AI Is Killing Sourcing: What the Future of Recruiting Really Looks Like with Brian Fink

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Sep 25, 2025

In this engaging discussion, seasoned recruiter Brian Fink shares insights from his 20-year career in talent acquisition. He tackles the pressing question: Is AI really 'killing sourcing?' Brian emphasizes the need for recruiters to adapt instead of resist, detailing how AI can automate candidate sourcing, freeing up time for relationship-building. He shares creative sourcing stories and urges the importance of upskilling for an AI-driven future, advocating for a blend of technical skills and emotional intelligence to stay relevant in the evolving landscape.

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INSIGHT

AI Is Reshaping Sourcing Fast

AI is automating hours of manual sourcing into minutes, changing the sourcer role dramatically.
Recruiters must evolve beyond Boolean strings to market intelligence and candidate engagement.

ADVICE

Free Time For High-Value Work

Spend less time on manual name-generation and more on high-value recruiting tasks like relationships and negotiations.
Use AI tools to free time for candidate engagement and strategic work.

ADVICE

Leverage AI To Build Pipelines

Use generative AI (e.g., Perplexity) to build candidate pipelines in minutes instead of hours.
Pay for tools that cut sourcing time massively and redeploy saved hours to candidate care.

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Is AI about to make sourcing obsolete? The recruiting landscape is shifting FAST—and if you’re not evolving, you’re about to get run over. Host Benjamin Mena sits down with renowned recruiter Brian Fink in a high-voltage episode packed with strategies and mindset shifts to help you outpace the AI revolution. Whether you’re in-house, agency, or leading TA strategy, this is your roadmap to stay relevant.

🎯 Finish The Year Strong 2025 Summit – Register here: https://rock-the-year-2025.heysummit.com/

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Inside the Episode

From AI-powered platforms to Brian’s wildest sourcing stories, this conversation explores:

Why AI is “killing sourcing” and what it means for recruiters.
How AI can automate hours of sourcing into minutes.
The shift from Boolean string builders to market intelligence pros.
The rise of fractional recruiting, hybrid roles, and upskilling for an AI future.

You’ll leave with an actionable plan to avoid becoming a “recruiting dinosaur.”

Follow Brian Fink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfink/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/sG8UXaDS9d0

Key Takeaways

AI transforms sourcing: Tools like Perplexity build candidate pipelines in minutes (00:07:11).
Beyond Boolean: The future belongs to analysts, strategists, and engagement pros (00:22:20).
Human connection is the edge: Automation frees time for negotiation and coaching (00:29:18).
Fractional & gig recruiting are rising: TA headcount is shrinking—pivot now (01:41:22).
Level up or get left behind: Upskill with AI tools, curiosity, and empathy (01:38:05, 01:44:04).

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Resources & Community

🚀 The Elite Recruiter Community – Weekly roundtables, summit replays, The Billers’ Club, and a Split Board.

Join for $37/month before Sept 30 (price rises to $49).

Join here → https://elite-recruiters.circle.so/checkout/elite-recruiter-founder-member

🎯 Finish The Year Strong 2025 Summit: https://rock-the-year-2025.heysummit.com/

📩 Podcast emails: https://eliterecruiterpodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Host: Benjamin Mena – http://www.selectsourcesolutions.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmena/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benlmena/