Don’t Tell Me About Yourself

Live from TalentSphere were talking about what fractional recruiting is, and when should a company use it? In this episode we talk with Brooke Wheeler, Founder of Restoration Talent Solutions and explore how fractional hiring gives companies executive-level recruiting expertise without the long-term commitment. You’ll learn how fractional talent acquisition leaders step into growing companies, build recruiting structure and process, and transition teams for long-term success. We also discuss how recruiters can build community, avoid AI overwhelm, and stay strategic in a fast-changing hiring landscape. Follow Brooke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookewheeler/ Timestamps:00:00 Why community matters in recruiting01:20 Building recruiting structure and process02:15 AI overwhelm in talent acquisition03:05 What fractional recruiting means03:40 From corporate VP to fractional founder04:10 How fractional hiring benefits companies04:48 Building the playbook and hiring full-time successors05:10 The future of fractional talent Keywords:fractional recruiting, fractional hiring, part-time executive recruiter, talent acquisition strategy, recruiting process improvement, interim head of talent, startup hiring support, recruiting consultant, AI in recruiting, talent acquisition leadership

What does technical hiring look like in the age of AI? In this episode, we talk with Amanda Perry VP of Customer Success at CoderPad and break down how AI is reshaping engineering interviews, why banning AI is a losing strategy, how to prevent candidate fraud (including deepfakes), and how transparency builds trust in the hiring process. You’ll learn practical ways to design interviews that reflect real-world work, reduce confusion between recruiters and hiring managers, and improve candidate experience without sacrificing rigor. We're live from TalentSphere! Follow Amanda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-perry-96349ab1/ Check out CoderPad: https://coderpad.io/ Key Takeaways: AI is not making technical hiring harder, but it is making it different. Modern engineering interviews should assess how candidates use AI, not whether they use it. The focus is shifting from output to critical thinking and debugging skills. Clear AI guidelines prevent confusion and candidate drop-off. Misalignment between recruiters and hiring managers damages trust. Junior engineers with strong AI skills are increasingly competitive. Candidate fraud, including deepfakes, is a real concern in technical hiring. Short introductory video submissions can reduce fraud and save recruiter time. Transparency in the hiring process improves candidate experience. Bias exists in every stage of hiring, so systems must be intentional and repeatable. Timestamps:00:00 Why attend Talent Sphere Summit01:10 What a technical hiring platform does02:02 Is hiring engineers getting harder?03:28 Stop treating AI like a gotcha04:52 Align recruiters and hiring managers on AI rules06:14 Are junior engineers being replaced?07:12 Why transparency builds trust09:05 Deepfakes and candidate fraud in hiring10:15 Using video to verify real candidates12:17 Balancing fraud prevention and bias Keywords:AI in hiring, technical hiring process, engineering interviews, AI interview guidelines, candidate fraud, deepfake job applicants, junior engineer hiring trends, transparent hiring practices, AI skills assessment, candidate experience

We're live from TalenSphere! How do you show up authentically at work without hurting your credibility? In this episode, Bridgette Corridan, a talent leader AND sound healer shares how vulnerability and authenticity can become superpowers in recruiting and leadership. You will learn how to stop shrinking yourself to fit professional expectations, how to integrate personal purpose with business strategy, and how mindfulness practices like breathwork and sound healing can help leaders navigate a noisy, high-pressure world. This conversation explores identity, leadership, community, and how to create workplaces that support real human expansion. Key Takeaways: Vulnerability and authenticity create stronger recruiting conversations. Professionalism does not require shrinking who you are. Owning your full identity attracts the right opportunities and people. Sound healing and mindfulness can support leadership clarity. Breathwork and meditation help leaders reset in high-stress environments. Women-led communities create safe spaces for growth and connection. Leaders need compassion for themselves and others. Purpose-driven business models can combine profit and social impact. Expanding who you are professionally benefits teams and organizations. Clear self-awareness improves decision-making and leadership presence. Timestamps:00:00 Why authenticity matters in recruiting01:23 From talent leader to sound healer03:24 Bringing your full self to LinkedIn04:38 Redefining professionalism06:24 Why connection matters in talent07:45 The power of breath and mindfulness08:43 Blending consulting and healing work09:41 Building a social impact consulting company11:09 Leading with compassion and curiosity Keywords:Talent Sphere, authenticity at work, vulnerability in leadership, women in talent acquisition, sound healing in business, mindful leadership, breathwork for stress, purpose-driven business, social enterprise consulting, recruiting community Follow Bridgette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetteloydcorridan/

In this episode live from TalentSphere, we talk with our guest Kyle Lagunas Founder of Kyle & Co about what AI interviewers are, how they are being used in real hiring processes, and what risks companies face if they deploy them without structure or governance. We break down independent research evaluating 12 AI interviewer platforms, explain why inconsistent implementation creates legal and ethical exposure, and outline how to use AI in interviews responsibly. If you are asking whether AI interviewers are worth it, compliant, or fair, or you like to listen to people who randomly break out in song this conversation is for you. Keep up with Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelagunas Link to Kyle & Co research report: https://resources.kyleandco.com/CategoryCompass_AIInterviewers Key TakeawaysAI interviewers are rapidly emerging across screening and technical interviews.Video avatar AI is less common and often disliked by candidates.Voice-based AI is generally perceived as more natural and acceptable.There is no single best AI interviewer; tools vary by use case.Some tools are built for high volume yes or no screening, others for advanced behavioral probing.Inconsistent deployment across teams increases legal and compliance risk.Automated candidate disposition based solely on AI can create liability if not tightly governed.Strong client success and implementation support differentiates vendors.AI interviewers can improve structure by preventing off-script or biased questioning.The teams that succeed with AI optimize their process before automating it. Timestamps00:00 Why AI interviewers are emerging now01:07 Researching 12 AI interviewer platforms02:33 Candidate reactions to video versus voice AI03:00 Different types of AI interviewer use cases04:00 Why there is no best in class tool04:41 Legal and liability concerns in AI interviews05:09 Using AI in a highly human centric process06:22 Inconsistent deployment and startup risk07:48 Automated disposition and governance issues08:44 Process optimization before automation KeywordsAI interviewersAI in hiringautomated interviewscandidate experiencehiring complianceHR technology researchstructured interviewsautomated candidate screeningAI governance in HRtalent acquisition technology

In this episode, we chat with our guest Natalie Stones Co-Founder of Talent Collective and creator of the Talent Sphere event about how to design a conference that people actually want to attend. We break down what makes a retreat-style conference different from traditional large industry events, how to build practitioner-led sessions that deliver real takeaways, and how to create an environment where talent acquisition leaders can learn, connect, and leave refreshed instead of burned out. Key TakeawaysThe concept was built around creating an event the founder wished already existed.A retreat-style conference can still deliver serious business value.Practitioner-led sessions create more relevant and current insights.Speakers are selected based on real, current experience in the role.First-time speakers can add fresh perspectives when given a safe space.Smaller, curated groups create deeper connections than large expos.Wellness elements can enhance learning without sacrificing business outcomes.Sponsors can lead solution-focused sessions without doing product demos.Bundling hotel and ticket pricing simplifies the business case for employers.Providing structured session notebooks increases practical implementation after the event. Follow Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliestones/ Check out Talent Collective: https://www.talentcollectiveco.com/ Timestamps00:00 Why create a retreat style conference02:11 How venue and environment shape the experience03:00 Why practitioner led sessions matter03:51 What makes a strong conference speaker05:31 Adding wellness without losing business value07:28 Why smaller conferences create stronger connections08:08 Key differences from the first year09:39 How to justify attendance to your employer11:19 Building real training and team learning12:02 Intentional swag and thoughtful attendee experience Keywordsretreat style conferencetalent acquisition conferencepractitioner led sessionsconference planning strategytalent collective communityconference business casesmall curated eventswellness at conferencessponsor integration strategyTA leader networking

Fake candidates are no longer rare headlines. They are a growing risk in remote hiring. In this episode, you will learn why hiring fraud is increasing, how AI is making it easier to fake qualifications, what whisper coaching and proxy interviews look like in real time, and how to protect your company without turning interviews into interrogations. You will walk away with practical guardrails, clear red flags to watch for, and a reminder that structured interviews and strong follow-up questions are still your best defense. Key Takeaways: Why one in three hiring managers report encountering fake candidates How remote hiring removes natural identity verification moments The difference between acceptable AI assistance and employment fraud What whisper coaching is and how it shows up in interviews How proxy interviews and identity swaps happen Early interview red flags such as polished but shallow answers Why organized hiring fraud can create serious system access risk How to use structured interviews to expose inconsistencies Why documentation and cross-interviewer visibility matter How to design hiring processes that make fraud harder without harming candidate experience Timestamps: 00:00 Why structured interviews still matter 01:10 Hiring fraud statistics and growth 02:00 How remote hiring changed verification 05:00 Who benefits from fake candidates 09:00 Organized fraud and system risk 12:30 What whisper coaching looks like 14:00 Application stage red flags 18:00 Early interview warning signs 23:00 Inconsistencies across interview rounds 29:00 Building guardrails that prevent fraud Keywords: Hiring fraud Fake candidates Deepfake interviews Whisper coaching Proxy interview AI in hiring Structured interviews Follow-up questions Identity verification Remote hiring

AI is everywhere in hiring, but it’s not fixing broken processes — it’s accelerating them. In this episode, we break down how AI actually shows up in the hiring process, what it amplifies on both the candidate and company side, and why blaming the tool misses the real issue. You’ll learn where candidates unintentionally hurt themselves using AI, where companies break trust with automation, and how to use AI in ways that improve hiring without sacrificing judgment, fairness, or candidate experience. Key takeaways - AI is not good or bad; it amplifies the quality of your existing hiring process - Strong interview structure and trained interviewers make AI more effective - Candidates should use AI, but unedited, copy-paste outputs are easy to spot - If AI rewrites your experience so well you can’t explain it, you’re setting yourself up to fail - Using live AI during interviews can lead to poor hiring matches and distrust - Generic, AI-written job descriptions weaken employer brand and clarity - Automated rejections without human review damage trust and miss great talent - AI-generated interview questions often produce canned, low-signal answers - The safest, highest-value AI uses are scheduling and interview note-taking - Interview training and process design matter more than adding new tools Timestamps 00:48 — Why AI isn’t fixing hiring 01:26 — AI reveals strong vs broken processes 01:43 — Candidate AI panic and misconceptions 02:16 — Common mistakes candidates make with AI 04:03 — When resumes don’t match real experience 05:00 — Live AI use during interviews and risks 07:08 — How companies break trust with AI 08:59 — Automated rejections and candidate impact 13:16 — Why AI interview questions fail 18:54 — Where AI actually helps hiring teams Keywords AI in hiring interview process hiring automation AI interviews recruiting technology candidate experience interviewer training hiring bias AI recruiting tools structured interviews

In this episode, you’ll learn how common interview “icks” subtle phrases, behaviors, and broken processes quietly push great candidates away. We break down the most frequent red flags candidates notice instantly, why they happen, and how hiring teams can fix them using one simple principle: if it would feel weird for a candidate to do it, don’t do it as an interviewer. You’ll walk away with practical ways to create interviews that feel respectful, human, and effective for both sides. Key takeaways: Why certain interview phrases instantly signal bad culture How vague corporate language creates mistrust with candidates The most damaging interviewer behaviors candidates never forget Why treating interviews like therapy sessions backfires How body language and distractions change power dynamics The hidden process flaws that create anxiety and drop-off Why surprise panels and group interviews hurt performance The real impact of unpaid homework assignments How salary secrecy wastes time for everyone Candidate behaviors that unintentionally hurt their chances Timestamps: 00:00 What interview “icks” really mean 01:17 Why candidate experience affects offer acceptance 01:41 The four categories of interview icks 02:34 Phrase icks and verbal red flags 08:17 Behavior icks interviewers overlook 13:28 Process icks hiding in plain sight 15:08 Surprise interviews and group interviews 16:41 Homework assignments and free labor 19:31 Salary transparency and late-stage surprises 22:10 Candidate behaviors that give interviewers the ick Keywords: interview icks bad interview experiences hiring mistakes candidate experience interviewer behavior interview process problems salary transparency job interview red flags hiring best practices recruiting mistakes

Many hiring teams think interviews are just conversations, but poor interviewer behavior can actively push away top candidates and damage employer brand. In this episode, you’ll learn how common interviewer mistakes hurt hiring outcomes, how candidates actually interpret interview behavior, and what separates red flag interviewers from high-quality hiring managers who create strong candidate experiences and better hiring decisions. Key Takeaways Negative interview experiences directly impact acceptance rates and employer reputation Most bad interviewer behavior comes from lack of training, not bad intent Talking too much prevents real candidate evaluation Power dynamics and ego damage trust and candidate perception Rapid-fire questioning creates stress but doesn’t improve hiring accuracy Non-job-related or illegal questions create legal and brand risk Candidates share negative experiences far more often than positive ones The best interviews feel like two-way conversations, not interrogations Preparation and presence signal respect and professionalism Transparency about process and role increases candidate trust and acceptance Timestamps 00:00 Real example of inappropriate interview question 01:18 Why interviewer behavior impacts hiring outcomes 01:33 The four bad interviewer types overview 01:54 The Rambler explained 03:38 The Power Tripper explained 06:00 The Interrogator explained 08:39 The Walking Red Flag explained 11:33 What makes a green flag hiring manager 15:24 Why candidates remember interview experiences long term 18:24 Real candidate stories and interview mistakes Top Keywords interview mistakes bad interviewers candidate experience hiring manager training illegal interview questions how to interview candidates interview red flags interview best practices employer brand interviews improving hiring decisions

Welcome to to the pod - we're glad you're here!

A bad interview doesn’t just lose candidates — it damages your employer brand, your reputation, and your future hiring pipeline. In this episode, we break down the four most common types of interviewers who unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally) sabotage the interview process: the Rambler, the Power Tripper, the Interrogator, and the Walking Red Flag. Through real stories, hard data, and firsthand experience, we unpack why these interviewer behaviors persist, how they show up in real interviews, and what they signal to candidates about company culture. We also flip the script and define what a green flag hiring manager actually looks like — and how small behavior changes can dramatically improve hiring outcomes, candidate experience, and long-term trust. If you hire people, interview candidates, or coach hiring managers, this episode is your field guide. Takeaways Why negative interview experiences drive top candidates away The four interviewer archetypes that derail hiring decisions How interviewer behavior reflects company culture Why “gut instinct” is not a hiring strategy The real risks of illegal and non-job-related questions How power dynamics quietly sabotage interviews Why candidates remember interviews long after hiring managers forget them What candidates interpret as red flags — even when unintentional How interviewer training directly impacts hiring quality The core traits of a green flag hiring manager Timestamps 00:00 — A real interview story that shouldn’t happen in 2019 01:16 — Why interview behavior matters more than companies think 01:54 — Interviewer Type #1: The Rambler 03:38 — Interviewer Type #2: The Power Tripper 05:16 — How negative interviews spread faster than positive ones 06:00 — Interviewer Type #3: The Interrogator 08:39 — Interviewer Type #4: The Walking Red Flag 11:33 — What defines a green flag hiring manager 15:06 — Real examples of positive interview experiences 18:24 — “Dear Expert Interviewers” — listener stories and karma Keywords bad interview experience hiring manager mistakes interview red flags candidate experience interviewer training illegal interview questions hiring bias employer brand damage green flag hiring manager interview best practices