Ep 42 Why Joe Cote Champions RPO As A Stabilizing Force In A Volatile Tech Market

A handful of $500 million-plus Series A rounds in AI highlight capital concentrating into a small set of hyperscale bets. Tech hiring pipelines expand at unnatural speed as AI-focused candidates flood postings, creating a volume shock that overwhelms screening systems. Recruiters confront shifting skill demands, hyper-competitive compensation dynamics, and application pools engineered by AI tools rather than genuine qualifications. Only a low single-digit share of applicants, on average, reaches true alignment with role requirements, exposing a widening gap that erodes capability, accuracy, and workforce readiness Managing this volatility requires organizations to redesign recruiting architectures that withstand rapid market swings. In this episode of the Time to Hire podcast, host Lamees Abourahma speaks with Joe Cote, Managing Director at ZRG, to clarify how technology companies construct scalable, resilient hiring engines amid AI-driven disruption. Together, they analyze how RPO models, outbound sourcing strategies, and skills-based assessment frameworks generate sharper decisions, stronger funnels, and more sustainable long-term talent outcomes.Join the RPO Association today to stay ahead of the latest trends and best practices in talent acquisition, achieve your professional goals, and benefit from improved business performance.Contact the RPO Association at [email protected] Joe Cote on LinkedInFollow Lamees Abourahma on LinkedInFollow the RPOA on LinkedInGo here for more information about ZRGGo here for more information about the RPOAAbout the PodcastTime to Hire is produced by the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association (RPOA), the leading authority on recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) foresight and innovation, and the trusted convener for the global RPO community. Through conversations with industry leaders, the podcast explores the trends, insights, and innovations shaping the future of talent acquisition.Learn more about RPOA and join the community at: https://www.rpoassociation.org.Follow the host, Lamees Abourahma, on LinkedIn.