Recruiting Future with Matt Alder

Job interviews have always been a source of anxiety for many people. The pressure of showcasing your achievements to a stranger in an unnaturally structured conversation is not easy, and for many neuro-diverse people, it is pretty much impossible. The use of Ansychromous video interviews has helped the situation in some ways but doesn't provide the opportunity for real-time conversation and exploration, which is critical in the later stages of the recruiting process. Could a methodology initially designed to combat communication delays in space travel offer a solution that bridges the gap between synchronous and asynchronous interviewing in a way that is inclusive for everyone? My guest week is Rob Brougham, Director & Co-Founder of Braided Communications. Rob worked with NASA to develop a unique way of helping astronauts have real-time conversations with people back on Earth on future missions to the moon and Mars. He is now using the same technology to make the recruiting process more inclusive and effective. So how does this all work? Just keep listening to find out more. In the interview, we discuss: A simple way of defying the laws of physics in space travel How Braiding works Making the asynchronous synchronous. Co-presence and connection The importance of inclusive communication Applications in talent acquisition Making interviews real-time and inclusive What does the future of business communication look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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 631: Science, AI & Assessment Ep 632: Attracting, Retaining, and Empowering Gen Z Talent Ep 633: The Strategic Importance Of Wellbeing Ep 634: Work Before Talent Ep 635: Transform Talent Acquisition Ep 636: Hiring & Retaining Innovators Ep 637: Reinventing The ATS For A New Era Ep 638: Reskilling For AI Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts

It’s been a tough couple of years for Talent Acquisition. There was a time during the post-pandemic hiring wave when companies were struggling to recruit enough recruiters. Now, the situation is the polar opposite, with TA teams shrinking and many recruiters being laid off. In such economically uncertain times, it’s difficult to determine whether AI is starting to be a factor that impacts jobs in TA. However, based on current adoption rates, it’s probably fair to say that AI is still only a minor contributor to the overall situation. But this is quickly going to change. As employers start to look at transforming TA over the longer term, AI and automation will inevitably play a significant role in shaping the TA teams of the future. This raises important questions about job displacement and reskilling. These are not just questions that AI raises for TA; they are questions that span the entire organization, with a strong likelihood that all jobs will be impacted in some way. So, how can employers prepare their workforce for these impending changes, and what is the likely split between job replacement, job enhancement, and job creation? My guest this week is Kamal Ahluwalia, President of Ikigai Labs and former President of Eightfold AI. Kamal has extremely well-informed insights on AI’s impact on jobs and skills and valuable advice for employers and employees. In the interview, we discuss: The impact of AI on work and jobs Jobs eliminated, jobs changed, jobs created Building scenarios for the future The critical importance of data How should employers be responding What is the role of HR and TA? Evolving processes to meet new objectives Reskilling and upskilling How do employers encourage people to learn new skills? What will work be like in five years? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

TA Transformation has been a recurring theme on this podcast in recent months. A unique combination of macro and micro forces is driving the need for substantial change, compelling TA leaders to respond swiftly and strategically. Technology, particularly AI and automation, is very much at the heart of this transformation. But what does this mean for established ATS vendors? How are they adapting to the evolving market landscape, and how are their product strategies being shaped to anticipate the future? My guest this week is Rebecca Carr, the newly appointed CEO of SmartRecruiters. Previously serving as SmartRecruiters’ Chief Product Officer, Rebecca offers insight into the importance of a product-led approach in these rapidly changing times. She also shares her perspectives on the urgency of accelerating the leap from traditional ATS to the next generation of hiring solutions. In the interview, we discuss: The current state of the market Rethinking hiring The growing importance of hiring manager experience Why being product-focused is important in the current market. Accelerating the leap from second-generation ATS to third-generation hiring platform The impact of uncertainty around legislation and regulation AI education and adoption Adaptability and agility Advice to TA Leader on designing technology strategies What does the future look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

The world of work is changing rapidly, and this swift pace of change is forcing employers to rethink the kind of talent they need within their organizations. Traits like curiosity, innovation, agility, flexibility, and problem-solving are now more in demand than ever. However, despite the desire to attract and retain individuals with these qualities, traditional recruiting processes can often repel them, and talent management strategies may overlook those who are already part of the organization. Retaining such high-value talent is also a significant challenge. So, what do organizations need to do to hire and retain the change catalysts and innovators they seek more effectively? And how can they better identify those already in their workforce? My guests this week are Tracey Lovejoy and Shannon Lucas from Catalyst Constellations. Tracey and Shannon define catalysts as the visionaries within an organization who quickly process information, translate it into actionable opportunities, and are relentless in driving positive change. They have a vast amount of insight to share with employers about identifying and nurturing catalysts and lots of advice for catalysts themselves around managing their careers and reducing burnout. In the interview, we discuss: What is a catalyst, and what do they have in common Seeing risk differently Identifying the catalysts in your business The importance of organizational context Repurposing recruiting processes for diversity of thought New ways of thinking about Talent Management Breaking down silos and getting stuff done Work trauma Dealing with burnout What does the future of work look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

We're living in a time of unprecedented disruption in Talent Acquisition. Exponential advances in AI, shifting attitudes toward work, the ever-shrinking life span of skills, aging populations, and global workforce accessibility are all converging to create a revolutionary moment in our industry. Any one of these factors would be transformative on its own, but together, they demand a completely new approach to how we attract, hire, and retain talent. TA Leaders know that getting their transformation strategies right is crucial. It's not just about filling jobs; it's about aligning with long-term business goals and staying ahead of the curve. But with change happening so rapidly, simply reacting isn't enough. It is critical to anticipate what's next and ensure strategies remain relevant and effective in this fast-evolving landscape. There is a unique opportunity here to actively shape the future of talent acquisition. So, how can you get the strategic foresight you need to plan for such an uncertain future? Earlier in the summer I spoke about the tools and mindset required at RecFest UK. This episode is an audio recording of that presentation. In the presentation, I cover: The macro and micro forces driving change in TA Autonomous AI Agent Swarms An amazing but disappearing opportunity Can we predict the future? Is AI a Co-pilot or a Frenemy The six elements of Futurecasting Common cognitive biases to be aware of when planning for the future The TA Team of the future Behavior science and automation Developing the right mindset. In the recording, I refer to several podcast episodes that are excellent resources for future-focused TA thinking. You can get links to these episodes and a copy of my slides by going to mattalder.me/future. Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here Traditionally, hiring has been anchored around getting the right talent into the organization. However, in these highly disrupted times, is this still the right way of operating? In our fast-changing world of work, looking at the skills needed to do the work offers organizations the flexibility to expand internal and external pools and consider outsourcing, offshoring, gig work, process improvement, and AI-driven automation as alternative ways of getting work the done. So how does this work in practice and what are the implications for the future of recruiting? My guest this week is Bruce Morton, Head of Strategy for Allegis Global Solutions. Bruce is a deep thinker about technology and the future of work and has some valuable insights into how some of the organizations Allegis works with are thinking differently about talent. Allegis has also implemented a large-scale automation program in its own business, which Bruce believes will facilitate a much more human-centric approach to recruiting. In the interview, we discuss: Reversing dehumanization in recruiting The evolving distribution of work Starting with the work rather than starting with the talent Using AI to identify skills at scale Assumed skills, self-reported skills, and certified skills. Outsourcing, offshoring, gig work and automation Developing automation strategies Augmenting rather than replacing people Process re-engineering Partnering or building Matching based on anticipating candidate needs What does the future of work look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here The pandemic created a moment of realization and momentum about the importance of wellness at work and employers' role in this. Four years on from the the first Covid lockdowns, it has become apparent that an effective wellbeing strategy plays a vital part in talent acquisition and retention. So, how should employers consider their employees' wellbeing? What support can they offer, and how do the employer and employees benefit? My guest this week is Luke Bullen, VP of Wellhub in the UK. Wellhub connects employees to the best options for fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep. Luke has some fascinating and valuable insights on the latest thinking about wellness and its strategic importance to all employers. In the interview, we discuss: The continuing momentum around wellbeing and why it is a board-level issue The relationship between wellbeing and work Talent Acquisition, Productivity, and Retention The significant ROI of corporate wellbeing investments Are employers harming their employees? Being a catalyst that reduces barriers Thinking about wellbeing holistically What are the small steps every employer can take What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here A whole new generation is entering the workforce at a time when work is changing for everyone. Getting the right talent is hard enough, but there are also considerable challenges in retaining talent and providing the right skills development to deal with the current speed of change in business and technology. So, how can employers take a holistic approach to talent acquisition, talent management, and L&D that resonates with a Gen Z audience and engages the wider workforce? My guest this week is Dilek Çilingir, Global Assurance Talent Leader at EY. EY has intensely focused on changing outdated perceptions around auditing as a career to bring new talent into the business. This is part of an overarching talent strategy that also focuses on upskilling and retention. In the interview, we discuss: The talent market challenges facing the audit profession An increasingly complex work environment Busting stereotypes and marketing auditing as an attractive career Flexibility and Well-Being How attitudes to work are changing Job hopping versus role hopping The importance of ongoing skills development On-demand tech-driven learning How AI is changing things What will the future look like from a talent perspective? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here 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 626: Taking A Strategic Approach To AI Ep 627: The Future Global Workforce Ep 628: The EVP & Employer Brand Landscape Ep 629: A Personalized Candidate Experience Ep 630: Assessment in Skills-Based Organizations Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here Assessment is the one area of talent acquisition practice where we have proper peer-reviewed science about what is and isn't effective. Unfortunately, the use of science in assessment has tended to only happen in larger organizations and then not necessarily consistently. AI has the potential to change everything, making assessment technology faster and more accessible to employers of all sizes. However, there are huge dangers here. Not only does AI bring with it the potential for more bias in the process, things are moving so quickly that it may well be that some tech solutions coming into the market are built without due consideration of the fundamental principles of science and psychology that should be applied to assessment. So, what steps can TA Leaders take to ensure their technology is fit for purpose and embed a more strategic approach to assessment? My guest this week is Dr Charles Handler. Charles is the President & Founder of Rocket-Hire, an organization that designs, implements, and validates employee selection solutions. He is also a Futurist, working extensively to research and understand the impact of AI on the future of assessment. In the interview, we discuss: How assessment has evolved over the last five years Making the science more accessible and assessments more user-friendly The importance of properly evaluating assessment technology. The opportunities and threats of AI Finding a positive way to respond to the growing use of AI by jobseekers Skills-based hiring How to think more strategically about assessment What does the future look like Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here One key aspect of any journey to becoming a skills-based organization is having effective skills assessment strategies in place. This doesn't just apply to hiring and leadership development. Some of the most cutting-edge organizations are using assessment as part of the onboarding process to help understand the development needs of new employees. My guest this week is Simone Jacobi, Global Director of Talent Assessment at McKinsey. In our conversation, Simone talks about how McKinsey is gratifying assessments in its journey toward becoming a skills-based organization. In the interview, we discuss: What do skills mean at McKinsey? How McKinsey's talent acquisition process is evolving Broadening talent sources The advantages of gamifying assessment Onboarding and "Day One Readiness" assessments to help people become productive as quickly as possible Using Gen AI to Personalize Assessments Building individual skills profiles and mapping up skills development Reducing bias and using "Fairness Observers" when making people decisions What are the most essential skills for the future? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here Providing a quality candidate experience remains a significant challenge for many organizations. This challenge has been intensified in recent years by evolving candidate expectations, volatile talent markets, shrinking TA teams, and technology that has yet to be designed with the candidate in mind. However, are we on the cusp of an era when technology, rather than making the candidate experience worse, can actually help provide the high-quality, personalized candidate experience we have all been seeking? My guests this week are Luke Smith, Talent Acquisition & Experience Specialist at Toyota GB, and Euan Cameron, CEO at Willo. This discussion offers many great insights into what personalization is possible now and what will be possible in the future. In the interview, we discuss: Toyota's customer-centric approach to candidate experience Automating the process Busting myths about video interviewing Giving candidates control and flexibility Reducing bias in Recruitment Marketing Wellbing the interview process Sentiment analysis What does the future look like? Download Willo’s “Hiring Humans” eBook Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here It has been a highly volatile few years for talent markets and hiring. So, how is all the uncertainty and disruption shifting employers' thinking around EVP and Employer Branding? Is it still considered as important as before, and what might the future direction look like? My guests this week are Neil Harrison, an independent employer branding consultant, and Mike Heal, managing director at WDAD Communications. Neil recently collaborated with WDAD on qualitative research into the current EVP and Employer Brand landscape. The findings give some unique insights into the priority employers are giving to their employer brands and how things have changed since the pandemic. In the interview, we discuss: The background to the research project and how it was carried out How things have changed in the last three years DE&I as a focus for employer branding Key metrics to get senior stakeholder buy-in and future investment Is employer branding still considered important by organizations? How happy are employers with the current state of their EVP? Building agility and flexibility into the brand research process to ensure relevancy Changing employee attitudes to work The evolution of employee stories The importance of belonging Differentiation and competitive benchmarking What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Transform Talent Acquisition – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here The distribution patterns of the global working-age population are starting to change dramatically. North America and Europe both have aging populations and by 2040, the African continent, with a projected population of 1.1 billion, will have the largest workforce globally. So how are African countries preparing, and what opportunities are there for employers to tap into this mega talent market? My guest this week is Hilda Kabushenga, CEO of The African Talent Company. The African Talent Company is a group of pan-African businesses working together to bridge the talent gap in Africa via career development and recruiting solutions. Hilda gives us a unique insight into the current African talent market and its incredible future potential. In the interview, we discuss: How will global workforce demographics change over the next few years? Reskilling for the future for jobs where there is demand for talent Making interventions around the right skills, democratic access to opportunities, and job creation. How does upskilling work at scale? Delivering courses on WhatsApp to deal with data availability issues Opportunities for global employers to access African talent The potential impact of AI What will things look like by 2050 Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" – Download Now Trend Spotting – Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization – Click Here It is becoming clear that company CEOs are taking AI very seriously, and it is starting to inform the strategic direction of many businesses. For example, 44% of CEOs responding to PwC's 2024 Annual Global CEOs survey believed that Gen AI will drive efficiency and boost profits in the next 12 months. It is now critical that Talent Acquisition leaders take AI seriously and build strategies that closely align with their business's strategic direction. Unfortunately, in most cases, this isn't happening with the urgency that the situation requires. So, what are the barriers here? Do we fully understand the challenges, and what can TA leaders do to ensure they stay in step with the rest of their business? My guest this week is Paul Maxin. Paul is a highly experienced Global TA Leader who has worked at a diverse range of major public and private organizations. Paul firmly believes in the importance of approaching AI strategically with a sense of urgency and shares some pragmatic advice on how best to achieve this. In the interview, we discuss: Why TA is out of step with the rest of the enterprise The challenges that stop TA from being strategic The importance of scenario planning Calls to action What questions should TA leaders be asking themselves? Data, measurement, and transparency Proving the strategic value of TA Auditing and the danger of AI being bias on steroids The continuing importance of the candidate experience An increasing risk of burnout What might the future hold? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

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 619: TA On The Brink Of Revolution Ep 620: Hard Skills & Soft Skills Ep 621: Rain, Whisky and Robots Ep 622: Redefining Expertise Ep 623: An Inclusive Candidate Experience Ep 624: The TA Team Of The Future Ep 625: What’s Next For Generative AI? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" - Download Now Trend Spotting - Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization - Click Here The hype around the arrival of Gen AI was off-the-scale crazy. Now that things have calmed down and the use of LLMs is starting to normalize, it can be easy to think that the hype was overblown. However, we are about to see some developments in technology that will change our mindsets entirely and start to bridge the gap between the initial hype and our current reality. My guest this week is Jack Houghton, Co-Founder of Mindset AI. Mindset AI uses cutting-edge AI technology in the HR and Learning space. Jack talks us through the potential of Autonomous AI Agents to change how we work forever and help some of the initial hype around AI become reality. In the interview, we discuss: The huge developments coming in the next 12 months How will removing the current friction in accessing Gen AI accelerate adoption? How Autonomous AI Agents will bridge where we are and where we are going. Tools, APIs, and logical reasoning How do AI Agents communicate in Swarms to build workflows and intelligently manage tasks? Ask use cases and Do use cases. What are the limitations and the implications for jobs? The importance of taking a strategic approach Where might we be in 3-5 years? Follow this podcast in Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" - Download Now Trend Spotting - Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization - Click Here Much of the conversation about the future of talent acquisition focuses on absolutes. The questions debated revolve around whether there will actually be a need for talent acquisition in the future, whether robots will do all the recruiting, and whether most jobs will even still exist. While these discussions are essential, they tend to polarize opinion and don't do much to move the industry forward. We need to have nuanced conversations about the practicalities of this transformation process and focus on the skills and roles that will drive the change we need. My guest this week is Andreea Lungulescu, Principal Talent Acquisition Partner at thermondo. Andreea strongly advocates for strategic talent acquisition and the importance of TA shaping its own destiny. She has done some significant work around the future roles talent acquisition will need and has some highly valuable insights to share In the interview, we discuss: Elevating the role of TA and making it strategic The importance of understanding rapidly changing business priorities How are employers responding to AI? The enthusiasm vs. implementation gap What are AI skills? Removing silos in the talent function Disrupting the traditional career framework in TA What TA roles might we see in the future? What skills do TA professionals need to develop What is going to happen over the next 18 months Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Get my free whitepaper "10 Ways AI Will Transform Talent Acquisition" - Download Now Trend Spotting - Find out how my digital course will help you shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization - Click Here 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 this week is Advita Patel from Comms Rebel. 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. In the interview, we discuss: The importance of inclusive communication Being a comms rebel How can the recruiting process be more inclusive? Job descriptions and degrees Recognizing bias Taking micro-steps The impact of poor communication on candidates What can employers and individual recruiters do to improve the candidate experience? The dangers of overly generic AI-generated language Candidates calling out employers in public Changing expectations of work and the importance of belonging Will AI make things better or worse? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts.