EP 58 From Fax Machines to AI: The Evolution of Recruitment w/Stuart Biggs

What if you started in recruitment when CVs were faxed across town — and now lead teams navigating AI, automation, and a new generation of recruiters?In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Biggs, veteran recruiter and sales leader, who’s lived through the full evolution of recruitment — from fax machines and cold calls to CRMs, automation, and AI-driven sourcing.Recorded in March 2025, we dive into how the industry has changed, why sales culture has declined post-COVID, and what leaders can do to rebuild it without burning people out. Stuart also opens up about his passion for giving underprivileged people opportunities in recruitment, and why hiring on behaviours matters more than degrees.We explore:✅ The evolution of recruitment: fax machines, Rolodexes & AI✅ Why sales culture has declined in many agencies (and how to fix it)✅ How automation & AI help — and where they make recruiters lazy✅ Creating non-negotiable sales sprints that actually work✅ The “warm bath” analogy for avoiding feast-or-famine billings✅ Why behaviours beat qualifications when hiring✅ How working from home has reshaped recruitment culture✅ The role of resilience, diversity & inclusion in today’s industry✅ Why sharpening the saw through training never stopsIf you want to understand where recruitment has come from, where it’s heading, and how to thrive in the age of AI without losing the human touch — this episode is a must-listen.⏱ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & Stuart’s background02:00 – From fax machines to AI: recruitment’s evolution07:40 – Sales culture then vs now13:20 – Why recruiters are losing BD skills post-COVID20:10 – Balancing automation, AI & human touch26:30 – Non-negotiable sales sprints explained34:00 – The “warm bath” analogy for consistent pipelines42:00 – Hiring on behaviours vs qualifications50:20 – How working from home has affected sales culture58:30 – Diversity, inclusion & underprivileged talent in recruitment01:05:00 – Training, sharpening the saw & constant development01:12:40 – Stuart’s 1% Better tip🔗 Connect with StuartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-biggs-b1415289/🔗 Connect with Charles KyriakouLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskyriakou1/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charles.kyriakouApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-better-recruitment-podcast/id1775201502YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@charleskyriakouLinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7244346543967731712