The Recruiting Future Podcast

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The Recruiting Future Podcast

A weekly podcast dedicated to innovation and futurology in recruitment and HR.

23/12/2024

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas!

2024 has been absolutely relentless. In my 25 years of predicting and documenting change in Talent Acquisition, I have never known a time like the one we are living through. A perfect storm of unstoppable forces is driving change at a pace we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported my work this year—podcast sponsors, consulting clients, event organisers, and, of course, all of you who have listened to the podcast, read my writing, or bought my course.

Looking ahead, I can only see things accelerating in 2025, with disruptive change continuing to redefine how companies think about talent.

The Recruiting Future Podcast will mark its 10th anniversary in 2025, reach 700 episodes, and hit 3 million downloads. To celebrate, I’m committed to bringing you as much market intelligence, strategic foresight, and practitioner insights as I can. Make sure you subscribe to Recruiting Future, look out for weekly episodes of The Alder Hour (in partnership with Purple Acorn), and stay tuned for some exciting new initiatives I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I hope you have a relaxing and joyful holiday season.

21/12/2024

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?

Matt Alder's guest on Episode 659 of The Recruiting Future Podcast 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

You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

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20/12/2024

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.

Matt Alder's guest on Episode 658 of The Recruiting Future Podcast was Jill Leonard, Global Senior Director of Talent at HelloFresh.

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.

You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

19/12/2024

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 on Episode 661 of The Recruiting Future Podcast was 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:

• 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?

• Continuous testing and monitoring the AI systems used in recruiting systems

• How much AI bias has actually been found?

• What does the future look like? How will AI change talent acquisition in the long term?

You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future, wherever you get your podcasts.

18/12/2024

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, recruiters' roles are evolving. This raises 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 on Episode 660 of The Recruiting Future Podcast 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.

Listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

14/12/2024

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 on Episode 657 of The Recruiting Future Podcast, I spoke to 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 offers some alternative visions of the future of work and its implications for talent acquisition.

https://recruitingfuture.com/2024/11/ep-657-the-future-of-ta-technology/

12/12/2024

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 must TA Leaders do to harness the current forces of change and reinvent their function?

My guest on Episode 656 of The Recruiting Future Podcast 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.

Some of the topics we discussed:

• 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?

You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

11/12/2024

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 holistically representing 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 on Episode 655 of The Recruiting Future Podcast was 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 its hiring process, and Kirstie had some excellent insights and advice to share

You find the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

06/12/2024

Asking great questions has always been part of recruiting. As we move toward greater automation, understanding how to craft powerful questions will become even more important in designing experiences and increasing the quality of connections in the recruiting process.

In Episode 654 of The Recruiting Future Podcast, I interviewed Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Topaz Adizes.

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.

Listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

26/11/2024

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 on 651 of The Recruiting Future Podcast 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.

To listen to the episode just search for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

24/11/2024

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 on Episode 652 of Recruiting Future is Jonathan Romley , founder and CEO of Lundi. In our conversation 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.

You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

23/11/2024

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 on Episode 650 of The Recruiting Future Podcast 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, Michael Ohata, Larry Durham and Eric Dingler, who between them have 85 years combined experience in leading talent at Fortune 15 companies.

You can listen to the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you listen to your podcasts

14/11/2024

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 on Episode 649 of The Recruiting Future Podcast is Don Tomlinson, MBA CTO at Daxtra Technologies.

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.

You can find the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

08/11/2024

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?

My latest guests on Episode 648 of The Recruiting Podcast 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 also lead the way.

You can find the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

06/11/2024

The October Round Up Episode of The Recruiting Future Podcast is live. It reviews the interviews I published on the podcast last month.

Over the last few weeks, I have published several episodes with interviews recorded face-to-face at the HR Tech and Hiring Success events. I love it when I can record in person, and I thank everyone who sat down to talk to me about the podcasts. There are 15 guests across the six episodes in this Round-Up sharing some fantastic insights on TA Transformation, the AI revolution, and skills-based thinking.

https://ow.ly/nZBj50U0MpL

23/10/2024

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.

Matt Alder's guest on Episode 647 of Recruiting Future was 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 using 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, the impact of AI on who and how we hire, and the somewhat surprising results I got from taking Rich's attributes test.

Find the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

22/10/2024

The Future Of Talent Operations - Live Webinar 29th October 3pm GMT

As Talent Acquisition becomes more complex, TA Operations is critical in aligning workforce strategies with business objectives while fostering continuous improvement. With AI advancing rapidly, the future of TA Operations is set to change dramatically—from automation to predictive analytics.

Join me for the relaunch of my Recruiting Future Remixed Series with a webinar on The Future of TA Operations.

I've got some incredible guests on the panel:

Michelle Yoshihara, Senior Manager Talent Planning at Greenhouse
Manjuri Sinha, VP of Talent Success & DEI at OLX
Kevin Wheeler, Founder of The Future of Talent Institute

Register now to watch live or receive a copy of the recording:

https://ow.ly/Q5kg50TQF51

18/10/2024

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.

For Episode 646 of The Recruiting Future Podcast, I spoke to two genuine HR thought leaders. Heather Jerrehian, 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.

Listen to the episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts

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Earlier this year, Klarna replaced 700 customer service roles with AI, saving millions and improving metrics. Now, the CEO plans to cut 1,000 more jobs, driven by further AI adoption. This shift has major implications for talent acquisition, from automation to reduced hiring needs. We unpacked this on Alder Hour and will dive deeper next Monday. Join us on LinkedIn Live at 3 PM EST, 12 PM PST, and 8 PM UK.

Before long, AI is going to be ubiquitous in all of the technology that we use. So, rather than continuing to discuss it as a stand-alone topic, we need to look at the broader context regarding use cases, innovation, and the potential to rethink hiring.On Episode 653 of The Recruiting Future Podcast, I spoke to Mark Chaffey, Co-Founder and CEO of Hackajob. We discussed current and future AI use cases and the lessons TA can learn from the impact Gen AI has already had on the software engineering profession.You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

Before long, AI is going to be ubiquitous in all of the technology that we use. So, rather than continuing to discuss it as a stand-alone topic, we need to look at the broader context regarding use cases, innovation, and the potential to rethink hiring. On Episode 653 of The Recruiting Future Podcast, I spoke to Mark Chaffey, Co-Founder and CEO of Hackajob. We discussed current and future AI use cases and the lessons TA can learn from the impact Gen AI has already had on the software engineering profession. You can listen to this episode by searching for Recruiting Future wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙𝐄𝐩 𝟔𝟐𝟑: 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 When we talk about employers becoming more inclusive, the focus is often on big strategic thinking and a long process of organizational change. However, companies can often make significant progress by taking small steps in important areas. The quality of the candidate’s experience is the critical first step in an organization’s inclusivity, and recent data indicates that quality has been dramatically deteriorating over the last 18 months. So, what practical and immediate steps can employers take to be more inclusive with their recruiting? My guest on this episode is Advita Patel from CommsRebel. Advita is a communication and workplace culture strategist who helps organizations cultivate a culture of inclusion. In our conversation, she shares practical, pragmatic advice on how employers can build inclusive candidate experience by improving the quality of their communication. 🔗 Listen via the link in the comments, or wherever you get your podcasts.

💪 How confident are you in your ability to adapt, influence change, and drive your career forward? My new on-demand digital course Trend Spotting is tailored for anyone in talent acquisition. It is applicable from early careers to executive hiring, from volume recruiting to recruiting specialist skills, and from established TA leaders to TA professionals wanting to accelerate their careers. #TalentAcquisition #TrendSpotting #TA #FutureofTA #Recruitment

🎙️ 𝐄𝐩 𝟔𝟎𝟓: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝? 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Talent Acquisition stands on the edge of revolution, with AI tools promising to make recruiting faster and more effective. But will it make hiring fairer? My guest this week is Commissioner Keith Sonderling of The EEOC . In our conversation, we talk about the benefits and risks of using AI in hiring, what employers need to know to ensure compliance with existing laws, and the new regulations many countries will implement shortly. 🔗 Watch the video recording via the link in the comments or listen to the conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙 𝐄𝐩 𝟔𝟎𝟑: 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 Companies can learn a massive amount from elite sports in terms of spotting and nurturing the talent required to build highly effective teams. I was lucky enough to speak to former England Cricket Captain Sir Andrew Strauss at the recent Transform conference in Las Vegas. After his playing career finished, Andrew ran elite cricket in the UK for four years. He is now the co-founder of Mindflick, a high-performance coaching business that uses psychology and technology to make the lessons from elite sports accessible to companies. 🎙 In the interview, we discuss: • What can elite sports teach business about leadership? • Learning how to be adaptable in dynamic environments • The importance of self-awareness • Understanding how teams react under pressure • What makes top talent • Understanding and accepting weaknesses • The role of technology • Getting buy-in and building an emotional connection with a group vision 🔗 Listen here https://bit.ly/49oNPDJ, or wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙 Ep 600: Did We Predict The Future? I launched Recruiting Future nine years ago to attempt to understand the future of talent acquisition. To celebrate 600 episodes, I invited my long-time collaborator and co-author, Mervyn Dinnen, to a studio in London to explore just how accurate some of the predictions we made in a whitepaper back in 2016 about the future of work were and to discuss what we think will happen over the next decade. 🔗 Listen here https://bit.ly/4cqdXAB or watch it at https://bit.ly/43pua5c

:|] Would you like to be the first one to find out when I am launching a course to help scenario plan, spot trends, and better reflect the future of talent acquisition? 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter, link in the comments, and I will send you the information.

Employer Value Propositions are potent tools that attract talent, retain talent and shape the future of organizations. However, we don’t talk about EVPS enough, and they are regularly confused with Employer Brands when they are discussed. So, what are the benefits of an effective EVP, and do you define one? A must not miss episode with Vicki Saunders, Founder of The EVP Consultancy. She is a highly experienced expert in this field and has worked on EVPs in-house at Currys, BAE Systems and Boots. In the interview, we discuss: • The difference between EVP, Employer Branding and Recruitment Marketing • The value to employers of an effective EVP • Strategic workforce planning and building the future of the organization • Supporting DE&I • Where should the responsibility for EVP sit? • Authentic, Differentiated, Resonating and Future Focused • Pillars are proof points. • Measurement • Internal Comms and Employee Experience • The role of technology • Anticipating the future and evolving 🎧 Listen here https://bit.ly/418AMUi, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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