Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring?

The AI agent marketplace has become a confusing landscape full of chatbots and co-pilots that aren't agents, claiming revolutionary capabilities. But genuine AI agents represent something fundamentally different. They're digital workers that can handle complex, multi-step processes independently, making decisions and adjustments along the way. The technology is already here and working, and the employers succeeding with it are focusing on change management, not just on technology deployment. So what are the early results looking like, and how will agentic AI change recruiting in the months and years to come? My guest this week is Tom Zrubecky, founder and CEO of Talent Pilot. In our conversation, he shares case studies demonstrating how AI agents are reshaping recruitment workflows and what autonomous hiring looks like. In the interview, we discuss: What an AI Agent is and what it isn't Building responsible AI with human oversight These are change management projects not technology ones The power of instant job interviews Where are employers getting the most value from agents The importance of pilot project Building a super recruiter What does the agentic future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Many organizations treat accessibility as just a compliance checkbox, checking the box to meet legal requirements and then moving on. But this mindset misses massive opportunities. When companies design truly inclusive hiring processes, they don't just help candidates with disabilities, but also improve the experience for everyone. Forward-thinking employers are discovering that accessibility drives innovation, expands talent pools, and creates competitive advantages, so how do you move from minimum compliance to genuine inclusivity, and how do you do that at scale? My guests this week are Business Psychologists Brittany Davies and Laura Kate Ruttle from Talogy. In our conversation, they share valuable advice on building an accessible assessment strategy, and we discuss how AI is shaping a whole new future for inclusive hiring. In the interview, we discuss: The current challenges around accessibility and fairness in hiring The significant benefits to employers of going beyond the basic legal requirements Improving hiring for everyone Best practices for encouraging disclosure How AI can help How do you implement inclusive hiring at scale? Advice to TA leaders on what to prioritise The potential of personalized adaptive assessment What might the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The recruitment experience is undergoing a fundamental transformation with AI and automation playing an increasingly larger role. It's essential to recognise the consequences of lost human connection. Trust is an absolutely critical element here, and employers need to ensure they aren't losing the emotional intelligence and genuine connections that build trust with candidates. So how do you create authentic connections when AI does the screening and robots send the emails? My guest this week is Gal Borenstein, CEO of Borenstein Group. In our conversation, he talks us through his framework for building genuine digital trust in an increasingly automated world. In the interview, we discuss: The rapid digitalization and automation of business communication The jolt into a new era for employer branding The digital trust framework How to use AI to help build trust rather than erode it The importance of emotional intelligence A vision for the future Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Talent acquisition is being tested like never before. Teams are continually being asked to do more with less, hiring volumes remain unpredictable, and technology is evolving faster than organizations can adapt. AI promises transformation but often delivers confusion, with some vendors labeling simple automation as intelligence, while, at the same time, genuinely disruptive AI capabilities are emerging that could reshape everything we do. Meanwhile, the fundamentals haven't changed. TA leaders still need to deliver the right people at the right time in a cost-effective way. But how do you build that capability when the ground keeps shifting? How do you create structure, repeatability, and continuous improvement during constant disruption? My guests this week are Tony De Graaf and Marcel Rütten, co-founders of the Recruiting Excellence Foundation. In our conversation, they share their framework for building high-performing TA teams and explain how to pursue recruiting excellence even in fast-moving, uncertain times. Also listen out for details on how you take part in the forthcoming Global State of TA Report, and by getting your own free maturity assessment. In the interview, we discuss: The Recruiting Excellence Methodology Defining your North Star Focusing on and optimising every TA touchpoint Key challenges What stops TA being more strategic? Why automation is critical Agentic AI disruption What does the future look like? Get your free TA maturity assessment here Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Application volumes are continuing to rise, but finding quality hires remains a challenge. The usual suspects that tend to get the blame are candidates using AI, economic uncertainty, and a continuing decline in job board effectiveness. However, research suggests a more fundamental issue that many organizations overlook. The words in job descriptions matter more than most teams realize. Non-inclusive language is actually a key factor that stops many qualified candidates from applying. At the same time, regulations around pay transparency and anti-discrimination are proliferating across the US and EU, creating complex compliance requirements for job ads that vary by market. Many employers are also outsourcing their job ad creation to generic LLMs that have more potential to amplify bias than they do to eliminate it. So, how should employers utilize technology to ensure inclusivity, compliance, and a high-quality response from their advertising My guest this week is Pil Byriel, CEO and co-founder of Lyser. In our conversation, Pil shares research on how language shapes candidate behavior, why LLM reinforces bias, and the growing complexity of job ad compliance around the world In the interview, we discuss: The impact of language on applications from qualified candidates The human-led research behind inclusive communication Why generic AI LLMs amplify stereotypes and bias Compliance challenges across global markets What actually drives job ad performance Why structure, clarity, and transparency matter Building data-driven recruitment communication Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Recruiting Future Round Up is back in a brand-new live format. Round Up has always been a quick way to catch up on the most important insights from the month’s Recruiting Future interviews. Now we’re taking it further, streaming live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube so you can join the conversation in real time. In this recording (previously live) Matt is joined by special guest Rhona Pierce, as they look back at October’s eight interviews.  Episodes featured in this Round Up: Ep 734 Why Skills Really Matter https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-734-why-skills-really-matter/ Ep 735: AI’s Impact On Recruitment Marketing https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-735-ais-impact-on-recruitment-marketing/ Ep 736: Trust, Influence & The Future Of Recruitment Marketing https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-736-trust-influence-the-future-of-recruitment-marketing/ Ep 737: Building A Team Of Talent Partners https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-737-building-a-team-of-talent-partners/ Ep 738: How to Implement AI Successfully In HR & TA https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-738-how-to-implement-ai-successfully-in-hr-ta/ Ep 739: TA’s Challenges and Priorities for 2026 https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-739-tas-challenges-and-priorities-for-2026/ Ep 740: Are We Really Ready For AI? https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-740-are-we-really-ready-for-ai/ Ep 741: The Competitive Advantage Of Neuro-Inclusion https://recruitingfuture.com/2025/10/ep-741-the-competitive-advantage-of-neuro-inclusion/

The recruiting technology landscape is transforming at an unprecedented speed. AI Tools that seemed like far-fetched concepts just a few years ago are hitting the market and delivering results. But adoption is messy and uneven. Some employers are experimenting with AI-driven interviews, while others worry about bias and legal risks. High-volume recruiters are automating entire processes while executive search remains deeply human. Everyone's trying to figure out which tools actually work and how to integrate them without breaking what already exists. So how should talent acquisition leaders navigate this revolution? My guest this week is Josh Bersin, one of the world's leading HR technology analysts. In our conversation, he reveals why this transformation is inevitable and what smart TA leaders should be doing today. In the interview, we discuss: Why TA is facing a reckoning Time, resources, and human error Where AI currently has the most impact Mass personalization Regulatory risks What role should human recruiters be playing? Superworkers AI Fluency versus amount of work experience The impact on an already bloated TA Tech Stack Technology mergers and acquisitions What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Most hiring currently focuses on assessing a mix of skills and experience. However, there's a deeper layer that often gets overlooked. Companies talk endlessly about culture and values, yet few know how to genuinely assess them.  This matters especially for purpose-driven organizations. Whether it's a B Corp, a sustainability-focused business, or any company with a strong mission, finding people whose values are truly aligned isn't just nice to have—it's essential.  So how do you find genuinely aligned candidates, and where does technology help, and where does it hinder My guest this week is Leon Richards, founder of Good Talent, an Executive search & leadership advisory consultancy for values-led organizations. In our conversation, he explains how values-based recruiting actually works, why human judgment matters, and what responsible AI use looks like. In the interview, we discuss: Values, purpose, and mission-driven organizations The importance of alignment  Why cultural fit is often missed How to assess for values alignment AI, human skills, and accountability The "moral crumple zone" What does responsible AI look like? The future of TA

As many as 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, with brains that process information, communicate, and work differently. Many have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other conditions they've hidden throughout their careers, masking to fit workplace norms. But creating environments where these individuals thrive isn't about expensive accommodations or special treatment. Instead, it's about designing work that helps everyone perform better. So how do you move beyond awareness training to actually embedding inclusion in daily operations, and how can this benefit everyone in the workforce? My guest this week is Pamela Kavanagh, Chief People Officer at Exogen. In our conversation, she shares practical strategies for creating workplaces where everyone can do their best work. In the interview, we discuss: What neurodivergence actually means at work Performance enhancers instead of reasonable accommodations Creating psychological safety for disclosure Small things that make big differences and help everyone. Embedding inclusion in everyday operations Making recruiting better for everyone  Why eye contact shouldn't determine capability Making the business case to leaders AI and the future Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

We've lived through technology revolutions before. Personal computers. The Internet. Smartphones. Social media. Each felt transformative at the time, reshaping how we work and communicate. But something fundamentally different is happening now. AI learns from every interaction and improves with each release. Yet the signals are confusing. Some pilots are failing, and the hype levels are off the scale. Meanwhile, some companies are reporting the potential for hundreds of millions in savings, capability benchmarks are doubling every seven months, and entire organizational structures are being reimagined around human-AI collaboration. So how do employers cut through the noise and prepare for such a fundamental shift? My guest this week is Michael Tchong, a futurist and founder of Ubertrends Academy. In our conversation, Michael explains what makes this revolution different, how to spot true long-term trends beyond the hype, and shares practical strategies for navigating the transformation ahead. In the interview, we discuss: Are we prepared for the coming disruption? Signals and Uber trends Why AI is unlike past revolutions Separating the hype from the real transformation signals Early adopters versus mainstream users Building hybrid human-AI organizations The coming wave of job displacement Practical upskilling strategies you need to implement Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The economic, demographic, and technological forces of change are continuing to drive disruption, confusion, and chaos. Against the backdrop of this ever-shifting landscape, TA Leaders are expected to deliver greater value to their organizations than ever before. So how are they planning to do this in the next 12 months? What are the strategic priorities, how are budgets being impacted, and where and how is AI being deployed to help? My guest this week is Sven Elbert, Head of Analyst Services at Fosway Group. Fosway recently published TA Realities Research, a survey of European TA Leaders on their strategic priorities and budgets for the coming year. In our conversation, we dig into the details, discuss surprising results, and identify a significant issue with how AI is currently being used. In the interview, we discuss: TA's challenges and shifting priorities Budget pressure and significant implications for agencies How will TA deliver value to their organizations in 2026? The AI adoption cycle and cutting through the hype Why isn't AI being used to solve strategic problems? Basic AI features versus transformational AI features What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Most organizations approaching AI are struggling and running pilot projects that go nowhere. The common assumption is that the technology itself is flawed, over hyped, or too complex. However, the employers that are succeeding with AI have discovered something different. The technology isn't the problem, and the real barriers are human. Employee resistance, fear about job security, and the inertia of doing things the way they've always been done. What makes the difference between AI projects that fail and those that transform how teams actually work? My guest this week is Taylor Bradley, VP Talent Strategy & Success at Turing. In our conversation, Taylor shares how he built grassroots adoption in his team by starting with simple prompt libraries, the framework for deciding what should be automated, what should be augmented, and what should be left to humans, and why every AI project is really a human change management project in disguise.. In the interview, we discuss: Unlocking AI's full potential The most significant challenges when implementing AI in HR and TA Why AI pilots fail AI projects are actually human change management projects The inertia of the status quo Talent use cases When to augment and when to automate Breaking down roles into tasks Surprising measures of success How HR and TA roles need to evolve Considering adverse impacts What will the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

To survive as a function, it's clear that TA teams need to become strategic partners to their businesses rather than service providers. But what does that really mean in practice? It's easy to talk about being strategic, but the execution is where most teams struggle. The challenge isn't just about new processes or technologies. It's about fundamentally different ways of communicating with hiring managers and stakeholders. It's about asking better questions, listening more effectively, and knowing when to challenge decisions without creating unnecessary friction. So, how do you build a TA Team of Talent Partners? My guest this week is Jeff Soto, Vice President Talent Acquisition (Americas) at Sony Music Entertainment. In our conversation, Jeff reveals the specific techniques his teams use to partner with the business and why communication skills matter more than ever in our age of technology-driven disruption. In the interview, we discuss: The essential skills required in TA right now. Talent Advisory versus Talent Partner Adopting a coaching mindset Active listening, clarity, and summarizing  Persuading with data, analytics, and insights Challenging hiring managers in non-adversarial ways What will the TA team of the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Something fundamental has shifted in how people find work. Job boards that dominated for decades are losing their effectiveness. Candidates are overwhelmed and skeptical. Employers are drowning in applications that are all the same. The old playbook simply isn't working anymore. Meanwhile, the TikTokification of communication and the rise of the creator economy are reshaping the marketing landscape. People trust other people more than corporate messaging and want to hear authentic voices, not polished PR. So could this approach work for hiring? My guests this week are Tracey Parsons, CEO of Flockity, and J.T. O'Donnell, founder of Work It Daily. In our conversation, they explain how the influencer model not only has the potential to transform talent attraction but could also fundamentally change the way recruiting works. In the interview, we discuss: What's gone wrong with job boards and the job search The loss of trust The reality of interest-based algorithms The growth of the knowledge creator economy Using influencers to promote jobs How job seekers and employers feel about influencer marketing Why the recruiting process needs radical updating Inserting the right friction points in a seamless experience What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Recruiting Future Round Up is back in a brand-new live format. Round Up has always been a quick way to catch up on the most important insights from the month’s Recruiting Future interviews. Now we’re taking it further, streaming live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube so you can join the conversation in real time. In this recording (previously live) Matt is joined by special guest HR Analyst Mervyn Dinnen, as they look back at September’s seven interviews.  Episodes featured in this Round Up: Ep 727 Becoming A Long-Haul Leader Ep 728: The Problem With Bias Ep 729: Using AI Responsibly In TA Ep 730: Is Recruitment Marketing Stuck In A Rut? Ep 731: Recruiting Top AI Talent Ep 732: Are Job Interviews Obsolete? Ep 733: Making Sense of HR Tech’s AI Explosion Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Recruitment marketing is undergoing a fundamental shift as AI transforms the way work is done and who does it. Marketing automation is evolving at a rapid pace and will drive significant, efficient gains, but what is the impact of originality, creativity, and strategic thinking? So how are recruitment marketers evolving, and what should employers now expect from their recruitment marketing teams and agencies?  My guest this week is James Whitelock, Managing Director at ThinkinCircles Recruitment Marketing. In our conversation, James reveals what employers should demand from modern recruitment marketers, which skills remain irreplaceable, and how to build teams that leverage AI without losing human creativity. In the interview, we discuss: How AI is democratising recruitment marketing The ever-growing scale and scope of automation Strategy and creativity How can employers stand out from the AI-generated "slop" Brand building, story telling and tech orchestration What skills are now needed in recruitment marketing Building out capability Can AI help recruitment marketing to be properly strategic? What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

We have been discussing skills for so long that there is a temptation to dismiss anything skills-based as just another set of buzzwords. However, if anything, we aren't talking about skills enough and certainly not in the holistic way we need to be. Forward-thinking companies are already using skills-based approaches to solve critical business problems. These aren't abstract HR initiatives but data-driven transformations directly tied to revenue and operational outcomes. AI is helping to deconstruct jobs into tasks, map skills with precision, and deploy talent with unprecedented flexibility. So how are organizations making this transformation, and what does this mean for talent acquisition's role in driving business strategy? My guest this week is Craig Friedman, Talent Skills Transformation Leader at St. Charles Consulting Group and author of the book "Enterprise Skills Unlocked,". In our conversation, he shares how skills-based organizations are solving real business challenges and fundamentally changing how HR and talent acquisition deliver value. In the interview, we discuss: Definitions and drivers Moving from skills curious to skills ready A data-driven HR Transformation Building more effective talent processes by linking skills to people The workforce planning revolution Moving from headcount planning to capability planning True talent intelligence The role of AI Driving mobility and opening up talent markets Aligning HR and TA to business outcomes and strategy Getting started What the future will look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

I recently returned from my annual pilgrimage to the HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas. There are a ton of conferences in our industry, but HR Tech still remains the event to come to for the most comprehensive view of innovation in talent acquisition. It is clear that things are moving fast with technology; AI is already moving from narrow, single-use tools to orchestration layers and multiple agents that promise to revolutionise talent acquisition. Unfortunately, it is making the tech landscape very difficult to understand from a buyer's perspective, as traditional software categories are collapsing. At the same time, the legacy cornerstones of the recruiting process, resumes, interviews, and job descriptions, are looking increasingly inadequate, with candidates and employers caught in an AI arms race that is currently making the experience worse rather than better. So how can TA leaders cut through the noise, balance efficiency with fairness, and bring humanity back into recruiting while taking advantage of the enormous potential AI offers? What new skills will be needed to lead in this environment, and how do organisations avoid just using AI to do the wrong things faster? While I was at the show, I caught up with two of my regular podcast guests, Allyn Bailey, Senior Director of Brand and Communications at SmatRecruiters, and Daniel Chait, CEO of Greenhouse, both of whom offered some sensible guiding insights into what is becoming a very complex space. In the interviews, we discuss: Blurring categories of vendors is confusing for buyers. AI's next phase of orchestration layers and multiple agents The importance of open systems Will we finally see the end of resumes? The surge of AI interviewing Why the candidate experience keeps getting worse Balancing efficiency with fairness and keeping humans in the loop The new skills TA Leaders need Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The job interview has been a part of the recruiting process for over 100 years, with Thomas Edison widely credited as the original architect of this central tenet of the recruiting process. But with so much change happening since then, are interviews still fit for purpose in their current format, and if they aren't, what should they be replaced with? My guest this week is Sarah Lamontagne, founder of Montagne Motion Consulting. Sarah has worked in all aspects of recruiting and talent acquisition and, based on her experience, strongly believes that employees should be moving away from interviews and looking at other methods of assessment to bring the recruiting process up to date. In the interview, we discuss: The significant challenges in hiring at the moment The origins of the job interview and why they are no longer fit for purpose How is recruiting slow to evolve What should replace interviews, and how do you enable candidates to demonstrate their skills at scale? The role of technology A new generation in the workforce who are driving change What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The ongoing slump in tech hiring is well-documented. However, the demand for talented AI professionals, particularly at the leadership level, is absolutely off the scale. With unprecedented salaries being promised by the leading AI players, how can other employers compete, and what do the TA team need to know to secure the talent their organisation needs? My guest this week is Rebecca Hastings, founder of Lucent Search. Rebecca has been hiring AI leaders for her clients for over a decade and a half, and Lucent Search recently published a research report investigating what top AI Leaders want from their jobs and careers. In our conversation, we explore some of the findings, and Rebecca offers some very valuable advice to TA teams looking for top AI talent. In the interview, we discuss: The rise of the Chief AI Officer and the reshaping of the C-Suite Career frustration and the loyalty penalty The perception AI Leaders have of talent acquisition Why humans are still critical in AI projects and transformations What motivates AI professionals to change jobs Which skills are most in demand? Where should AI transformation sit in the business? What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.