Recruiting in 2026 Requires More Than “Post and Spray” with Beverly Parker

In episode 252, Coffey talks with Beverly Parker about how recruiting and talent acquisition are evolving and why relationship-based recruiting still matters.  They discuss the shift from newspaper job ads, to Monster, to today’s AI-powered recruiting platforms; why “post and pray” or “post and spray” recruiting fails to attract high-quality passive candidates; how recruiters use professional networks to identify specialized talent faster; the growing impact of AI-generated resumes and fraudulent job applicants; why recruiters should avoid over-relying on AI resume filtering tools; strategies for sourcing passive candidates in competitive hiring markets; the value of agency recruiters for hard-to-fill and specialized positions; how employers can improve hiring processes during a frozen labor market; candidate expectations around compensation, flexibility, and work-life balance; why transparency about career growth opportunities improves retention and hiring outcomes; the increasing importance of training and development in workforce planning; how younger workers want meaningful work and stronger onboarding support; the importance of hiring for adaptability and learning agility instead of static skills; lessons from building recruiting functions inside growing organizations; and how long-term recruiter relationships create stronger organizational outcomes than transactional placements.  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP252  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Beverly Parker is an accomplished HR leader and recruiter with over 15 years of experience connecting top talent with tier-one employers. She has built a reputation for aligning high-performing candidates with organizations that value growth, culture, and long-term success.  Her work is grounded in a results-driven approach to talent acquisition and workforce development, with a strong focus on building strategic partnerships across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Beverly actively collaborates with leading professional organizations, including Fort Worth HR, MidCities HR, Dallas HR, APA, and FEI, to stay at the forefront of industry trends and talent needs.  A dedicated advocate of servant leadership, Beverly is committed to fostering environments where individuals and teams can perform at their highest level. She holds both PHR and SHRM-CP certifications.  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives:  Understand how modern talent acquisition differs from traditional recruiting models. Evaluate when organizations should use internal recruiters versus external recruiting agencies. Identify strategies for attracting passive candidates in competitive labor markets. Recognize the risks and limitations of AI-driven recruiting and screening systems. Improve hiring processes by aligning candidate motivations with organizational realities. Develop recruiting approaches that prioritize long-term fit over transactional hiring. Explore how training, onboarding, and development affect employee engagement and retention. Assess how labor market uncertainty influences candidate and employer behavior. Learn how recruiters can identify transferable skills and high-potential candidates. Understand why adaptability and learning agility are becoming critical hiring criteria.