Happy Hiring: How to Build a Human-Centered Recruiting Strategy | with Kara Dennison

Are you tired of transactional hiring that leaves everyone frustrated? In this episode, Kara Dennison reveals how to build an authentic sourcing and recruitment ecosystem that elevates the candidate experience while delivering top talent.The modern job market feels more divided than ever, but it doesn't have to be a battlefield. Today on Happy@Work, we are sitting down with the incredible Kara Dennison—Executive Career & Leadership Coach, CEO of Optimized Career Solutions, and contributor to Forbes.Together, we explore a critical question: What does “happy hiring” actually look like from both sides of the interview table? We break down how organizations can move past cold, automated tracking systems to build a more human, transparent, and mutually beneficial experience that actually respects people's time.Timestamps:00:00 – intro01:01 – self-presentation of Kara02:32 – what happy hiring means for Kara03:51 – how to increase the candidate experience and HR impact on the hiring process07:43 – making the transparent candidate experience for the culture fit of the company and employee12:29 – positive effect of recruitment on business results16:42 – how to make real feedback for candidates in the AI era 22:11 – strategy of networking that makes all happier26:00 – 3 tips from Kara for a happy hiring process (both for the company and candidate)Whether you’re an HR leader looking to overhaul your hiring funnel or a professional navigating your next career move, Kara's dual-perspective insights are a masterclass in modern talent strategy.Follow more content from Kara Dennison.Subscribe to Happy@Work for more episodes on building a workplace that actually works for people.Discover the text version of podcast episodes posted weekly on LinkedIn.#Hiring #Recruitment #CandidateExperience #TalentAcquisition #HRStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #HappyAtWork