From Competitors to Collaborators: Behind the Scenes of cmr's YDJ Acquisition

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From Competitors to Collaborators: Behind the Scenes of cmr’s YDJ Acquisition

By Monique Missak| Published 12 January 2026

When you work in recruitment, competition comes with the territory. But at Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr), we’ve always believed there’s room to do things differently, and to do them together.

Late last year, cmr officially acquired Your Doctor Jobs (YDJ), a move that brought together two long-standing players in healthcare recruitment. But this wasn’t just a business transaction. It was the result of years of mutual admiration, healthy competition, and a shared belief in delivering exceptional care to candidates and clients alike.

To mark the occasion, we sat down with cmr founder Sam Miklos and YDJ founder Justin Smith during a recent visit to Tasmania. The video captures a light, honest moment between two leaders reflecting on their journey – from being friendly competitors to joining forces. They chat about the years of mutual respect, why now was the right time to come together, and what this means for their teams, clients and candidates.

“We’ve been big fans of YDJ for a very long time. There’s a lot of synergy between our teams. A lot of our strengths are the other’s weaknesses, and together there’s so much we can do.”
Sam Miklos, cmr Founder & CEO

cmr YDJ acquisition — *Sam Miklos & Justin Smith*

“We definitely share a lot of cultural alignment. We care, and there’s just a lot of candidate and client care that we love.”
Justin Smith, YDJ Founder

For healthcare workers, this partnership means even more support, national reach, and access to opportunities. For healthcare providers, it’s a stronger, smarter recruitment partner with expanded capabilities and specialist knowledge across the doctors space.

And for the recruitment industry – it’s a sign of what’s possible when values drive growth.

*Some of the cmr team meeting YDJ down in Tassie!*

This move proves that collaboration can be just as powerful as competition. It shows that when two healthcare recruitment businesses come together with care, curiosity and a focus on people, everyone benefits.

We’re proud of what this acquisition represents. Not just for cmr and YDJ, but for the future of recruitment in Australian healthcare. Because at the end of the day, it’s about creating better outcomes for the people who matter most.

Take a peek at the story behind the partnership below