Growing from 30 employees to over 130 in under two years is remarkable — doing it without any investors is even more uncommon. In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel sits down with Tristan Mackrory, VP of People & Talent at Almeida, to explore one of the most impactful scaling stories in tech. Tristan shares how a warning from veteran teachers pushed him into recruiting, how he rose quickly in a global agency, and how early exposure to AI-driven hiring shaped his approach long before ChatGPT. He also talks about nearly ignoring the LinkedIn message that led him to Almeida — one that casually began with “Do you want to make free cash?” — and how he convinced its 21-year-old founder to approve a full company rebrand immediately after joining. The conversation covers his experience scaling a Silicon Valley–backed startup from Europe during hypergrowth, surviving its collapse, and then helping Almeida grow from 30 to 130+ employees with no outside funding. Tristan explains what it really takes to build high talent density, the role of branding in recruiting, and how his team managed 22,000 applications in just three months. He also highlights how hiring a full-time data analyst transformed their talent operations from reactive to strategic — and why recruiters must evolve into business-focused problem solvers. In this episode: [00:00] Introduction [00:28] Tristan's background [01:54] About Almedia [02:27] From teaching to recruiting [04:08] Landing the first recruiting role [05:22] Rapid career progression in agency recruiting [06:17] Early exposure to AI in hiring [08:17] Consulting for European startups [09:50] Relocating to Berlin to scale a venture-backed company [11:54] The reality of hypergrowth work life [13:57] How Tristan vets resilience in recruiters [17:35] Scaling to 250 employees before the collapse [18:33] From unicorn valuation to mass layoffs [19:48] The “free cash” message that changed everything [21:55] Joining a 21-year-old founder’s bootstrapped company [22:55] Rebranding the entire company for credibility [24:25] Hiring at scale in a difficult global market [26:47] Managing 22,000 applications in 3 months [27:26] Why each recruiter hires only one person per month [29:47] Why every talent team needs a data analyst [32:05] Using AI to build salary bands and hiring workflows [37:12] Why recruiting must shift from reactive to strategic [38:12] What the recruiter role looks like in 2026 [41:01] Tristan’s top advice on referrals and outreach [41:52] Closing and where to connect About Tristan Mackrory Tristan Mackrory is the VP of People & Talent at Almedia, a bootstrapped adtech startup. With over ten years of experience, he has scaled high-growth tech companies across San Francisco, Tel Aviv, and Europe. Known for stepping into chaos and building the structure, culture, and systems that allow teams to scale quickly without breaking, Tristan is a passionate advocate for high talent density, clear performance expectations, and a culture of ownership. He joined Almedia when it was 30 people and $90M in revenue and has helped scale it to 130+ employees and over $350M in revenue, all without external funding. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Tristan Mackrory Social Media LinkedIn Almedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Think about how wild this is. Starting out as a wedding planner and ending up as an HR executive responsible for 450 people. Most people work their way into HR through recruiting. Almost nobody begins in sales or customer success and rises to lead talent. A career pivot like that isn’t just unusual. It is rare, bold, and seriously inspiring. In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel sits down with Erin McCann, an HR leader with one of the most unexpected career journeys you will ever hear. Erin did not rise through the classic recruiting pipeline. She started as a wedding planner, shifted into hotel catering, moved into corporate sales, then customer success, and only later found her way into HR. Strangely enough, every twist in that path ended up giving her the perfect toolkit for leading people teams in fast-moving startups. Erin opens up about how she transitioned into HR, why she took a pay cut to reinvent her career, and how her sales and customer success background now give her a major advantage in understanding the business side of people operations. She also explains how she taught herself compliance, built processes from scratch, and built confidence through community, mentorship, and asking the beginner questions most people are afraid to ask. The conversation then gets real about the state of recruiting today, from bot candidates using AI voice tools to the growing difficulty of spotting fake resumes. Erin shares the red flags she is seeing, how her team is adjusting, and why human judgment is still irreplaceable even in an AI driven hiring world. Erin also talks about stability, layoffs, candidate trust issues, and what she believes HR’s real responsibility will be in the year ahead: being the steady, honest voice that keeps teams grounded and supported during uncertain times. In this episode: [00:00] Introduction [00:54] Erin’s background and career path [03:42] Transition to HR and early challenges [04:40] Comparing wedding planning and HR stress [05:41] Learning HR on the fly [07:46] Applying customer success skills to HR [10:00] Becoming a strategic business partner [12:32] Networking strategies and community involvement [16:18] Current recruiting challenges: spam and AI [19:27] Mitigating bot candidates and application fraud [22:14] AI in recruitment processes [24:13] Personalization vs. automation in outreach [25:59] Current job market sentiment [28:25] Evaluating company stability when job searching [31:21] Building custom GPTs for HR and sales [34:25] AI governance and best practices [36:10] Predictions for HR and recruiting [39:52] Closing and where to connect About Erin McCann Erin McCann is an executive HR and People leader with over 12 years of experience, currently leading the function at Genomenon, a global biotech company. With a first career in high-stakes sales, marketing, and customer success, she brings rare business acumen and a commercial mindset to building people strategies. Aaron is known for her practical, operational approach to scaling teams, her advocacy for strategic HR partnerships, and her early, hands-on experimentation with AI to solve real business challenges. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Erin McCann Social Media LinkedIn Genomenon, Inc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have you ever wondered what separates recruiters who stay sharp in chaos from those who fold under pressure? Or why, even in a world full of AI tools and automation, the human touch still wins? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel sits down with recruiting veteran Nicole Hirsch, who brings nearly two decades of agency and in-house experience across shifting markets—from the 2008 financial crisis to today’s AI-driven landscape. Nicole gets real about what’s changed, what’s repeating itself, and what recruiters must understand to stay relevant. She shares stories from her early days recruiting mortgage underwriters during the recession, how that shaped her resilience, and what pushed her to transition in-house. Nicole also breaks down how she built high-performing recruiting teams and why her agency roots still influence her approach. The conversation gets even better when they tackle AI. Nicole is pro-AI, but she gives a bold take: recruiters need to stop relying on generic AI outreach and bring back real, thoughtful, human messaging. She explains how authenticity drives stronger response rates and builds trust, referrals, and long-term career equity. Nicole also walks through how her team uses tools like BrightHire to improve interview quality, reduce bias, and elevate candidate experience—while keeping recruiter judgment at the core. If you’re trying to balance tech and humanity in today’s hiring world, this episode brings clarity, practical insight, and real-world perspective. Let’s dive in. In this episode: [00:01] Introduction [00:59] Nicole’s 17+ year recruiting journey and how 2008 shaped her [02:25] AI tools, market uncertainty, and the noise candidates face [03:59] Why personalized outreach still outperforms AI sequences [09:29] The agency mindset vs. the in-house mindset [13:10] Representing your company and yourself in the market [16:27] Referrals, relationships, and long-term trust building [19:01] Where AI belongs in recruiting (and where it doesn’t) [21:03] Nicole’s experience with one-way video interviews [22:12] The tech she actually uses: BrightHire + interview intelligence [26:44] The real risks: compliance, bias, and regulation [29:47] Job seekers, volume, and the reality of 2025 hiring [32:11] AI interviewers, bias, and candidate perception [34:49] Using AI for internal operations, Slack agents, and comp data [39:01] How Lattice links interview performance to quality-of-hire [47:00] The unsexy truth: candidate experience = prep + communication [49:46] Why transparency and phone calls never go out of style [52:02] Where to find Nicole and opportunities at Lattice About Nicole Hirsch Nicole Hirsch is a senior recruiting leader with 18 years of experience across agency, edtech, marketing tech, and HR tech. She currently leads recruiting at Lattice, where she specializes in interview intelligence, candidate experience, hiring strategy, and creating deeply human recruiting processes at scale. Nicole is known for her relationship-first approach, her operational rigor, and her belief that great recruiting will always center on people, not automation. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Nicole Hirsch Social Media LinkedIn Lattice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Jeremy Lyons, co-founder of Rec Ops Collective and one of the most influential voices in the Rec Ops world. Together they unpack the nuances of recruiting operations (rec ops), the impact of AI and automation, and the importance of demonstrating business value in talent acquisition. Jeremy shares how his unconventional path into recruiting began long before his first official job. Influenced by his mother’s career in executive recruiting and shaped by early experiences in cheerleading and ballet, he learned the art of selling a vision and rallying people around a mission. That foundation guides everything he does today. Joel and Jeremy dig into the explosion of AI tools, the flood of point solutions, and why the real power lies not in mastering every platform but in understanding the principles behind them. They discuss the pressure on recruiters to quantify their business impact, the shift in ATS architecture toward data-driven design, and why Jeremy keeps his widely read newsletter free of sponsorship to protect its neutrality and credibility. Jeremy also reflects on reinvention, personal growth, and the importance of letting go of old personas. He talks about navigating uncertainty, the emotional weight of recruiting, and why genuine relationships will always matter more than automation. This episode is both practical and deeply human. If you work in Rec Ops, talent acquisition, or leadership, it is a powerful reminder that the future of recruiting depends as much on curiosity, adaptability, and connection as it does on any emerging technology. In this episode: [00:01] Introduction and guest welcome [00:59] Jeremy’s background and Rec Ops Collective origin [02:25] AI tools in recruiting and market uncertainty [03:59] Rec Ops Collective newsletter: purpose and growth [09:29] Content sponsorship and neutrality [13:10] Business impact and recruiting as a business function [16:27] Measuring impact and resume advice [19:01] Evolution of ATS and in-house vs. agency tools [21:03] Creativity and tech in talent teams [22:12] Jeremy’s entry into recruiting and early influences [24:32] Recruiting as relationship building [26:44] Family influence and corporate values [29:47] Human relationships vs. tech in recruiting [32:11] AI tools, job hopping, and career evolution [41:11] Rebranding yourself and embracing change [43:07] Uncertainty and the future of work [44:45] Closing and where to find Jeremy About Jeremy Lyons Co-founder of RecOps Collective, creator of the weekly RecOps Roundup newsletter, and a respected leader in recruiting operations, automation, process design, and TA systems strategy. Jeremy has worked across companies from 10 employees to 100,000+, helping teams scale, optimize, and rethink the architecture of recruiting. He is known for his neutral, insight-first approach to industry analysis and his commitment to making RecOps accessible and understood. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Jeremy Lyons Social Media LinkedIn Newsletter: Rec Ops Roundup on Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did you know that recruiting has drastically evolved since the mid-1990s? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel sits down with talent acquisition leader Julia Levy to explore how recruiting has evolved and what still matters most. With more than two decades inside Fortune 500 companies, leading global TA operations and navigating major ATS implementations, Julia has seen every phase of the industry up close. She walks through her journey from career-counseling grad student to agency recruiter, to TA operations, and eventually to leading enterprise hiring teams responsible for more than 120,000 employees. Julia explains how recruiting shifted from relationship-driven phone sourcing to a landscape shaped by LinkedIn, automation, and AI, while reminding listeners that genuine human connection remains essential. She and Joel unpack why job descriptions often feel outdated, why resumes have become AI-optimized guesses, and how auto-apply tools are overwhelming recruiters and damaging the candidate experience. They also discuss fast-apply culture, what early-career job seekers are struggling with, and how Gen Z can navigate today’s competitive market. Julia highlights why understanding your ATS matters, how process decisions impact every part of the hiring cycle, and why data now drives modern TA. She also shares the motivation behind her new book From Hi to Hired, written for interns and new grads entering a challenging job market. Julia’s message is simple: great recruiting still depends on real connection, smart systems, and people who understand the work. In this episode: [00:57] Julia’s background [03:05] Current projects and consulting work [04:03] AutoZone role and scope of hiring [04:53] Origin story: entering recruiting [06:09] What recruiting looked like in the 90s [07:12] Evolution of digital recruiting [10:44] Transition to internal roles and TA operations [13:12] Career progression across major companies [16:01] Importance of TA operations knowledge [18:11] What hasn’t changed in recruiting [19:29] Job descriptions vs actual job needs [22:17] Candidate experience and the application black hole [26:41] Strategic job search and candidate education [28:12] Defining qualifications and application strategy [29:49] What recruiters look for in resumes [33:21] Industry experience and risk in hiring [35:49] Julia’s book: From Hi to Hired [39:06] Advice quality and social media misinformation [40:45] Challenges for new grads in today’s job market [43:16] Where to find Julia + Coach Julia AI About Julia Levy Julia Levy is a veteran Talent Acquisition executive with a background in career counseling. She has led global TA teams at Fortune 500 companies like AutoZone and MetLife, specializing in transforming clunky recruitment processes into efficient, candidate-friendly experiences. Now recovering from corporate life, she is an author, advisor to HR tech companies, and a passionate advocate for job seekers. Her new book, "From High to Hired" provides a strategic roadmap for college students to land their first job. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Julia Levy Social Media Website LinkedIn The Coach Julia AI Book: From Hi to Hired Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this live episode of Recruiting is No Joke, recorded at RecFest 2025 inside the Purple Acorn Tent, Joel Lalgee sits down with two powerhouse recruiting leaders, Caroline Kiesler, Director of HR at Workwear Outfitters, and Kearstin McGinnis, Recruitment Leader at TekSynap, to explore what it really takes to stay relevant in today’s rapidly evolving talent landscape. Caroline shares her inspiring journey from staffing recruiter to HR executive and breaks down how recruiters can transition into broader people roles by understanding compensation philosophy, succession planning, and leadership development. She challenges recruiters to stop chasing time-to-fill metrics and start building strategic credibility with hiring managers by leading with insights, not just job requisitions. Then, Kearstin dives into how AI is reshaping the recruiting process inside government contracting and why keeping the human touch matters more than ever. From nurturing long-term candidate relationships to adapting outreach for Gen Z talent, she offers real-world advice on personalization, conference networking, and building meaningful connections in a noisy digital world. In this episode: [00:00] Welcome to RecFest 2025 [00:34] Meet Caroline Kiesler: HR director at Workwear Outfitters [01:00] Caroline’s journey from recruiting to HR [01:48] Advice for transitioning from TA to HR [03:10] The importance of compensation philosophy [04:22] Reflections on RecFest [05:27] Fireside chat preview: TA through the lens of HR [08:20] Building credibility with hiring managers [12:58] Connecting with Caroline Kiesler [14:16] Introducing Kearstin McGinnis: recruitment for GovCon IT [14:41] Biggest changes and growth in AI [15:09] Implementing AI in recruitment [16:46] Maintaining human connection in recruitment [17:38] Engaging with candidates on social media [23:05] Maximizing conference experiences [25:28] Choosing the right vendors [27:13] Connecting with Kearstin McGinnis [27:54] Final thoughts About the Guests Caroline Kiesler is the Director of Human Resources at Workwear Outfitters, overseeing global HR strategy across talent acquisition, engagement, and development. With a foundation in recruiting, Caroline is passionate about building cultures that invest in people and long-term growth. Kearstin McGinnis leads recruitment for TekSynap, a government contracting IT firm operating across five countries. Known for her relationship-first approach, she focuses on humanizing candidate experience and embracing AI with authenticity and care. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Caroline Kiesler Social Media LinkedIn Workwear Outfitters Kearstin McGinnis Social Media LinkedIn TekSynap This episode is brought to you by Basic Capital. As a leader in innovative retirement solutions, Basic Capital helps companies empower their employees through a new kind of 401(k). Visit basiccapital.com to explore a customizable plan that engages your team, strengthens retention, and helps them grow their retirement savings up to five times faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this special live episode of Recruiting is No Joke, recorded at RecFest 2025 in Nashville, Joel Lalgee brings you raw, unfiltered conversations from the front lines. We go beyond the hype to tackle the real challenges and opportunities facing recruiters and HR leaders today. Joel chats with Nate Taylor from Basic Capital and Casey Timorason from Service Professionals, who reveal how a reimagined 401(k) has become a secret recruiting advantage—helping offers stand out, build loyalty, and transform how companies attract and retain talent. Next, Jennifer Beckman from Long Building Technologies talks about the skilled trades shortage and how a family-driven culture gives her company its edge. She shows what real innovation looks like when it’s built on connection—and why parents and new grads should rethink what a “safe” career really means. Finally, Kaysha Kruger, VP of People at AWC, brings a human perspective to the AI conversation—sharing why setting boundaries matters, why people leaders need a seat at the strategy table, and how the rise of small business acquisitions could create new opportunities for future entrepreneurs. This episode is part inspiration, part wake-up call—a reminder that the future of work isn’t just about technology, but about people who stay curious, adaptable, and bold enough to shape what’s next. About the Guests Nate Taylor Head of Growth at Basic Capital, a company creating a new type of 401(k) that amplifies employees' investing power. Casey Timorason leads Growth (Recruiting & Marketing) at Service Professionals, a residential home services company recruiting plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. Jennifer Beckman HR Director at Long Building Technologies, an HVAC and building automation specialist focused on authentic connections and family culture. Kayshia Kruger VP of People & OD at AWC, an organizational psychology expert focused on the human side of business and AI integration. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on LI. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1B times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Nate Taylor Social Media LinkedIn Basic Capital Casey Timorason Social Media LinkedIn Service Professionals Jennifer Beckman Social Media LinkedIn LONG Building Technologies Kayshia Kruger Social Media LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The world of work is spinning fast. The gold rush of 2021 is over, money’s tighter than ever, and everyone’s trying to figure out what’s next. Are we adapting or just hanging on? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Cassandra Rose, a powerhouse HR leader and Fractional Chief People Officer with one of the most unexpected career paths you’ll hear, from inner-city missionary to the C-suite. Together, they unpack what Cassandra calls “the rinse cycle”, this messy middle where companies are right-sizing, employees are job-hugging, and everyone’s redefining what stability really means. This episode isn’t just about surviving, it’s about evolving. Cassandra challenges listeners to think like entrepreneurs, build your personal brand, understand your company’s goals, and use AI not as a threat but as a tool to amplify your impact. Her “lamplighter” analogy will make you see technology and your career in a whole new light. If you’ve been feeling uncertain about your path, questioning your next move, or wondering how to stay relevant in a world that won’t stop changing, this conversation is your reset. Because the future of work isn’t waiting for anyone. It rewards the curious, the adaptable, and the ones brave enough to learn, unlearn, and lead through change. Let’s dive in! In this episode: [00:00] Podcast intro and guest welcome [01:09] Who is Cassandra Rose? From New Yorker to Fractional Chief People Officer [01:41] What “fractional” really means and why it’s on the rise [03:01] Cassandra’s unexpected path from missionary work to HR [04:48] Falling in love with people operations [06:21] What surprised her most about HR and how social media changed everything [07:50] Salary transparency and the end of gatekeeping [09:03] The recruiter’s dilemma: pay equity vs. lowball culture [10:52] The state of the job market in 2025 [12:00] How to evaluate companies before you apply [14:50] “The rinse cycle” of the workforce and what’s next [17:40] Why people are “job hugging” and how it’s affecting the market [19:30] The entrepreneurial mindset every worker needs [21:48] Redefining “value” in your role, how to link your work to business goals [24:20] The rise of intrapreneurship and cross-functional awareness [26:00] The future of work: Gen Z, AI, and brand-building at work [30:37] Embracing uncertainty and leading with curiosity [33:18] Cassandra’s “Lamplighter” analogy for AI resistance [36:26] Trust, humanity, and progress [39:33] The lighter side of HR, finding community and joy outside work [42:07] Her favorite professional networks and how to find your tribe [44:42] Where to connect with Cassandra online [45:13] Closing thoughts About Cassandra Rose Cassandra Rose is a seasoned HR leader and Fractional Chief People Officer at Fringe. With two decades of experience in HR, benefits strategy, and people operations, she helps growing companies design scalable people systems that empower both performance and wellbeing. Cassandra is also a thought leader on HR tech, DEI, and the future of work, sharing digestible insights on LinkedIn and Instagram About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Cassandra Rose Fringe LinkedIn Website Instagram Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does it really take to recruit, hire, and support more than 800 employees across 16+ restaurant locations with just one person running HR? Sounds impossible, right? In the fast-paced world of high-volume hiring, speed, structure, and community aren’t just nice to have; they’re everything. In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Preston Sharpston, the one-man HR and recruiting powerhouse behind MWB Restaurants, the Whataburger franchisee for Tennessee and Alabama. With over a decade in HR and talent acquisition, Preston pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to build and scale a recruiting function in one of the toughest industries out there. Preston also gets real about his love for automation. Using tools like Workstream and Zapier, he’s built workflows that handle everything from employment verification to leave requests, freeing up time to focus on what actually matters: people. If you’ve ever wondered how one person can keep an entire organization hiring at full speed without burning out, this episode is a masterclass in making recruiting smarter, faster, and more human. Because sometimes the most innovative talent work isn’t happening in tech, it’s happening in the drive-thru. In this episode: [00:00] Podcast intro and guest welcome [01:06] Preston’s career journey and current role at MWB Restaurants [02:04] Inside Whataburger’s hiring model and structure [03:42] What makes restaurant recruiting unique [04:35] The end-to-end hiring process, fast, lean, and high-volume [06:46] Opening a new location: how they attract and hire locally [08:35] Grassroots recruiting and community engagement [09:23] Dealing with application overload and automation tools [11:24] Key interview questions & identifying top candidates [13:30] Interview training and leadership development [15:17] Advice for recruiters pivoting into high-volume or hospitality [17:40] The metrics, dashboards, and tools driving recruiting ops [18:44] Auditing costs and improving retention [20:05] Hiring retirees, students, and diverse candidate profiles [22:44] Generational trends and managing younger workers [24:14] Tech stack breakdown: Workstream, Manyview, Zapier [27:31] Automating HR processes and knowing what not to automate [29:30] Scaling a company from 400 to 1,000 employees [30:19] Staying up to date and building community on LinkedIn [31:53] Launching the “Recruiting Stack” newsletter [33:00] Events and conferences: Prep for Breakfast in Nashville [34:29] Closing thoughts and takeaways About Preston Sharpston He leads Recruiting Operations and HR at MWB Restaurants, franchisee for Whataburger in Tennessee and Alabama. With over ten years in HR, recruiting ops, and business partnering, he’s passionate about using automation and enablement to make hiring fast, efficient, and human. Preston is also the creator of Recruiting Stack, a monthly newsletter packed with templates, tools, and insights for recruiters and TA professionals. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Preston Sharpston LinkedIn MWB Restaurants Recruiting Stack Newsletter Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did you know that at Sage, just three people power a recruiter enablement team that supports 30 recruiters around the world? So how do they manage to help a global crew hire top talent across countries without dropping the ball? In this episode of "Recruiting is No Joke," host Joel Lalgee sits down with Molly Sly, leader of the Talent Acquisition Enablement team at Sage, to explore the vital but often overlooked role of recruiter enablement. Molly explains that enablement focuses on empowering recruiters by removing barriers providing the right processes, tools, and training so they can focus on engaging talent instead of administrative tasks. With over 20 years in recruiting, Molly shares how her team supports a global group of recruiters by creating regional playbooks, optimizing AI tools like Copilot for efficiency, and maintaining a central resource hub. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different hiring regulations and candidate expectations across countries, and emphasizes the importance of continuous training for both recruiters and hiring managers. Molly also offers advice for those looking to enter enablement or implement it on their own teams, stressing curiosity, a desire to improve processes, and a focus on the “human” side of recruiting especially as AI automates more routine tasks. Tune in for actionable insights on building a supportive, efficient, and globally-aware recruitment function. In this episode: [00:00] Podcast introduction [00:36] Guest introduction: Molly Sly [03:07] What is recruiter enablement? [05:58] The origin of the enablement team at Sage [08:20] Recruiter enablement vs. rec ops [08:54] AI tools and job description optimization [11:00] Global recruiting challenges [13:33] Building and maintaining regional playbooks [15:24] Playbook creation process [17:48] Continuous improvement and communication [20:14] Hybrid vs. remote work trends [22:17] Global candidate preferences and employer branding [26:30] Recruiter retention at Sage [28:06] Advice for aspiring enablement professionals [29:56] Resources and networking for enablement [30:28] Implementing enablement without a team [33:04] Change management and adoption challenges [36:35] The human element in recruiting and AI [38:34] Upcoming conferences and speaking engagements [39:30] How to connect with Molly About Molly Sly Molly Sly is a veteran recruiter and leader in Talent Acquisition Enablement at Sage, where she and her team support global recruiting operations across 13+ countries. With over 20 years in recruitment, she’s passionate about building systems, playbooks, and training that make recruiters more effective and engaged. Molly is also a frequent conference speaker on enablement strategy and the future of recruiting operations. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Molly Sly LinkedIn Sage Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is it cheating to use ChatGPT for your job application? That’s the question many recruiters are quietly asking themselves as AI-generated résumés flood their inboxes. At first glance, a copy-paste résumé straight out of ChatGPT might feel like a shortcut or even a fake. But what if it’s not as bad as it seems? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Steve O’Brien, a seasoned talent acquisition leader who’s seen it all from old-school executive search to cutting-edge AI tools. Steve shares his winding journey through recruiting, HR tech, and leadership, but he doesn’t just stop at career highlights. He gets real about the messy reality of hiring: why some candidate experiences go sideways, the myths around AI “replacing” recruiters, and the overlooked role hiring managers play in breaking or sealing the deal. Steve shares a brilliant story of spotting a fake and explains why he’s surprisingly sympathetic. The key isn’t if you use AI, but how are you a strategic copilot or just on autopilot? The conversation also dives deep into how recruiters need to blend social intelligence, strategy, and technology to thrive. Can AI handle an intake call as well as a recruiter? Not yet. Can it help speed up tedious tasks? Absolutely. Steve argues the future isn’t about replacing humans, but about elevating them, letting tech handle the boring parts while people lean into judgment, persuasion, and connection. If you’ve ever wondered what really kills a hire, why resumes feel more AI-written these days, or how “soft skills” quietly shape careers, this episode is a must-listen. Because in recruiting, the stakes are high and no, it’s definitely no joke. Let’s dive in! In this episode: [00:00] Introduction and guest background [00:54] Steve’s career journey and transition to Syneos Health [03:03] Steve’s current role and team scope [04:33] AI and recruitment: Myths and realities [05:10] Limits of AI in recruiting processes [08:36] The art and social intelligence of recruiting [11:27] Common deal killers in recruitment [13:05] Role of hiring managers in recruitment outcomes [15:15] Automation vs. human judgment in talent acquisition [17:00] The great restructuring and future of work [19:24] Limitations of generative AI and LLMs [21:44] Effective use of AI as a copilot [24:54] Practical AI use cases and user training [29:14] AI-generated resumes and candidate evaluation [34:52] Interviewing for AI literacy and strategic use [38:29] AI’s impact on customer service and job replacement [41:39] Soft skills, career growth, and workplace politics [45:14] Closing and where to connect About Steve O’Brien Steve O’Brien is a veteran talent acquisition and HR tech leader with experience spanning agency, RPO, corporate, and startup environments. Currently at Syneos Health, he leads global recruiting, HR PMO, and workforce analytics, driving thousands of hires annually while shaping the future of TA tech and strategy. Steve is passionate about how AI can elevate—not replace—the human side of recruiting. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Steve O’Brien LinkedIn Syneos Health Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when you’re the only recruiter at a fast-growing startup? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, host Joel sits down with Alexa Lane, Head of Recruiting at Placements.io, to find out. Alexa’s path to recruiting wasn’t a straight line. She started in marketing and sales (yes, even cold-calling at Yelp) before stepping into a role where she’s now a “team of one” responsible for all hiring. When she joined Placements.io, there was no ATS, no structured interviews, no real process, just a few spreadsheets. She walks us through how she built it all from scratch: rolling out Greenhouse, creating scorecards, training interviewers, and even helping shape company values to use as a hiring compass. The conversation digs into how the recruiter’s role has shifted from high-speed order-taking to a deeply strategic function where quality and alignment matter more than ever. Alexa shares how AI has become both a game-changer and a curveball. It is great for automating tasks like scheduling and writing job descriptions, but tricky when it comes to AI-generated resumes and fake candidates. They also zoom out to explore bigger industry shifts: why talent from giants like Amazon and Meta are flocking to startups, the push and pull of remote and hybrid work, and what candidates expect from the hiring experience in 2025. Packed with hands-on lessons and honest insights, this episode is a masterclass in building a recruiting function that is efficient, resilient, and most importantly human. Let’s dive in! In this episode: [00:00] Introduction & guest background [01:27] Alexa’s path into recruitment [03:22] Evolution of recruitment [04:54] Recruiting with fewer resources [05:56] Introduction to recruiting operations [07:11] Building scalable recruiting processes [09:18] Candidate feedback & process improvement [09:57] Training hiring managers & interviewers [11:29] AI in recruiting: Benefits & concerns [14:17] Red flags & fake candidates [15:41] AI-generated resumes & resume screening [19:19] Assessing startup fit & scrappiness [20:10] Advice for entering tech & startups [22:17] Modern networking strategies [25:00] Greenhouse conference takeaways [26:14] Employer branding & candidate attraction [27:14] Shifts in candidate preferences [28:33] Selling office culture [29:00] Big company to startup transitions [31:19] Hiring mindset shifts post-2021 [32:56] Evaluating AI vs. human roles [34:16] Advice for recruiters: Upskilling & operations [35:58] The future of recruiting roles [37:01] Upcoming events & conferences [38:56] Connecting with Alexa About Alexa Lane Alexa Lane is the Head of Recruiting at Placements.io, a global adtech platform headquartered in Seattle. As the company’s only recruiter, Alexa has built recruiting operations from scratch, implementing ATS systems, training interviewers, and shaping employer branding. With experience spanning agency, in-house, and startup recruiting, she’s passionate about balancing efficiency and humanity in hiring. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Alexa Lane LinkedIn https://placements.io/ Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tech recruiting may grab the headlines, but some of the most exciting opportunities for recruiters are found on the factory floor. Michele Sutton, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Chobani, has built her career connecting talent with purpose driven brands like Unilever, Ferrero, and now Chobani. Her journey proves that manufacturing roles can offer stability, growth, and meaningful community impact. In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel Lalgee and Michele explore how recruiting looks different when the roles are tied to physical products millions of people consume every day. From the challenge of hiring maintenance techs to the rise of automation and AI, Michele reveals why manufacturing is a space recruiters should not ignore. She also shares how AI tools like Copilot and Gem are reshaping her workflow, why curiosity is the most important mindset when adopting new technology, and how candidates can stand out by doing their homework. The conversation wraps with practical advice on crafting the right LinkedIn outreach that actually gets a recruiter’s attention. The message is clear. Recruiting in manufacturing is not just alive, it is thriving. The question is whether more recruiters will step into this overlooked but rewarding arena. In this episode: (00:00:00) Introduction and guest introduction (00:01:30) Michele’s career journey (00:04:08) Perception and trends in manufacturing jobs (00:04:46) Recruiting challenges in manufacturing (00:07:13) Advice for recruiters considering manufacturing (00:08:22) Growth and expansion at Chobani (00:09:23) Technology and automation in manufacturing (00:12:07) Balancing scarcity and cultural fit (00:13:58) Candidate preparation and research (00:18:23) AI tools in recruitment (00:21:09) Adoption of AI and team mindset (00:26:50) AI in screening and interviewing (00:32:16) What makes a qualified candidate (00:34:39) Best practices for candidate outreach (00:36:45) Managing high volume of candidate messages (00:38:26) Closing remarks and contact information About Michele Sutton Michele Sutton is the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition for Chobani, leading supply chain recruiting and driving talent strategy for the company’s rapid growth in manufacturing. With career stops at Stryker, Unilever, and Ferrero, Michelle brings deep expertise in connecting talent to purpose driven brands. She is passionate about community building, scaling recruitment in evolving industries, and integrating AI tools to empower recruiters and candidates alike. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Michelle Sutton LinkedIn Chobani Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the perfect candidate applied for your job, but you never even saw their resume? What if the key to fixing this broken system wasn't a human, but an artificial intelligence designed to actually be more fair? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee tackles these very questions with Adam Stokar, co-founder of Talent Llama. They expose the modern recruiting crisis: a perfect storm where thousands of spam and AI-generated applications drown talent teams, forcing genuinely qualified candidates into a digital black hole. Isn't it a tragic irony that the tools creating this problem might also be the solution? The conversation demystifies AI's role, framing it not as a job-replacer, but as a powerful ally. Can a machine conduct a dynamic, conversational skills assessment that rivals a harried recruiter? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. This technology efficiently identifies top talent, freeing up humans for what they do best: gauging culture fit and motivation. But do candidates actually like being screened by a bot? Astonishingly, 92% rate their AI interview experience highly, often preferring its immediate, low-stress nature over weeks of anxious silence. So, what’s the future for recruiters? The episode concludes with a crucial mandate: embrace AI to eliminate grunt work, but hone your uniquely human skills, strategy, empathy, and creativity to become an indispensable partner. Will you adapt and thrive, or be left behind? In this episode: (00:00) Introduction (00:40) Housekeeping and guest introduction (01:43) Adam's career journey and early ventures (04:24) The birth of Talent Llama (07:17) Challenges in recruitment and AI solutions (10:00) AI in recruitment: Concerns and benefits (17:53) Improving candidate experience with AI (20:32) The reality of job searching (22:49) AI in interviews: A surprising preference (23:31) Balancing automation and human interaction (25:17) The future of recruiting: A hybrid approach (30:01) Advice for recruiters in the age of AI (32:27) Embracing change and problem-solving skills (36:10) Upcoming events and final thoughts About Adam Stokar Adam is the co-founder of Talent Llama, an AI-powered recruiting platform helping talent teams fairly and efficiently screen candidates at scale. With a background in software engineering, entrepreneurship, and product development, Adam has spent his career building solutions at the intersection of tech, health, and hiring. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Adam Stokar LinkedIn X Talent Llama Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did you know some companies are hiring architects not for buildings, but for people? That’s exactly what Robert Buckley does as Chief People Architect at Envada. His job isn’t about HR buzzwords, it’s about designing workplaces where culture drives growth and people come first. In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Robert to unpack why the future of work depends on leaders who do more than manage, they inspire, support, and develop talent at every level. Robert explains his core belief that “people create all value” and why companies can’t afford to treat culture as an afterthought. The conversation goes deep on AI too, but not in a hype-filled way. Robert shows how smart tech should actually remove friction, not add noise like how Envada slashed a seven-day job posting process down to just three minutes. From cutting his teeth at GE to shaping culture inside a high-growth tech bio startup, Robert shares candid lessons and practical advice for anyone who wants to thrive in today’s fast-changing workplace. In this episode: (00:03) Introduction (01:14) Meet Robert Buckley and the mission of Enveda (03:04) Why “Chief People Architect” is more than a title (04:40) From soccer fields to HR: Robert’s career journey (07:42) Lessons from 17 years inside GE’s HR development program (09:34) People as the ultimate creators of value (12:47) People leaders vs managers (14:32) How to build leadership development with vision (18:20) A bigger view of career growth and learning (21:12) Engagement beyond pay and promotions (23:26) Finding fulfillment outside of work (25:05) Embracing discomfort and continuous learning (29:01) AI, conjoint analysis, and lowering activation energy (34:54) Practical AI in HR vs shiny object distractions (38:44) When the answer isn’t technology (39:18) Where to connect with Robert About Robert Buckley Robert Buckley is the Chief People Officer atEnveda, a tech-bio startup using AI and machine learning to transform drug discovery. Known for his unique brand as a Chief People Architect, Robert has built a career on the belief that people create all value. With nearly two decades at GE and experience leading HR strategy across industries, he has become a champion of leadership development, culture building, and smart use of technology to remove barriers and help teams thrive. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Robert Buckley LinkedIn Enveda Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hiring has been called “broken” for decades, but is it actually? And if so, what does “fixed” even look like? In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel sits down with Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, author, and HR tech analyst, to explore what’s working, what’s failing, and how talent leaders can prepare for a future shaped by AI, automation, and shifting workforce expectations. Ben shares his journey from HR practitioner to researcher, explains why rejection and discomfort are essential for growth, and challenges recruiters to rethink how they measure success in a world where technology is everywhere but humanity is irreplaceable. During the conversation, Joel and Ben dive into AI hype vs. reality, candidate experience, automation’s hidden costs, and why empathy, creativity, and critical thinking may be the most valuable skills of all in the future of work. Whether you’re a recruiter, TA leader, or HR pro wondering how to stay relevant in the age of AI, this conversation will leave you with fresh insights and practical takeaways. In this episode: [00:03] Podcast introduction [01:05] Introduction to Ben Eubanks [02:47] What does an analyst/researcher do? [05:42] Is hiring really broken? [09:30] Improving candidate experience [10:36] Ben’s journey into HR & recruiting [12:06] Transition to writing & speaking [14:44] The human side of HR & tech [16:17] Future of HR: Human skills vs. automation [18:38] AI, echo chambers, and human connection [20:17] Rejection, resilience, and growth [23:34] AI’s impact on social interaction [24:15] AI and grief: The limits of technology [27:02] Adapting to AI: Mindsets and mistakes [27:45] Candidates’ views on AI in hiring [29:33] Automation: Value creation vs. efficiency [33:26] Strategic HR: Building relationships [35:02] Business value and changing mindsets [36:28] Career growth: Getting out of your comfort zone [39:37] Closing & where to find Ben About Ben Eubanks Ben Eubanks is Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, where he leads studies on HR, recruiting, and the future of work. A former HR leader and recruiter, he’s the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR and Talent Scarcity, and a globally recognized speaker on workplace technology and strategy. Ben blends data-driven insights with a human-first perspective, helping organizations navigate the intersection of people and technology. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Ben Eubanks LinkedIn https://lhra.io/ Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter This episode is brought to you by Talent Llama , your smart, fair, and efficient AI-powered screening partner. With Talent Llama, you can expertly screen every applicant for the skills that truly matter. Its conversational AI interview agents craft tailored two-way voice interviews, evaluate responses, provide detailed scorecards, and suggest next steps so you save time and focus only on the best fits. And with integrations into ATS platforms like Jobvite, Lever, Greenhouse, and more, it slots seamlessly into your workflow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How is AI shaping recruitment today? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee explores the intersection of technology and talent acquisition with Tom Lott, head of Talent Acquisition at Barry, Appleman & Leiden (BAL), a global immigration law firm. With 25+ years in the industry, Tom has witnessed recruitment evolve from fax machines to AI-driven processes. He discusses how AI at BAL reduces time-to-fill, addresses challenges hiring managers face, and combats biases in hiring decisions. Tom also emphasizes the human side of recruiting, highlighting the importance of coaching hiring managers on interview techniques and overcoming bias. He explains why skills-based hiring is becoming crucial, particularly in law, where experience and education have historically been overemphasized. Tom shares how AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing recruiters to focus on what they do best—connecting with candidates and hiring managers. With deep expertise in both agency and in-house recruiting, Tom offers valuable insights for anyone in talent acquisition. From leveraging technology to maintaining the human touch, this episode will change the way you approach hiring. Don’t miss his views on AI’s future role in recruitment. In this episode: (00:33) Tom’s career transition from financial services to the legal industry (00:43) Reflecting on Tom’s 25 years in talent acquisition (01:19) The early days of recruiting: DOS computers and fax machines (02:17) Transition from agency recruiting to in-house with JPMorgan Chase (03:12) Coaching hiring managers in an in-house role (04:47) The differences between agency and in-house recruiting (06:07) The overlooked role of hiring managers in the process (06:52) Coaching managers on interview processes and avoiding bias (09:02) Overcoming the “like me” bias in hiring decisions (10:36) Transitioning to skills-based hiring over experience-based hiring (12:07) Shifting focus from law school pedigree to evaluating writing skills (14:05) The role of AI in recruitment and its limitations (15:37) Addressing candidate ghosting and improving communication (17:10) The future of AI in recruitment and why it won’t replace recruiters (18:00) Embracing new technology while maintaining human connections (20:03) Closing remarks on embracing AI and staying relevant in recruitment (21:14) How to connect with Tom and upcoming speaking engagements About Tom Lott He leads talent acquisition at Barry, Appleman and Leiden (BAL), a global corporate immigration law firm. With 25 years of experience in recruiting across industries such as financial services and law, Tom has a wealth of knowledge in both agency and in-house roles. He brings a deep understanding of how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping recruitment, and how human connection and coaching are integral to successful hiring. Resource Links: Tom Lott LinkedIn BAL Law Firm This episode is brought to you by Talent Llama, the AI-powered platform for high-volume hiring. Talent Llama helps teams screen faster and fairer with skills-based, low-pressure voice interviews. No more resume chaos or awkward scheduling—just real conversations. Move faster and make candidates feel seen. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do you know if the jobs your company is hiring for today will even exist in three years? Or if your recruiters are spending too much time filling seats instead of creating strategic talent pipelines? In this eye-opening conversation, Jess VonBank, part of the HR Digital Transformation practice at Mercer, shares unfiltered truths about the inefficiencies plaguing recruiting and the bold steps needed to fix them. You’ll hear how Jess went from door-to-door insurance sales to niche executive headhunting, to leading high-volume hiring for 28,000 people in a year — and why she believes most TA leaders should be fired for wasting resources. Jess explains why AI isn’t just changing recruiting; it’s redefining what jobs will even exist, what skills will matter, and how companies must design hiring systems with precision, personalization, and long-term impact in mind. We also dive into urgent industry challenges, from healthcare staffing shortages to manufacturing’s generational shift. Jess offers actionable strategies for reframing the talent conversation with business leaders, using tech to solve real everyday problems, and overcoming what she calls “failure fatigue” in transformation projects. If you’re a recruiter, TA leader, or job seeker wanting a raw look at the future of work — this episode delivers. In this episode: 00:19 – Introducing Jess VonBank 02:36 – From Insurance Sales to Executive Headhunting05:00 – The Art and Science of Recruiting Before Social Media 09:34 – Why Most TA Leaders Should Be Fired13:19 – Moving From Reactive to Proactive Talent Strategy15:50 – Preparing Talent for AI Disruption 20:25 – Who Owns the Future of Workforce Planning24:58 – AI’s Mimicry Problem and Responsible Use30:08 – How AI Will Reshape the Corporate Pyramid35:48 – Rebranding Healthcare and Frontline Work39:42 – Failure Fatigue vs. Change Fatigue42:13 – Transformation Starts with Obsessing Over Problems45:14 – Where to Connect with Jess About Jess Von Bank Jess VonBank is part of the HR Digital Transformation practice at Mercer, where she helps organizations reimagine their talent strategies and workforce design in the age of AI. With a career spanning executive headhunting, high-volume corporate recruiting, and technology advisory, Jess has led initiatives hiring tens of thousands while maintaining quality at scale. She is a frequent speaker at major HR and tech conferences and also runs Diverse Daisies, a nonprofit empowering girls through mentorship and growth experiences. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Jess Von Bank Jess VonBank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessvonbank Mercer: https://www.mercer.com Diverse Daisies Nonprofit: https://www.diversedaisies.org Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does it really take to recruit and keep great talent in the fast-moving world of retail? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Giorgio Benassi, Global TA Director at Sephora, to dig into the unique challenges of high-volume hiring. We’re talking more than 30,000 hires a year at Sephora, plus Giorgio’s past experience at H&M, so he knows a thing or two about balancing speed with a top-notch candidate experience. Giorgio shares how Sephora is using AI and even gamified assessments (instead of the traditional CV screen) to spot personality traits that align with the brand’s values. He’s big on transparency too, making sure candidates know both the perks and the pressures of retail roles right from the start, a key move to cut down on turnover. The conversation also dives into how the recruiter’s role is changing, moving away from being just gatekeepers and leaning more into building real relationships. Giorgio points out that authenticity matters more than ever in candidate interactions. And for those looking to break into recruiting, he’s clear: professionalism and constant learning are non-negotiables. Don’t just rely on AI tools, master your craft. If you want a no-BS take on talent strategy, retention, and the future of retail recruitment, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode: (00:00) Introduction (00:56) Giorgio’s background and what he does (01:18) Sponsor message (02:29) Sephora’s scale: hiring 30,000 people a year (03:28) Giorgio’s career path: from H&M to Sephora (04:34) Why retail recruiting is underestimated (06:36) The retention challenge: cutting first-year turnover (08:59) Replacing CVs with gamified assessments (11:58) How Sephora attracts candidates across regions (15:41) Screening for “service-mindedness” (18:07) Balancing transitional vs. career hires (20:22) The recruiter’s new role: from gatekeeper to relationship builder (23:31) Advice for early-career recruiters on building authentic relationships (28:53) How to build credibility with hiring managers (30:47) Why recruiters can’t just rely on AI tools (32:41) Where to connect with Giorgio + upcoming events This episode is brought to you by HeyMilo AI, the conversational AI built for high-volume hiring. HeyMilo helps recruiters save hours by automating initial screens while delivering smooth, two-way interviews at scale. Book a demo at HeyMilo.ai and see why top teams trust it to elevate their brand. About Giorgio Benassi Giorgio is the Global Talent Acquisition Director at Sephora, overseeing hiring strategies across regions. With prior experience as Head of Talent CoE at H&M, he brings deep expertise in high-volume recruitment, talent assessment, and global TA strategy. Resource Links LinkedIn SEPHORA Unleash Paris (October) Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have you ever read a resume that’s just too perfect? The kind that nails every keyword, hits all the right phrases, and somehow mirrors your job description like it was custom-built for it? Odds are, it probably was by AI. In fact, some candidates are even letting AI sit in on interviews and answer questions for them. Is this the future of hiring or a shortcut that undermines authenticity? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Jim Miller, Global Head of People at Ashby, to unpack what’s really changing in recruiting and why most teams are focused on the wrong problems. Jim shares his journey from agency recruiting in the UK to running sourcing at Google, where he helped build their ATS (Ghire) from scratch in 30 days. Now at Ashby, he’s designing workflows and tools that challenge how modern recruiting operates. They discuss why the "human in the loop" matters less as a buzzword and more as a compliance framework, how hiring manager-led recruiting is on the rise, and why the future of TA lies in process design not better prompts. You’ll also hear how Jim uses creative application techniques (like the now-famous “broccoli question”) to outsmart AI-generated resumes, why recruiters need to think like engineers, and what the real ROI of AI tools should look like in hiring. In this episode: (00:36) Welcome to the Purple Acorn Network + guest intro (01:05) Jim’s background: from agency to Google to Ashby (03:32) How Boolean logic kickstarted Jim’s sourcing career (05:00) The “bait-and-switch” that led him to Google (06:25) Designing Google’s in-house ATS (G Hire) in 30 days (07:59) Moving to the US and leading inbound at Google (08:09) Designing inbound with a sourcing mindset (08:23) Joining FullStory and experiencing hypergrowth (10:10) From FullStory to Ashby: finding better tools (12:30) Becoming Ashby’s TA leader (and power user) (13:42) Future-proofing recruiters: think in process (15:30) Why TA teams are being replaced by hiring managers (17:43) You can’t just deploy AI, you need the right process (20:24) What “human in the loop” really means (23:42) Reviewing only 10% of resumes? You’re doing it wrong (26:40) AI-generated resumes & the “broccoli question”/Application questions basis (30:36) AI-Augmented candidates and assessing expertise (32:46) Why AI is an amplifier, not a substitute for expertise (35:10) Jim’s hot take: The passive vs. active candidate market (38:00) Activating talent through pattern-based sourcing (40:44) Market cycles, new skills, and the future of work (41:45) New roles, unknown skills: how to spot opportunity (43:05) Where to find Jim + upcoming events About Jim Miller Jim Miller is Head of People at Ashby, a leading ATS platform. With over 25 years in recruiting, including 15 years at Google where he helped build their internal ATS, Jim brings a rare mix of sourcing, system design, and leadership. He’s a vocal advocate for process-driven recruiting and thoughtful tech adoption. About Joel Lalgee Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships. Jim Miller LinkedIn Ashby Recruiting is No Joke Social Media LinkedIn Website Instagram TikTok X (formerly Twitter Mentioned Purple Acorn Network G-Hire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices