks quickly and keep showing up with energy and optimism even when I’m not feeling it.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work for an organisation like yours, what would it be?
VF: Whether you’re working for Muse Digital or any other recruitment agency, there’s no textbook that can truly teach you how to be a great recruiter. Sure, you can learn the theory behind interview techniques, selling an opportunity, etc. The real skills come from experience: learning how to read body language and tone, how you handle rejection, stay resilient and build trust.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one Uni graduate to your business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
VF: Assessing for grit. Evaluating someone’s perseverance and passion for long-term goals, which often involves looking beyond just skills and experience to understand their mindset and behaviour.
M: In the words of American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
VF: Learning how to set healthy boundaries, especially in a fast-paced, people-driven role like recruitment. It’s easy to want to say yes to everything and everyone, but learning to balance my own energy and time to help avoid burnout.
Viv Farrington
Founder and Principal Consultant at Muse Digital
Viv Farrington is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Muse Digital, a boutique recruitment agency based in Melbourne that partners with product, design and engineering leaders to align them with future-proofed talent that fortifies their culture and keeps their businesses growing and thriving. With 15 years’ experience under her belt, Viv’s reach and reputation is significant. Viv takes a refreshingly human approach to hiring talent. For her, groundbreaking recruitment starts with genuine care. It’s about connecting the right people with the right companies and ensuring they thrive together. She takes the time to listen, understand and deliver with a level of personal care that the recruitment industry desperately needs.
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