Recruiting Future with Matt Alder

For years, a candidate experience that delivers truly personalized feedback at scale has been an unattainable dream for talent acquisition teams. Candidates have always wanted tailored feedback, advice, and the opportunity to ask questions, but the sheer volume of applications has made this impossible So, is AI now revolutionizing the candidate experience and finally making mass personalization a reality? What does it take to create an ethical, transparent system that provides candidates with two-way interactions and personalized feedback, all while improving efficiency and reducing workload for TA teams? My guest this week is Sam Dhesi, CEO of Popp AI. Despite only being 18 months old, Popp AI is already partnering with FTSE 100 companies and global staffing organizations. In our conversation, Sam shares real-world results on how AI enables conversational assessment, provides personalized candidate feedback, drives engagement, and vastly improves hiring efficiency. In the interview, we discuss: How AI is changing the way employers interact with assess candidates Building in an ethically and responsible way The importance of human oversight and explainability Delivering constructive personalized feedback at scale Facilitating mass candidate engagement Using assessment via conversational AI as a replacement for the resume Which employers are doing all of this well, and what tangible results have they achieved What does the future look like? Where will hiring be in five years time? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The rapid evolution of AI is reshaping talent acquisition, but many TA teams are struggling to keep pace. While AI offers the potential to revolutionize processes, reduce friction, and improve candidate experiences, adoption rates remain low. At the same time, businesses are under pressure to boost productivity and efficiency, leaving TA teams vulnerable to being left behind—or worse, having changes imposed on them without their input. So, how can talent acquisition leaders embrace AI and use it to align themselves with broader corporate objectives? My guest this week is Adam Godson, CEO of Paradox, a pioneer in conversational AI for talent acquisition. Adam shares valuable insights from working with industry leaders like McDonald’s and Chipotle, exploring how AI is transforming recruitment at scale. He discusses how TA leaders can harness AI to future-proof their organizations, deliver tangible ROI, and create hiring systems that prioritize speed, efficiency, and better candidate experiences. In the interview, we discuss: Developments over the last 12 months What are employers who use conversational AI for hiring achieving? How McDonalds reduce time to hire from 21 days to 3 days How AI is massively improving the candidate experience The use of AI in high-volume hiring gives us a glimpse into the future. AI adoption is being driven by its impact on the bottom line. The importance of good system and experience design What will TA teams of the future look like? The challenge of challenging recruiting norms The opportunity for TA Leaders What is going to happen in 2025 Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

The adoption of AI in talent acquisition continues to accelerate, promising efficiencies and new possibilities for hiring. However, as AI tools become central to recruiting processes, they bring significant challenges, particularly around bias, compliance, and trust. Without clear oversight, these systems risk entrenching inequalities rather than addressing them. So, how can talent acquisition leaders ensure that AI supports fairer hiring while safeguarding compliance and trust? And what role does auditing play in this critical process? My guest this week is Jeff Pole, Co-founder and CEO of Warden AI, a company specializing in AI auditing for HR and TA Technologies. In our conversation, Jeff shares his insights on the importance of auditing AI systems, the emerging regulatory landscape, and how talent acquisition leaders can better understand and navigate the risks and opportunities of AI-powered hiring. In the interview, we discuss: Is the current pace of innovation in AI set to continue? What are the main risks? Regulation, Legislation, and Ethics Is there a difference between AI influencing a hiring decision and AI making a hiring decision? How AI can be less biased and fairer than humans Holding machines to a higher standard than humans Shining a light on the AI systems used in recruiting and TA technology Continuous testing and monitoring How widespread is the issue, and how much AI bias has actually been found? What should TA leaders be considering when assessing AI solutions What does the future look like? How will AI change talent acquisition in the long term? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

AI has profoundly impacted talent acquisition in 2024, but its influence has been far from uniform. In some areas, little has changed, while in others—such as high-volume hiring—there has been nothing short of a revolution. Automation has dramatically accelerated recruiting processes, improving the candidate and hiring manager experience in ways previously unimaginable. These advancements are signals of what's to come, with sweeping changes across talent acquisition potentially just months away. With technology increasingly automating processes, the role of recruiters is evolving, raising urgent questions about what TA teams must do to stay relevant and strategic. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind as automation reshapes our industry. So, how can TA leaders and recruiters navigate this transformation, address challenges like bias, and embrace the opportunities AI presents to redefine their roles? My guest this week is John Vlastelica, CEO of Recruiting Toolbox and a trusted advisor to some of the world's most innovative companies. John shares his insights on the key shifts happening in recruiting, the evolving role of recruiters, and how leaders can future-proof their teams in an AI-driven world. In the interview, we discuss: How AI is impacting recruiting right now How does it change the jobs we recruit for? Unchecked human bias in traditional recruiting process Automation in high-volume and front-line hiring Segmentation of roles between automated and high-touch recruiting processes Inefficiency by design From talent acquisition to talent advisor, breaking the silos in HR Insights, Influence, and Impact Candidate "cheating" TA Tech vendors selling directly to the C-Suite The importance of having a plan to rationalize TA What is going to happen in 2025? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Round up is the monthly show on The Recruiting Future Podcast channel that highlights episodes you may have missed and gives you my take on some of the key learnings from the guests. Episodes mentioned in this Round Up: Ep 651: Navigating TA’s Perfect Storm Ep 652: Unlocking Global Talent Pools Ep 653: Assessing the impact of AI Ep 654: The Power Of Great Questions Ep 655: Using Culture As A Talent Magnet Ep 656: Strategic Transformation in TA Ep 657: The Future Of TA Technology Ep 658: TA As A Service Ep 659: Talent Complexity Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts Follow this podcast on Spotify

With organizations now having to navigate the rapid changes brought about by geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, the ongoing climate emergency, and the surge in technology, it is clear that different ways of thinking about talent are needed.  So, how can organizations adapt to this complexity and prepare for a future where the old rules no longer apply? What should they consider when redefining their talent strategies in such a dynamic context? My guest this is week is Graham Abbey, Professor in Practice at The University of Bristol Business School and CEO of Farleigh Performance. From the importance of understanding the difference between complicated and complex systems to the potential of AI in reconnecting us to our humanity, Graham provides deep insights into creating the conditions for engagement, leadership, and performance and building an antifragile organization.  In the interview, we discuss: Challenges and forces driving change Thinking differently about talent Changing to the organization metaphor The difference between a complicated and complex system How well are employers responding to change and uncertainty? Skills based organizations Discovery connectivity with AI Talent Acquisition and hiring Higher purpose, agency, relationships, and disruptive learning Building an antifragile organization How will we be talking about talent in five years time Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Transforming a business function is a difficult process. It can become impossible if no one knows what the function is transforming into. It is vital that anyone undertaking a TA Transformation develops a clear vision to generate buy-in and set the direction of travel. With so much disruption going on, there has never been a better time to create bold, innovative visions that take TA Acquisition in new directions. My guest this week is Jill Leonard, Global Senior Director of Talent at Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh has developed a vision for talent acquisition that they call "TA As A Service." In addition to discussing Hello Fresh's TA Transformation, Jill also talks about her experience implementing video interviewing and the benefits of embracing new technology early. In the interview, we discuss: Current TA challenges TA Transformation at Hello Fresh Recruiters as Talent Advisors TA as a service Agility and change management Upskilling and professional development for TA teams How video interviewing has evolved to solve specific business needs The benefits of embracing new technology early How to drive adoption. How should TA leaders respond to AI? Optimizing the candidate experience How will TA evolve over the next five years? Follow this podcast in Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

After all the commentary and debate about AI and talent acquisition over the last two years, we are finally starting to see what this brave new world might look like as many technology providers roll out new AI-driven products and services. While it is clear that massive changes are coming to the way companies hire talent, there are still many unanswered questions and contradictory views on what the future will look like. I wanted to get a different perspective on things, so this week, my guest is Shashank Saxena, a Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures. Sierra Ventures is an early-stage VC firm that has made several investments in AI-driven HR software companies. In our conversation, Shashank gives us some alternative visions of what the future of work might look like and implications for talent acquisition. In the interview, we discuss: How is the world of work changing AI use cases and the speed of adoption Does AI make TA more efficient, or does it completely disrupt it? Are AI-powered job seekers cheating? Can AI make hiring decisions? The implications of AI agents on white collar work What does the future of HR and Recruiting Technology look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

After many years of being seen as tactical, TA has the unique opportunity to reposition itself as a strategic function with insights to shape business strategy. However, this will only happen with a significant degree of transformation, and those TA teams that stick to doing what they have always done are at risk of further downsizing or being automated away altogether.  So, what do TA Leaders need to do to harness the current forces of change and reinvent their function My guest this week is Lyndsey Taylor, head of Global Talent Attraction at Brooks Automation. Lyndsey has a wealth of experience in TA transformation, strategic workforce planning, and driving change. She shares her perspectives on the future of TA, the rise of strategic workforce planning, and breaking down traditional HR silos. In the Interview, we discuss: How the work of TA is changing and the forces driving that change How can TA influence business outcomes? Aligning metrics to business goals Internal mobility and reskilling  What role can TA play in Strategic Workforce Planning How to be more strategic What does AI make possible Enhancing the candidate experience Reducing bias Breaking the silos in HR What should TA look like in 3 years time? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Company culture is a fundamental selling point for attracting the right talent to an organization. However, in many cases, it is talked about in a cliched, inauthentic way during the hiring process. Culture is also often portrayed in terms of the working environment or via specific perks rather than being something that holistically represents the organization. So, how can TA teams use culture as a genuine magnet to attract talent in a post-pandemic world where work has fundamentally changed? My guest this week is Kirstie Eustace, Chief Admin Officer at Steward Partners. Steward Partners is an excellent example of an organization that puts their culture front and centre in there hiring process, and Kirstie has some excellent insights and advice to share In the interview, we discuss: The definition of culture in a corporate context How does culture translate into employee and candidate experience? Prioritising wellbeing Using culture to stand out in talent acquisition Storytelling with real examples Giving candidates direct access to existing employees and the leadership team The role of technology What does the future look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Whenever we talk about recruiting automation, there is always a persistent narrative in favor of retaining the human touch in some way, shape, or form. While technology now enables us to interact in increasingly conversational ways, there's still an irreplaceable quality in human-to-human, face-to-face dialogue that no machine or video can fully replicate. So, how can we enhance the effectiveness of our conversations in both professional and personal settings? And could asking more powerful, thoughtful questions lead to better hiring outcomes?  My guest this week is Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Topaz Adizes, founder of experience design studio The Skin Deep. Having conducted over 1,200 filmed conversations exploring human connection, Topaz has gained profound insights into what makes questions transformative. In our discussion, he shares what his work has taught him about crafting questions that break down barriers and foster authentic dialogue—lessons that can help us all engage more meaningfully in the workplace and beyond. In the interview, we discuss: Lessons learned from filming 1,200 conversations How conversations build relationships Avoiding power plays and making a safe space for conversation The importance of well-constructed questions Curiosity and openness in job interviews The power of bringing unrelated concepts together Connective questions Listening versus speaking Can AI write effective questions? The differences between face-to-face and virtual conversations What's the future of workplace conversations? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify

I know that many of you would agree that we are now beyond saturation point with the hype around AI in TA. It's clear that one way or another, gen AI is going to become ubiquitous in the software that we use. So, rather than discussing it as a topic on its own, we need to look carefully at the current and future impact on TA in terms of use cases, innovation, and the potential to rethink hiring. So what are the proven use cases for AI right now, where are we missing opportunities, and how will things develop in the short term? My guest this week is Mark Chaffey, Co-Founder and CEO of Hackajob. We discuss current AI use cases and lessons TA can learn from Gen AI's impact on software engineering. In the interview, we discuss: The current state of the tech hiring market Concerns over developing early career talent The impact of AI on software engineering AI isn't just about automation. It's about being ten times better. Why AI will always match better than humans The role of TA The hype cycle Critical questions to ask vendors Data governance and integration What will things be like in both the short and long-term future? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

One of the pandemic's legacies is the opening of genuinely global markets for talent. The trend of moving work to people, rather than people to work, is set to grow as effectively tapping into international talent pools can offer a huge competitive advantage for the employers that get it right. At the same time, though, recruiting globally can be daunting, with companies having to negotiate the previously unfamiliar cultural, financial, and legal complexities. My guest this week is Jonathan Romley, founder and CEO of Lundy. Jonathan shares his extensive experience in mapping out international hiring plans and highlights why he sees the globalization of talent as a huge strategic opportunity for talent acquisition. In the interview, we discuss: The shifting global workforce landscape Why global hiring is a strategic opportunity for Talent Acquisition Understanding the business case Assessing whether a role should be based in another country Strategy roles versus execution roles The vital importance of research The disruptive force of AI Trust and the candidate experience What will TA look like in five years time? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Talent Acquisition appears to be facing the perfect storm. The volume of inbound applications is increasing at unprecedented levels; however, at the same time, budgets are being reduced, and TA teams are getting smaller. On top of that, hiring for specialist talent is getting harder with remote work, making talent markets truly global and increasing competition for the hardest-to-find skills. So, how can TA Leaders navigate these disruptive waters? AI is often positioned as a magic solution, but cutting through the cacophony of marketing noise it generates is a real challenge. My guest this week is Steve Bartel, Founder and CEO of Gem. Steve offers us insights and advice from the perspective of a vendor building solutions to the challenges TA teams face. As well as talking about the trends that matter and the long-term impact of AI, he also shares some valuable advice on properly assessing potential AI solutions and avoiding some of the common pitfalls currently out there. In the interview, we discuss: The challenges TA faces Noise versus signal What are the real game-changing trends? Single vendor versus point solutions Navigating the Gen AI revolution as a vendor The long term impact of AI on Talent Acquisition The AI hype cycle Ranking and matching Delivering an exceptional candidate experience What should buyers be aware of Recruiting Nirvana Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Round up is the monthly show on The Recruiting Future Podcast channel that highlights episodes you may have missed and gives you my take on some of the key learnings from the guests. Episodes mentioned in this Round Up: Ep 644: AI, Innovation & HR Tech Ep 645: Recruiting Nirvana Ep 646: Skills Intelligence Ep 647: Attributes Ep 648: Unstoppable Transformation Ep 649: Building A Personalized Candidate Experience Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts

I've done a lot of research this year around the move to skills-based hiring and skills-based organizations. Having spoken to a large number of employers on this journey, it is very clear that success is predicated on looking at skills strategically, holistically, and in the context of both business and personal growth. Ultimately, employers need to think fundamentally differently about talent and reflect this new thinking in talent acquisition, talent mobility, and talent development. My guests this week have just published an excellent book encouraging CEOs to embrace this new mindset to build the adaptable, skilled workforce they need in a way that doesn't undermine personal growth and champions the employee experience. The book is called "The Talent-Fueled Enterprise," and it was great to be able to speak to all three of its authors, Mike Ohata, Larry Durham, and Eric Dingler, who between them have 85 years combined experience in leading talent at Fortune 15 companies. In the interview, we discuss: The current most common talent challenges The tension between people growth and business growth Shifting from tech skills to Skills, Attributes and Experience Skilling for human potential Building teams for growth, adaptability, and empathy Rethinking Talent Acquisition Becoming a skills-based organization The vital importance of talent mobility Employee experience The impact of AI What will work look like in 5 years time? You can get 30% off The Talent-Fueled Enterprise by following this link and using the code Recruiting24 Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Improving the candidate experience has been a perpetual goal in recruiting. Despite the best intentions, the improvement process's effectiveness still ebbs and flows with the changes in supply and demand in the labor market. However, are things finally about to change? Ever since the exponential acceleration in the development of AI, I've been excited about the possibility of technology delivering a genuinely personalized candidate experience at scale. So, what does this vision look like? Which elements are already possible, and what do TA leaders need to do to make it a reality? My guest this week is Don Tomlinson, CTO at Daxtra. In our conversation, Don gives us a refreshingly pragmatic view of the AI use cases that can combine to build a personalized candidate experience and highlights pitfalls and dangers to be aware of. In the interview, we discuss: Using AI to diversify talent pools Taking out the background noise Personalizing the candidate's experience in real-time Bespoke communication at scale Automatically tailoring the hiring process to individual circumstances. Transparency The dangers of losing the human touch Efficiencies, investment, and ROI Build vs Buy, Core Vs Complementary AI self-auditing to improve strategy and process What will the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

In the last few weeks, many established software vendors have launched AI-augmented products, helping us move past the hype and get a much more hands-on view of what AI means for Talent Acquisition. There are still a massive amount of unknowns, but it is evident that AI is a chief catalyst in what is now an unstoppable transformation of TA and the broader talent function. AI and automation fundamentally alter the speed and scale at which TA can operate, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. So, what does this mean for TA leaders and practitioners right now? How prepared are organizations for this level of transformation, and how can TA raise its game to drive more value for the organization? This week, my guests are Dr. Swathi Palasamudram, Enterprise Business Architect at Bosch, and Nazim Ünlü, Global People and Organization Lead at Novartis, in two interviews recorded at the Smartrecruiters Hiring Success event in Amsterdam in September. Swathi and Nazim shared insights that reveal why the transformation of talent acquisition is truly unstoppable—and how TA leaders can harness this momentum to not only keep pace but lead the way. In the interviews, we discuss: Fear, Adaptability, and the critical importance of strategic thinking Current AI use cases. How AI can raise the value of TA to the business Regional variations in AI adoption Retaining the vital human element of TA and HR Data literacy Building a personalized candidate experience The difference between Automation (efficiency through technology) and AI (insights and decision-making) Advice for TA Leaders Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Soft Skills, Hard Skills, Attributes, Traits, Competencies—these words sometimes get used interchangeably when we talk about assessment and team building. As the momentum around skills-based hiring increases, it is important to know what we really mean when we talk about skills generically and how exactly we are measuring someone's ability to do a particular role. My guest this week is Rich Diviney, founder of The Attributes. Rich is a former Commanding Officer in the US Navy SEALs, where he was responsible for assessing and selecting the elite of the elite for the famous SEAL Team Six. He now speaks and writes about the use of attributes in team building and hiring. We had a fantastic discussion about the difference between skills and attributes in the context of hiring and development. We also discuss my somewhat surprising results from taking Rich's attributes test.  In the interview, we discuss: Identifying the elite of the elite for SEAL Team Six The difference between attributes and skills Understanding how people react in times of stress, challenge, and uncertainty How do you measure and assess attributes? Are soft skills and attributes the same thing? Can you develop attributes? The difference between perseverance, resilience, and tenacity What are companies getting wrong when it comes to skills and hiring? The "Dream Team Paradox" When AI takes over skills, attributes become even more critical. What does the future look like for hiring and managing talent? You can get 15% of The Attributes Assessment by using the code RECRUITING15 Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Skills-based organizations and skills-based hiring have been some of the hottest topics of the year. While it is hard to find anyone who disagrees that this way of thinking about talent strategies has enormous benefits, there is still much debate about some of the practicalities around strategy and implementation. I spoke to two genuine HR thought leaders in my fourth and final set of interviews recorded at this year's HR Technology Conference. Heather Jerrehain, VP of Product Management - Employee Workflows at Service Now, and Mike Bollinger, Global VP of Strategic Initiative at Cornerstone on Demand Both shared their thoughts and insights on the power of skills, the journey towards skills-based organizations, and their sense of what the future might look like. In the interviews, we discuss: The impact of AI on jobs, work, and skills How AI is revolutionizing skills analysis and intelligence Using data from the hiring process to get a fuller picture of a person's skills The power of skills-based mobility Advice on building skills-based strategies How to get started The importance of not overcomplicating the process What types of organizations are already successfully implementing skills-based strategies Soft skills versus hard skills Skills development and the value for employees Integrating technology into skills-based hiring and development. What will things look like in five years' time? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.