Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring?

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

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

Round up is the monthly show on The Recruiting Future Podcast channel that highlights episodes you may have missed and gives you my take on some of the key learnings from the guests.Episodes mentioned in this Round Up:Ep 651: Navigating TA’s Perfect StormEp 652: Unlocking Global Talent PoolsEp 653: Assessing the impact of AIEp 654: The Power Of Great QuestionsEp 655: Using Culture As A Talent MagnetEp 656: Strategic Transformation in TAEp 657: The Future Of TA TechnologyEp 658: TA As A ServiceEp 659: Talent ComplexityFollow this podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow this podcast on Spotify

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

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

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

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

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

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

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