RecTalk Podcast - Explore Recruitment Insights

Thinking about taking your UK recruitment business into the US?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Charles Causey, founder of Agile Partnering, to unpack what UK recruitment businesses really need to know before making the move across the Atlantic.The US staffing market is significantly larger, often offers higher margins, and can present less competition in the small-to-mid-sized recruitment space. But entering the US isn't simply a case of picking a city and starting to recruit.Charles shares a practical roadmap for UK recruiters looking to test, launch and scale in the US — including why you don't necessarily need boots on the ground from day one, how an Employer of Record (EOR) can help you get started, and when it makes sense to establish your own US entity.The conversation also gets into the realities of US contracting, worker classification, workers' compensation, benefits, payroll, invoicing, credit risk, funding and the complexities of operating across multiple states.One of the biggest takeaways? Don't let the back-office become an excuse not to sell.Charles explains why the most successful recruiters focus first on finding their niche, winning their first client and making their first placement — then bring in specialist partners to handle the operational complexity.The pair also explore where the opportunities are emerging across the US, from financial services and life sciences to the rapidly expanding ecosystems around AI, data centres, energy, automation and robotics.And there's plenty of discussion about the mindset required to make it work: backing yourself, getting specific about your niche and geography, having the audacity to take action, and understanding what success actually means to you.WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR• UK recruitment business owners considering expansion into the US• Recruitment founders looking for higher-margin markets• Recruiters thinking about launching a US desk• Staffing businesses exploring US contracting• Recruitment entrepreneurs wondering whether they need a US entity or boots on the ground• Agencies worried about US payroll, compliance, worker classification and back-office complexity• Recruiters looking for emerging niches around AI, data centres, energy, robotics and automation• Anyone who needs a reminder to stop overthinking and start taking action!GUEST — Charles Causey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlescausey/Learn more about Agile Partnering: https://www.rectools.io/product/agile-partnering/HOST — Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERSSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentBusiness #USRecruitment #RecruitmentUSA #Staffing #StaffingIndustry #RecruitmentAgency #RecruitmentEntrepreneur #UKRecruitment #EOR #EmployerOfRecord #USExpansion #RecruitmentGrowth #AgilePartnering #Rectools

What does the future of Talent Acquisition look like when AI, skills-based hiring, graduate recruitment and workplace readiness are all changing at once?In this episode of Talking Talent, a RecTalk podcast, host Sean Kennedy — aka Sean the TA Guy — sits down with Jen Hulme, Head of Talent Acquisition at BPP, for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities facing recruiters, graduates and employers today.Jen shares her unconventional journey into recruitment, from studying maths and initially having no idea what she wanted to do, to building a career across recruitment, leadership, people analytics and talent acquisition.The conversation then dives into one of the biggest topics in TA right now: AI.Jen explains how she is using her analytical and coding background to explore AI, prompt engineering and talent transformation at BPP, including work on an in-house skills-based hiring mechanism. The discussion looks at how AI could help recruiters assess candidates more consistently, reduce the burden of manually reviewing hundreds of CVs and improve the connection between job descriptions, skills frameworks and candidate assessment — while keeping humans responsible for the final hiring decisions.Sean and Jen also tackle the growing challenges around graduate recruitment. With entry-level opportunities becoming harder to find and graduates struggling to understand which roles they should actually be applying for, Jen argues that employers, universities and education providers need to rethink how they prepare young people for work.They discuss the gap between being academically qualified and being genuinely workplace-ready, including communication, professional behaviour and the skills required to succeed once someone actually lands their first job.Other topics include:• Why AI should solve genuine problems rather than simply being added because it's fashionable• Build vs buy when it comes to TA technology• Skills-based hiring and the challenge of accurately measuring skills• Why traditional graduate job titles can make opportunities harder to find• Whether graduates really need to be in the office to develop workplace skills• The responsibility employers and universities have towards the future workforce• Why TA professionals need to develop their ability to lead and engage remotely• Jen's controversial take on specialist vs generalist recruiters• Why being a "Jack of all trades" can make you a stronger corporate TA professional• The importance of empathy and genuinely caring about candidates• Some of the worst — and strangest — behaviour Jen has encountered during her recruitment career• Why inclusion and ED&I shouldn't become an afterthought• The importance of keeping conversations around inclusion alive• What great Talent Acquisition professionals actually look likeWHO THIS EPISODE IS FORThis episode is for Talent Acquisition leaders, recruiters, HR professionals, graduate recruitment teams, hiring managers, people working in recruitment technology, and anyone interested in how AI and changing workplace expectations are reshaping the future of hiring.It's also particularly relevant for anyone involved in early careers or graduate recruitment — and for employers thinking about how to make graduates genuinely ready for the world of work.GUEST — Jen Hulme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-hulme/Learn more about BPP: https://www.bpp.com/HOST —  Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #TalkingTalent #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #AIinRecruitment #SkillsBasedHiring #GraduateRecruitment #EarlyCareers #FutureOfWork #HR #TalentTech #RecruitmentTech #EDI #InclusiveHiring

This week, RecTalk heads to RecFest UK for a lively, unscripted conversation hosted by Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy — bringing together some of the biggest personalities from across the recruitment and talent acquisition community.Joining Nitin and Sean is Screenloop founder Akbar Karenga, plus Giulia Sciota, Kalpesh Baxi, Jo Major and Barbara Marinakis for a fun-filled RecFest episode focused on the people, conversations and connections that make the recruitment industry tick.Recorded live at RecFest, the conversation covers what makes the event so special, the importance of bringing different parts of the recruitment ecosystem together, the value of genuine face-to-face conversations and why connecting people remains at the heart of the industry.There’s also plenty of RecFest banter — from first-time attendees and the infamous recruitment merch competition to Screenloop’s last-minute sponsorship, creative merch ideas, customer success and what it takes to stand out at one of the recruitment industry's biggest events.Nitin and Sean also catch up with Screenloop, who are co-sponsoring RecTalk at RecFest this year alongside NOVA by Dweet and Zyverno, discussing their experience at the event, their approach to connecting with the recruitment community and their ambitions for future RecFest appearances.Plus, there are plenty of industry shout-outs and some very questionable merch-related debates.WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR• Recruitment and talent acquisition professionals who want to hear what the industry is talking about at RecFest.• Recruitment leaders and agency owners interested in building stronger connections across the industry.• HR and TA technology providers looking to understand how vendors can engage authentically with the recruitment community.• Anyone who enjoys the less polished, more human side of recruitment conversations.• RecFest regulars — and anyone considering attending for the first time.GUESTSAkbar Karenga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akbarkarenga/Giulia Sciota: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliasciota/Kalpesh Baxi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpesh-baxi/Jo Major: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jomajordiversityinrecruitment/Barbara Marinakis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-varvara-marinakis-033807144/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #TA #RecruitmentIndustry #HRTech #RecruitmentTech #Screenloop #NOVAbyDweet #Zyverno #Rectools

We’re still at RecFest UK 2026, and this time Nitin Sharma sits down with Lorna Cobbett, Founder of Blue John, to talk about one of the biggest issues facing employers and talent teams today: people risk.Lorna is bringing a very different perspective to the HR tech space, combining her background in investment banking and reputation management with neuroscience to rethink how organisations understand the people they hire.At RecFest, Blue John launched Gray, its new people risk intelligence platform, designed to help organisations understand who someone really is — rather than simply relying on what they claim to be.In this episode, Lorna and Nitin discuss:• What “people risk intelligence” actually means• Why personal reputation and reputation due diligence matter when hiring• Why most organisations focus their due diligence on senior leadership while doing very little across the rest of the workforce• Blue John’s Gray platform and the thinking behind it• The five Blue John “trademarks”: Human, Rock, Architect, Compass and Chameleon• How purpose, compassion, trust, resilience, initiative and adaptability can influence whether people engage, disconnect or ultimately leave• Why there is no such thing as a “bad hire” — only the wrong hire for the wrong organisation at the wrong time• Why employers need to take greater responsibility for accurately representing their organisation and roles• The financial, cultural, reputational and operational cost of getting a hire wrong• Why middle managers are the critical “glue” between senior leadership and the wider workforce• The growing importance of understanding people risk in regulated sectors such as financial services, professional services and healthcare• The changing employment landscape and why organisations have less time to understand whether someone is genuinely right for the role• The emerging “talent reset” and why CEOs and CFOs need to think carefully about whether they have the right team for what comes nextLorna also shares her view that “the talent system is broken” and explains why putting people at the heart of organisational decision-making is central to what Blue John is trying to achieve.Learn more about Blue John: https://wearebluejohn.com/GUEST — Lorna Cobbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-cobbett/HOST — Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest2026 #Recruitment #RecruitmentTech #HRTech #TalentAcquisition #PeopleRisk #Hiring #FutureOfWork #HR #Talent #EmployeeEngagement #ReputationManagement #RecruitmentTechnology #BlueJohn #LornaCobbett #Rectools

RecTalk is back LIVE from RecFest UK, with Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy joined by Gita Selli and Daryl Benson for a genuinely unfiltered conversation about the changing role of Talent Acquisition, the relationship between TA and HR, and why recruiters need to get closer to the operational heart of the business.And, naturally, there’s plenty of RecFest chaos along the way. From becoming accidental Lords and Ladies at a NOVA talent leaders dinner, to discovering the joys of free coffee and sweets, this is a very RecTalk conversation.The serious stuff starts with a question that came up repeatedly at RecFest:👉 Is Talent Acquisition actually disappearing — or is it simply evolving?The group explores the idea that the traditional TA role could look completely different within the next 18 months, with “People Partner” and broader people-focused roles becoming increasingly common.But the bigger debate is where TA should actually sit within an organisation.Should Talent Acquisition be part of HR? Or should it sit closer to operations and the wider business?The conversation gets into why TA can become overly transactional when recruiters are simply handed a requisition and told to “go find this person”, rather than being brought into the conversation around business strategy, workforce planning and future hiring needs.Gita brings a different perspective, explaining how TA and HR can work together as genuine partners — from culture and talent mapping through to having a seat at the table with business leadership.Daryl and the group debate whether that experience is becoming the norm or whether it remains the exception.They also discuss:• Why TA needs to partner with hiring managers rather than simply fulfil requisitions• Whether Talent Acquisition belongs in operations rather than HR• How being too closely associated with HR can make TA more transactional• Why recruiters need to understand the future direction of the business, not just today's vacancies• The changing language around HR, TA and “People” functions• Whether the next generation of HR leaders will come through Talent AcquisitionAnd because this is RecTalk at RecFest, there are plenty of stories, laughs and completely unexpected tangents along the way.GUESTSGita Selli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gita-selli/Daryl Benson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryljb/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #TA #HR #PeopleAndCulture #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeadership #Hiring #FutureOfRecruitment #RecruitmentTech #HRTech

RecTalk is back at RecFest UK — and this time Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy for a very candid conversation with two returning guests: Alexandra Hunt, Senior Recruiter at Highspot, and Chris Woods, Global Employer Reputation Technology Lead at Mars.After a hilarious catch-up about last year’s RecFest, chocolate disasters and life outside recruitment, the conversation quickly moves into some much bigger questions about how the recruitment industry has changed — and where it is heading next.Alex shares her experience of balancing a career in recruitment with family life, including her upcoming arrival, while the group discusses parental leave, paternity benefits and whether employers are genuinely creating more family-friendly workplaces.The conversation also takes a brutally honest look back at some of the toxic behaviours that have historically existed within recruitment agencies — from aggressive KPIs and public humiliation to cultures where taking time off could make people question your commitment. The group considers whether the industry is finally moving away from those practices as recruiters increasingly expect better pay, flexibility, reasonable targets and a healthier working environment.Chris brings the employer-brand perspective, explaining how his role sits at the intersection of technology and employer reputation. That leads into one of the biggest themes of the episode: how organisations can use technology and AI without losing the human element.AI is everywhere at RecFest, but Alex and Chris question the idea that automation will simply replace recruiters. Instead, they discuss the importance of keeping humans "in the lead" — using technology where it genuinely improves the experience rather than automating for automation’s sake.The episode also captures the atmosphere of RecFest UK itself, including the event's content, strategic transformation in TA, getting Talent Acquisition a seat at the table, and a few observations about queues, seating and the overall festival experience.And, naturally, the conversation goes off on plenty of entertaining tangents along the way.GUESTSAlexandra Hunt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrahuntrecruiter/Chris Woods: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marschris/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTechnology #EmployerBrand #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfRecruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #HRTech #EmployerReputation #RecTech #RecruitmentPodcast

RecTalk is live from RecFest UK 2026 at Knebworth Park, where Nitin Sharma sits down with Oleeo founder and CEO Charles Hipps, Police Scotland’s Lorna Allison and Sopra Steria’s Richard Burgess-Kelly to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing Talent Acquisition right now: how do you use AI to deal with a huge increase in applications without losing quality, fairness or the human element?The conversation follows the group’s session on AI in Talent Acquisition and explores the practical realities of AI adoption — from recruiters and hiring managers who are nervous about AI, to organisations dealing with application volumes that have exploded as candidates increasingly use AI to create and improve CVs and applications.The discussion covers AI-driven application screening, candidate authenticity, AI compliance and fairness, human-in-the-loop decision making, and how recruitment teams can use AI to reduce repetitive administration while spending more time on candidate engagement and strategic work.Lorna shares Police Scotland’s approach to starting small with AI, including the use of an AI chatbot to handle repetitive candidate enquiries and build organisational confidence. Richard discusses the realities of recruitment technology across government, police and defence, while Charles explains Oleeo’s approach to standalone AI tools, AI upskilling and helping organisations find quality candidates within increasingly large application volumes.A key theme throughout is that AI adoption is as much a people and change-management challenge as it is a technology challenge. The group also discusses why candidates should be given clear guidance on acceptable AI use, the importance of transparency and fairness, and why human judgement remains critical.WHO THIS EPISODE IS FORTalent Acquisition and recruitment leaders exploring AI, recruitment technology buyers, HR tech and RecTech professionals, recruiters dealing with rising application volumes, and anyone trying to understand how AI can improve recruitment without removing the human element.ABOUT OLEEOOleeo is the leader in human-centric AI-powered ATS & AI add-ons that supercharge your recruitment. Their intelligent, automated tools handle the heavy lifting – AI screening of candidates and skills assessment, eliminating bias, and engaging candidates 24/7 with conversational chatbots.Intelligent automation, human connection.https://www.oleeo.com/GUESTSCharles Hipps: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleshipps/Lorna Allison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-allison-82b69a23a/Richard Burgess-Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardburgesskelly/HOST — Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTech #RecTech #HRTech #AIRecruitment #ArtificialIntelligence #RecruitmentAI #TalentTech #CandidateExperience #RecruitmentTechnology #FutureOfRecruitment #Oleeo

What happens when AI moves beyond taking interview notes and starts doing real recruiting work?In this special live episode of RecTalk, filmed at RecFest UK, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy (Sean the TA Guy) sit down with Siadhal Magos and Stephanie Bowker from Metaview to explore how AI is reshaping recruitment — and why the future of recruiting technology could look very different from the ATS-driven model we know today.Siadhal and Stephanie discuss Metaview’s evolution from an interview note-taker into a broader AI recruiting platform, with agents supporting areas such as sourcing, application review and reporting.A major theme is the growing capability of AI agents. As LLMs become more powerful, the challenge isn’t simply building another AI feature — it’s turning that intelligence into useful, compliant and effective workflows that recruiting teams can actually trust and adopt.The conversation also explores why Metaview believes its competitive advantage goes beyond the underlying AI models. With increasingly powerful tools becoming available directly through products such as Claude and other AI platforms, recruitment technology companies need to build more than intelligence under the hood. For Metaview, that means combining agents, data, collaboration, guardrails and recruiting-specific workflows.The team talks as well about the changing role of humans in the recruiting process. Rather than humans checking every individual AI output, the goal is increasingly to give people oversight of autonomous agents and focus their attention on objectives, outcomes and orchestration.There’s also plenty of RecFest banter, including Metaview’s winning merch, the importance of authentic marketing, and why the team sees events like RecFest as valuable opportunities to connect with customers, AI-native talent and the wider recruitment community.GUESTSSiadhal Magos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siadhal/Stephanie Bowker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-bowker-b8172717/Learn more about Metaview: https://www.metaview.ai/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTechnology #EmployerBrand #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfRecruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #HRTech #EmployerReputation #RecTech #RecruitmentPodcast

Welcome to a special RecTalk episode filmed live at RecFest UK, hosted by Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy.This time, Nitin and Sean are joined by Aisha Lysejko for a lively and challenging conversation about one of the biggest debates in the modern workplace: are Gen Z really “lazy, entitled and difficult” — or are employers failing to understand what motivates the next generation?Aisha challenges the stereotypes around Gen Z and argues that every generation entering the workforce has been accused of changing things for the worse. The conversation explores why younger workers have different expectations, how social media has transformed access to information, and why traditional ideas around working hard, earning promotion and respecting authority don't necessarily resonate anymore.The discussion also looks at the impact of COVID-19 on young people's education and social development, the soft skills employers say younger workers are missing, and whether businesses should be taking more responsibility for developing those skills.One of the biggest themes is leadership. If younger employees don't automatically trust authority, leaders have to earn that trust through relationships, curiosity, respect and genuine recognition. Aisha explains why the relationship between a manager and employee can have a direct impact on performance and retention.Nitin, Sean and Aisha also debate whether employers are increasingly choosing not to hire younger people — and the long-term consequences that could have for talent pipelines, innovation and business growth.They discuss Gen Z's relationship with technology and AI, including the argument that growing up with technology doesn't necessarily mean having the same technical understanding as previous generations who had to learn how systems worked from the ground up.Most importantly, the conversation moves beyond the Gen Z debate and asks a bigger question: should businesses embrace the changes younger generations are demanding rather than resist them?The episode is full of honest disagreement, challenging opinions and some important reminders about what it actually takes to lead people from different generations.GUEST — Aisha Lysejko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-l/HOSTSNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #GenZ #GenZAtWork #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentIndustry #HR #PeopleLeadership #EarlyCareers #EmployeeExperience #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTech

Hosted live from RecFest UK by Sean Kennedy, host of Talking Talent, this episode of RecTalk brings together Jamie Jay Lyons, Joe Atkinson and Darren Bush for a candid conversation about AI, talent acquisition and how recruitment teams can actually make AI work in the real world.The conversation explores a key question for modern TA teams: as AI becomes embedded in recruitment workflows, do we need to put more emphasis on the human element?Jamie, Joe and Darren discuss the reality behind the rapid adoption of AI across recruitment and HR, including why simply giving everyone an AI licence isn't an AI strategy. They explore the importance of understanding where AI genuinely adds value, identifying the right use cases, measuring ROI and creating the infrastructure needed to scale AI safely.The panel also gets into some of the biggest mistakes organisations are making with AI adoption, including:• Jumping onto tools because everyone else is using them• Building AI solutions without understanding the underlying business problem• Running before teams have properly understood what AI can actually do• Lack of visibility and consistency when individuals build their own AI workflows• GDPR, compliance, data governance and quality-control risks• Failing to give recruiters enough time to experiment and learn• Trying to build overly complicated solutions when simpler, safer use cases may deliver more value• The challenge of operationalising AI across an entire business rather than leaving it as isolated experimentsThere is also discussion around the future of recruitment technology, from the potential of conversational data generated through candidate and hiring-manager interactions to Darren’s prediction that AI interviewing is coming – and may become increasingly normal as consumers become more comfortable interacting with AI elsewhere.The overall message? AI adoption isn't simply about buying tools. It's about curiosity, experimentation, governance, infrastructure, time, ROI and knowing where technology should augment people rather than simply replacing human interaction.GUESTSJamie Jay Lyons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiejaylyons/Joe Atkinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-atkinson1/Darren Bush: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taunboxed/HOST — Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentAI #AIinRecruitment #HRTech #RecruitmentTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfRecruitment #TA #TalentTech

Welcome back to RecTalk, coming live from RecFest UK 2026!In this special RecTalk episode, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy are joined by Harry Portch and Dominic Joyce for a brutally honest, very British review of the recruitment industry's event merch.The team rummages through bags, rates the swag out of five, calls out the good, the bad and the completely pointless, and crowns the best merch of RecFest.From Metaview's basketball-inspired jersey and sliders, to Pinpoint's curated collection of branded goodies, Teamtailor's rethink after last year's merch got roasted, Screenloop's trainers and socks, and the many hats, bags, bottles, toys and questionable promotional items in between, the episode asks a bigger question:What makes recruitment-event merchandise memorable?The conversation covers:• Why creative, niche merch can beat expensive generic giveaways• The importance of giving people something they'll actually use• Why another branded water bottle or notebook isn't necessarily going to cut through• The value of strong design and subtle branding• Whether making people play a game to win merch adds or subtracts value• How personalised and curated giveaways can make an impression• Why useful items such as sun cream, speakers and quality clothing score highly• The role of nostalgia, humour and novelty in event swag• Whether companies should focus on quality over quantity• Why "less is more" might be the future of recruitment event merch• How merch can help people remember your brand after the event• The importance of thinking about the event experience rather than simply putting a logo on something• And, crucially, what the panel thinks companies should be doing differently at future recruitment eventsThere are also some strong ideas for future merch – including event-appropriate drinkware, practical summer giveaways and things people will genuinely want to take home and use.GUESTSHarry Portch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryportch/Dominic Joyce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-joyce/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #RecruitmentMarketing #TalentAcquisition #EmployerBrand #RecruitmentTech #RecruitmentEvents #HRTech #TA #RecruitmentIndustry #MerchReview

RecTalk is live from RecFest UK, with Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy joined by Mike Peditto — one of the most recognisable voices creating content around recruitment, HR and careers.Mike is an active Director of Recruiting, consultant and content creator with an audience of around 400,000 followers across LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. In this episode, the conversation goes well beyond the usual recruitment-event chat.Mike shares his perspective on the differences between recruitment in the US and UK, why recruiters and Talent Acquisition teams are often misunderstood, and why agency recruitment could be heading for a resurgence in the US.The discussion explores how an oversaturated candidate market, fake CVs and huge volumes of applicants are creating new challenges for internal recruitment teams — and why a genuinely specialist agency partner can potentially cut through the noise and identify the people worth speaking to.Mike, Nitin and Sean also discuss the importance of niche recruitment and why the tech hiring market shouldn't be treated as a proxy for recruitment as a whole. While technology has experienced significant layoffs, sectors including healthcare, construction and hospitality can tell a very different story.They also tackle the growing number of UK recruitment agencies looking to enter the US market, asking whether international agencies should be seen as competition or simply as another potential source of great candidates and recruitment expertise.And, as you would expect from a conversation recorded live at RecFest, there's plenty of banter along the way — from the very different cultures of RecFest UK and RecFest US to recruitment events, content creation and the realities of being a recruiter.Most importantly, Mike finishes with a message that will resonate with recruiters everywhere: find your people. Recruitment can be an isolating profession, particularly when you're working remotely or feel undervalued by the business. Building a community and staying connected with other recruiters can make a huge difference.GUEST — Mike Peditto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeditto/HOSTSSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #Recruitment #Recruiting #TalentAcquisition #HR #AgencyRecruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentMarketing #RecruitmentContent #EmployerBrand #RecTech #Recruiters

Welcome to another live episode of RecTalk, filmed at RecFest UK in the RecTalk Podcast Lounge.Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy for a fascinating — and deliberately provocative — conversation with one of the best-known voices in the recruitment and talent acquisition community, Hung Lee.Hung has plenty to say about where TA is heading in the age of AI, and he doesn't shy away from challenging some of the industry's biggest assumptions.From why Hung thinks skills-based hiring is “anti-human” and why organisations may need to stop documenting everything, to the risks of using AI to simply squeeze more productivity out of employees, this conversation gets into what happens when technology starts changing not just how we work, but how organisations themselves are structured.One of the standout ideas is Hung's “keep what you kill” approach to AI adoption: if technology makes someone more productive, why should all of that productivity automatically belong to the company? Could giving employees back some of the time they save be a better way to encourage AI adoption, improve autonomy and reduce burnout?The conversation also explores the future of Talent Acquisition. Hung argues that TA isn't simply going away — instead, its scope and professional identity could change dramatically as businesses begin working with AI agents, gig platforms and other forms of non-human capacity.And there's a bigger human message running throughout the episode: in an increasingly AI-driven world, recruiters and talent professionals need to understand where human value really sits — and actively protect the relationships, judgement, creativity and community intelligence that machines can't simply reproduce.Hung also explains what Recruitment Brainfood has become and why he sees himself as an ecosystem support person, helping connect and inform the wider recruitment and job-search ecosystem.Filmed live at RecFest UK, this is a wide-ranging conversation about AI, recruitment, productivity, leadership, employee autonomy, the future of TA and why keeping work human may become more important than ever.GUEST — Hung Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunglee/HOSTSNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #RecFestUK #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentAI #AI #HRTech #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentTechnology #TalentTech #RecruitmentLeadership #HungLee #NitinSharma #SeanKennedy

Welcome to a special RecTalk episode filmed live at RecFest UK, hosted by Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy.This time, Nitin and Sean are joined by Jen Hulme and Thomas Woodhams for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest issues facing talent acquisition right now: inclusive hiring, neurodiversity, AI adoption, candidate experience, workplace redesign and why the “human touch” still matters in an increasingly automated recruitment world.Thomas shares insights from his RecFest talk on inclusive hiring and explains why organisations can genuinely believe they are inclusive while still creating unnecessary barriers throughout the recruitment process. The conversation explores how job descriptions, interview formats, assumptions around eye contact and communication styles, and even onboarding can unintentionally exclude talented candidates.Jen brings a talent acquisition perspective to the AI conversation, discussing the shift from simply talking about “AI” to understanding what organisations actually need it to solve. Rather than adopting technology because it is the latest shiny tool, the discussion focuses on identifying the underlying recruitment problem first — and then working out whether AI is the right solution.The conversation also looks at the changing role of humans in recruitment. With AI increasingly embedded into recruitment workflows, what should humans actually be doing? How do we use technology to supercharge expertise rather than replace it? And how will AI change the skills organisations need as roles and workplaces themselves evolve?They also discuss:• Why inclusive hiring needs to start with the job advert, not just the interview• Neurodiversity, hidden disabilities and removing unnecessary recruitment barriers• Why treating everyone “the same” doesn't necessarily create a fair hiring process• The evolution from “human in the loop” to the “human touch”• Why AI has become too broad a term in recruitment• Avoiding AI for AI's sake and starting with the actual business problem• How AI could improve candidate communication and engagement• Workplace and role redesign in an AI-enabled worldGUESTSJen Hulme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-hulme/Thomas Woodhams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-woodhams/HOSTSNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/SPONSORED BYNOVA by Dweet — Define what good looks like. Screen, source, and shortlist talent automatically. Nova works with your hiring team to build structured scoring criteria for each role, then screens every applicant, resurfaces past candidates, and finds new ones automatically.https://nova.dweet.com/Zyverno — builds Frontline Hiring Intelligence for logistics, care, hospitality and retail: the sectors where a single vacancy can attract hundreds of applications that never get properly assessed. Its AI agent, Lina, conducts structured screening interviews against manager-defined criteria and returns ranked, scored shortlists. Lina screens and ranks. Hiring managers make every decision.https://www.zyverno.app/Screenloop — is the all-in-one ATS built for SMEs. Replace your scattered stack of tools, from ATS to interview intelligence, scheduling, scorecards, and note-taking tools with one intuitive platform. Backed by AI time-saving features and an award-winning support team. That way, you save time, cut tooling costs, and make smarter hiring decisions faster.https://www.screenloop.com/Find out more about RecFest UK: https://recfest.com/uk/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentTech #HRTech #AIRecruitment #ArtificialIntelligence #InclusiveHiring #Neurodiversity #CandidateExperience #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentTechnology #HR #TA #RecTech

What happens when technology gets it wrong?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with recruitment leaders, technology experts and founders to discuss AI, automation, recruitment technology, business growth and why human judgement still matters more than ever.Featuring:🎙️ Kan Mallawathantri (Avensys Tech)🎙️ Samantha Moore (Medical Technology Talent et al.)🎙️ Chris & Alan (Pitch to Placements & Boots to Billing Podcast)Topics discussed include:✅ A real-life recruitment technology disaster story that almost derailed a placement✅ Why recruiters need to understand their tech stack instead of blindly trusting it✅ The risks of AI, integrations and automation when processes aren't fully understood✅ CRM, telephony and data sync challenges explained in plain English✅ Why technology should support recruiters, not replace common sense✅ Former athletes transitioning into recruitment and business careers✅ Building confidence, resilience and sales skills after professional sport✅ Why relationships still outperform scripts and sales tacticsOne of the strongest themes throughout this episode is that technology can accelerate success, but it can also amplify mistakes. The recruiters and business owners winning in 2026 are the ones who understand both the opportunities and the limitations of the tools they're using.🔗 Connect with the guestsKan Mallawathantri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kan-avensystech/Samantha Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaleighmoore/Chris Fahey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fahey-agpayroll/Alan McFadden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-mcfadden/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #RecruitmentTechnology #AIRecruitment #Automation #CRM #RecruitmentBusiness #Sales #BusinessGrowth #Technology #RecruitmentPodcast #TEAMConference #RecTalk #StaffingIndustry #Entrepreneurship #FutureOfWork

Are recruitment businesses overcomplicating things?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with website, marketing and finance specialists to discuss the biggest mistakes recruitment business owners are making when it comes to technology, websites, wealth creation and long-term growth.Featuring:🎙️ Gordon & Nicole (Shazamme)🎙️ Christian Mather (One Day Wealth)🎙️ Poonam Mawani (Azuki Accounts)Topics discussed include:✅ Why many recruiters are buying technology they don't actually need✅ The website foundations every recruitment business should have in place✅ How AI search is changing recruitment marketing and SEO✅ Why trust signals, reviews and case studies matter more than ever✅ The importance of niche positioning and specialist landing pages✅ Financial literacy for recruitment business owners✅ Why profitable agencies still make costly money mistakes✅ Building personal wealth beyond your recruitment businessOne of the strongest themes throughout this conversation is simple: stop chasing shiny objects and focus on fundamentals. Whether that's your website, your tech stack, your finances or your business strategy, the basics still matter.🔗 Connect with the guestsGordon Webb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonwebb1/Nicole Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleclarke/Christian Mather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmather/Poonam Mawani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poonammawaniazuki/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #RecruitmentMarketing #RecruitmentWebsite #AIRecruitment #SEO #BusinessGrowth #FinancialLiteracy #RecruitmentAgency #TEAMConference #Entrepreneurship #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #AgencyOwner #WealthBuilding

Recorded on the eve of RecFest, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy and Sunjay Vyas for a very unofficial, very unfiltered preview of what’s about to happen.The conversation kicks off with what makes RecFest different from your typical recruitment or HR event: the combination of learning, networking, socialising and simply having a bloody good time. With so many recruitment and talent acquisition teams working remotely, events like RecFest have become an opportunity to reconnect with people you might not have seen for months — or since the previous RecFest.The guys also get into one of the most anticipated RecFest traditions: the merch review. From clothing and jerseys to stationery, hydration and snacks, the competition is getting serious. Expect strong opinions, questionable judging criteria and some early predictions about who could take home the coveted merch crown.But beneath the laughs, there are some more serious conversations too.Sean talks about how people can misunderstand what he actually does — seeing him as “the funny video guy” rather than someone using content to generate genuine commercial results. That leads into a wider discussion about positioning, finding your ICP and not worrying too much about what people outside your target audience think of you.Sunjay also opens up about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, going all-in on his podcast outsourcing business with his wife, Anisha. They discuss leaving employment behind, building a financial runway, dealing with uncertainty and the mindset required to back yourself when there’s no guaranteed salary waiting at the end of the month.There’s also a brilliant conversation about mentorship, helping other people succeed and the importance of bringing people up with you. For Nitin, success isn’t just about what you build yourself — it’s about helping the people around you build something too.And, naturally, there are plenty of tangents along the way: Kenya, cigars, phone shops, WhatsApp calls, questionable career choices, the agency people attempting to infiltrate RecFest and a few things that the editors will probably have to remove.Most importantly, this is a conversation between three people who genuinely enjoy spending time together. The chemistry, friendship and sense of community are what make this episode feel less like a formal podcast and more like three mates getting together before one of the biggest events in the recruitment calendar.Who is this episode for:Talent acquisition and recruitment professionals heading to RecFest 2026Recruitment technology and HR tech professionalsRecruitment marketers and content creatorsAnyone considering leaving employment to start their own businessRecruiters and TA leaders interested in networking and personal brandingAnyone who enjoys the less corporate, more human side of recruitment🔗 Connect with the hostsNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Sunjay Vyas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecFest2026 #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentMarketing #RecruitmentTech #HRTech #EmployerBranding #PersonalBranding #Podcasting #RecruitmentCommunity #RecTech

It’s time for the merch review.Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sunjay and Jahisha to review the good, the bad and the questionable supplier merch from across the event.From branded bottles and notebooks to chocolate, biltong, cupcakes, sunglasses, seeds, hats and stress cubes, nothing is safe.In this episode:✅ Who had the best merch at TEAM Conference✅ Which suppliers clearly made an effort✅ Why cheap pens and boring leaflets are not enough anymore✅ The merch that was actually useful✅ The merch that completely missed the brief✅ Why story, quality and functionality matter✅ The official RecTalk merch winnersThis one is fun, brutally honest and hopefully useful for any supplier planning their next event stand.🔗 Connect with the guestsJahisha Thomas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahisha-thomas/Sunjay Vyas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunjayvyas/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #TEAMConference #RecruitmentMarketing #EventMarketing #MerchReview #RecruitmentSuppliers #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #ConferenceMarketing #RecruitmentEvents

Has recruitment quietly become a data business?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment technology founders, candidate attraction specialists and offshore staffing experts about the changing recruitment landscape, the future of job boards, CRM strategy and why the best recruitment businesses are becoming increasingly data-driven.Featuring:🎙️ Floriant & Bernard (daidalo)🎙️ Amy & Michelle (Candidate Source)🎙️ Ross & Chris (Infinity Staff Global)Topics discussed include:✅ Why recruitment agencies are sitting on untapped goldmines inside their CRM systems✅ The role of AI in candidate attraction and job board technology✅ Why quality is becoming more important than quantity in recruitment marketing✅ How recruiters should evaluate advertising ROI beyond simple placements✅ The future of LinkedIn, Indeed and traditional job boards✅ Offshore staffing and building high-performing remote teams✅ Why relationship-building still matters in a digital-first world✅ The importance of integrating remote employees into company cultureOne theme comes up repeatedly throughout this episode: the agencies winning in 2026 are the ones adapting fastest. They're leveraging data better, using technology smarter and building scalable operating models without losing the human element that makes recruitment successful.Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/🔗 Connect with the guestsFloriant Sturm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/floriantsturm/Bernard Antonissen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-antonissen/Amy Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cslamy/Michelle Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleadavies/Ross Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/Chris Beechey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-beechey/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #RecruitmentTechnology #CRM #DataDrivenRecruitment #AIRecruitment #JobBoards #LinkedInRecruitment #Indeed #RecruitmentBusiness #OffshoreStaffing #RemoteTeams #TEAMConference #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #StaffingIndustry

What if the difference between a good year and a great year came down to just five actions a day?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma sits down with leadership coach, speaker and host of The Human Loop Podcast, Ben Stocken to discuss performance, mindset, resilience and how business owners can avoid becoming the biggest obstacle to their own success.Drawing on lessons from elite sport, endurance challenges and years of leadership coaching, Ben shares practical advice that every recruiter, founder and business owner can apply immediately.Topics include:✅ How to reconnect with your "why" when motivation fades✅ Why successful leaders spend time outside their comfort zone✅ The difference between change and experimentation in business✅ The 5 daily actions that genuinely move a business forward✅ Why most entrepreneurs overestimate what they can achieve in a year✅ The power of prioritisation and focus✅ Stoicism, self-awareness and leadership resilience✅ Why business owners often become the bottleneck in their own growthOne of the most thought-provoking conversations from TEAM Conference 2026, this episode is packed with practical leadership advice that can help you finish the year stronger than you started it.Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/🔗 Connect with the guestBen Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #RecruitmentBusiness #TEAMConference #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment #Recruitment #FounderJourney #BusinessOwner #PersonalDevelopment #Stoicism #HighPerformance #RecTalk #TeamNetwork

What separates recruitment businesses that are thriving from those that are struggling?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment leaders, business owners and industry experts about building sustainable agencies, creating strong communities, navigating tough market conditions and why relationships still matter more than ever.This episode features conversations with:🎙️ Laura Davies (Marshall Harmony)🎙️ Debbie Bosworth (Ideal Edge)🎙️ Pauline Emmott-Royston (Neom Recruitment)🎙️ Kirsty Craig (KCA People)Topics discussed include:✅ Why recruitment should be a people business, not a sales business✅ Building a successful agency through relationships and community✅ Lessons from growing a recruitment business from a kitchen table startup✅ ADHD, burnout and mental health in recruitment✅ Understanding stress, performance and resilience in business owners✅ Why TEAM remains one of the recruitment industry's most valuable communities✅ The power of collaboration over competition✅ How independent recruiters can survive and thrive in challenging marketsFrom business growth and leadership to wellbeing and personal development, this episode captures the conversations that matter most to recruitment professionals right now.Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/🔗 Connect with the guestsLaura Davies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradaviestoprecruiter/Debbie Bosworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-bosworth-0163aa287/Pauline Emmott-Royston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-emmott-royston-45261836/Kirsty Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstycraig/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #AgencyRecruitment #TEAMConference #ADHD #Burnout #MentalHealth #RecruitmentOwner #RecruitmentLeadership #BusinessGrowth #Recruiters #RecTalk #StaffingIndustry #Hiring #Entrepreneurship

What can UK recruiters learn from the US market? And what separates recruitment businesses that continue to grow during difficult economic conditions?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment business owners, international recruiters and long-standing TEAM members about growth, resilience, relationship building and the future of recruitment.Featuring conversations with:🎙️ Jonny Cutter (Loup)🎙️ Kat Kingshott (Touchstone Talent)🎙️ Stephen Kennedy (Talent Partners Limited)🎙️ Stuart Moore (Plus One Recruitment)Topics discussed include:✅ Why UK recruiters have a competitive advantage in the US market✅ The biggest opportunities for recruiters looking internationally✅ Lessons learned from 20+ years in recruitment✅ How to survive market downturns and economic uncertainty✅ Why relationship-driven recruiters continue to outperform competitors✅ Using AI to remove admin while keeping the human touch✅ Building long-term client partnerships instead of transactional business✅ The value of communities like TEAM for independent recruitersOne recurring theme runs throughout this episode: recruitment is still a people business. The technology may evolve, markets may change, but trust, relationships and reputation remain the foundations of long-term success.Learn more about TEAM: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/🔗 Connect with the guestsJonny Cutter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-cutter-05919a24/Kat Kingshott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katkingshott/Stephen Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talentpartners/Stuart Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmoorerecruiter/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, industry experts and high performers.#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #TEAMConference #Recruiters #StaffingIndustry #AgencyRecruitment #BusinessGrowth #RecruitmentAgency #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #AIInRecruitment #Leadership #Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Talking Talent, a RecTalk podcast hosted by Sean Kennedy (The TA Guy), Sean sits down with Edyta Andrzejczak, an experienced international recruiter and talent advisor based in Lisbon, to explore how the role of recruitment is evolving far beyond simply filling vacancies.Drawing on her background in sociology, Edyta shares how understanding people, cultures and business challenges has shaped her approach to talent acquisition. From questioning hiring briefs to building genuine stakeholder relationships, this conversation challenges conventional recruitment thinking and makes the case for recruiters becoming trusted business advisors rather than order takers.Sean and Edyta also discuss the importance of cultural intelligence in global hiring, why recruiters should stop searching for "clones", and how AI is changing the profession without replacing the human skills that matter most.In this episode, you'll learn:How Edyta accidentally found her career in recruitment after starting in academia.Why today's recruiters need to become advisors, not just executors.The importance of challenging hiring managers with confidence and evidence.How better discovery leads to better hiring outcomes.Why recruiter-stakeholder trust is built through communication, honesty and credibility.How studying sociology and cultural differences improves recruiting success.The fascinating differences between recruiting across cultures, including British and Polish workplace communication.Why rejected candidates are one of the most overlooked sources of hiring insights.Why companies should stop hiring replicas of previous employees.How AI will reshape recruitment by removing administrative work while increasing the value of human relationships.Practical advice for junior recruiters looking to build long-term careers in Talent Acquisition.Key takeawaysRecruitment is becoming increasingly consultative. The recruiters who will thrive are those who understand business problems, challenge assumptions, embrace technology, and invest heavily in human relationships. Edyta argues that successful hiring starts long before sourcing begins—with asking better questions and understanding what organisations actually need.Who this episode is forTalent Acquisition professionalsRecruiters looking to become strategic advisorsRecruitment leaders and Heads of TalentHiring managers wanting to improve recruitment outcomesAnyone interested in global hiring, cultural intelligence and the future of recruitment🔗 Connect with the guestEdyta Andrzejczak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edyta-andrzejczak/🔗 Connect with the hostSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#TalkingTalent #RecTalk #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #Hiring #RecruitmentLeadership #FutureOfWork #AIRecruitment #EmployerBranding #CandidateExperience #StakeholderManagement #TalentAdvisor #Leadership #TechRecruitment #GlobalHiring #CulturalIntelligence

When your recruitment business starts expanding into new markets, launching new services, or chasing emerging opportunities like AI or the US market, one big question inevitably follows...Should you launch a sub-brand, or should you strengthen the brand you've already built?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Amity Watts from Kitto to unpack one of the biggest strategic marketing decisions facing recruitment businesses today. Together they explore when a new brand genuinely makes sense, why so many businesses get distracted by logos before strategy, and how to avoid confusing customers while still positioning yourself for growth.The conversation goes far beyond branding. Amity explains why content pillars often outperform expensive rebrands in the early stages of expansion, why proof and case studies matter more than visual identity, and how recruitment firms can future-proof themselves for AI-driven search and changing buyer behaviour.Topics covered include:When a sub-brand is the right strategic decision—and when it isn'tWhy "try before you buy" is often the smarter approachBuilding credibility before investing in a new brandAvoiding customer confusion while expanding into AI, the US market, or new sectorsThe role of content pillars versus standalone brandsBrand architecture and protecting years of brand equityHow recruitment businesses should think about long-term growth planningWhy testimonials and case studies are essential before scalingReal-world lessons from major consumer brands like Asda and TescoHow AI search, LinkedIn, and LLMs are changing recruitment marketing foreverWhy intentional marketing consistently beats reactive marketingIf you're considering launching a new division, expanding into a different market, or simply wondering whether your current brand is holding you back, this episode will give you a practical framework for making the right decision.Who this episode is for:Recruitment agency foundersRecruitment marketing leadersDirectors planning business expansionExecutive search firms launching new verticalsTalent acquisition businesses developing new service linesAnyone responsible for recruitment branding and growth strategy🔗 Connect with the guestAmity Watts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amity-watts-marketing/Learn more about Kitto: https://www.rectools.io/product/kitto/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #RecruitmentMarketing #EmployerBrand #RecruitmentBusiness #RecruitmentAgency #BrandStrategy #RecruitmentGrowth #MarketingStrategy #AIRecruitment #RecruitmentLeadership #RecruitmentTechnology #Rectools

What does AI-native actually mean in recruitment? Is it just another marketing buzzword, or is it genuinely changing how recruiters find talent, win clients and scale their businesses?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma is joined by Manan Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Recruiterflow, for one of the most practical conversations you'll hear on AI in recruitment.Rather than adding to the noise, Manan explains the real differences between legacy recruitment CRMs and true AI-native platforms, why most "natural language search" isn't actually natural language at all, and how recruiters should be thinking about technology over the next five years.Together they explore why data quality is becoming the biggest competitive advantage in recruitment, how AI is reshaping recruiter workflows, and why firms need to think beyond simply adding more tools to their tech stack.In this episode we discuss:What an AI-native CRM actually is (and what it isn't)Why "natural language search" is often just Boolean search with a new labelHow contextual AI search changes candidate discoveryWhy recruitment agencies are sitting on incredibly valuable dataThe future of recruitment technology stacksWhy standalone recruitment tools are increasingly becoming integrated platformsData leakage, reporting accuracy and making better business decisionsWhether mergers and acquisitions will reshape the RecTech marketThe rise of AI-powered recruitment businessesVibe coding, Claude Code and whether recruiters will ever build their own CRMWhy AI increases the gap between average and top-performing recruitersPredictions for recruitment technology over the next 12 monthsManan also shares his views on how agencies should balance protecting today's successful business model while simultaneously future-proofing for tomorrow, why AI adoption is already correlating with stronger business growth, and what new roles recruitment firms may soon need to introduce as AI becomes embedded into everyday operations.This episode is perfect for:Recruitment agency ownersRecruitment leaders planning their tech stackRecruiters curious about AI without the jargonOperations and technology leadersExecutive search firmsAnyone evaluating CRM platformsRecruiters looking to future-proof their business🔗 Connect with the guestManan Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mananshah212/Learn more about Recruiterflow: https://www.rectools.io/product/recruiterflow/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentTechnology #RecruitmentCRM #Recruiterflow #ArtificialIntelligence #AIRecruitment #RecruitmentAgency #Staffing #ExecutiveSearch #RecTech #Automation #FutureOfWork #Recruiters #Hiring #TalentAcquisition

In this episode of Talking Talent, host Sean Kennedy sits down with Sam Schloss, Head of Talent Acquisition for the Americas at Similarweb, for an honest conversation about what modern Talent Acquisition really looks like—and where it's heading next.Sam shares how he accidentally found his way into recruitment, why relationship-building became his superpower, and how his career evolved from filling vacancies to becoming a trusted strategic advisor to business leaders. Along the way, Sean and Sam explore what separates great recruiters from average ones, the importance of influencing hiring managers, and why understanding the business is just as important as understanding candidates.The conversation then turns to one of the hottest topics in Talent Acquisition: AI.Rather than debating whether AI will replace recruiters, Sam explains why the future belongs to recruiters who embrace technology while doubling down on the human skills that can't be automated. Together they discuss:Why Talent Acquisition is evolving—not disappearingHow recruiters can become genuine strategic business partnersUsing market data to influence hiring decisionsBuilding trust with hiring managers through consultation rather than administrationWhy candidate experience will always require a human touchPractical ways AI can automate repetitive work while enhancing recruiter effectivenessWhere AI should automate, collaborate, and where humans should always stay involvedHow recruiters can use the time AI saves to become more strategicThe importance of continuous improvement and operational excellence in TACreating better hiring processes through stronger intake meetings and behavioural interviewingAway from recruitment, Sean and Sam also share stories about music, work routines, career journeys, and the habits that help them stay energised in demanding Talent Acquisition roles, making for an engaging and refreshingly authentic conversation.Who this episode is forTalent Acquisition LeadersRecruiters looking to become more strategicHR Directors and People LeadersHiring ManagersRecruitment Operations professionalsAnyone exploring how AI is reshaping hiringLeaders building high-performing recruitment functions🔗 Connect with the guestSam Schloss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schloss-3b728a5a/Similarweb: https://www.similarweb.com/🔗 Connect with the hostSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#TalkingTalent #RecTalk #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #Hiring #AI #RecruitmentTechnology #FutureOfWork #PeopleLeadership #CandidateExperience #HR #Recruiting #Leadership #TalentStrategy #EmployerBrand #HiringManagers #RecruitmentOps #Similarweb

Why do recruiters work for months to make a placement… then wait another two months to get paid?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma is joined by Louisa Plint, founder of Auxeris and creator of AuxPay, to uncover why late payments have become "normal" in recruitment—and why they shouldn't be.Louisa shares how she went from launching a recruitment agency with no industry experience to building a fintech platform that's changing the way recruitment businesses get paid.In this episode you'll learn:✅ Why 63% of recruitment invoices are paid late✅ How payment automation can remove invoice chasing✅ The psychology behind CFOs and payment decisions✅ Alternatives to invoice finance and factoring✅ International payments, FX savings and recruitment cash flow✅ Why founders should stop accepting poor payment habits✅ The future of recruitment fintechWhether you're running a boutique agency or a multi-office recruitment business, this conversation will change how you think about cash flow.🔗 Connect with the guestLouisa Plint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-plint/Learn more about AuxPay: https://www.rectools.io/product/auxpay-by-auxeris/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #CashFlow #RecruitmentTechnology #FinTech #RecTech #AuxPay #RecruitmentFounder

Welcome back to The Mixed Grill, a RecTalk podcast and the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club, hosted by Nitin Sharma and Bobby Banerjee. This week, an honest, entertaining, and occasionally fiery conversation about one question that's divided plenty of people recently...When does networking become selling?Following a number of "sales chat" debates inside the Recruitment Curry Club community, Nitin and Bobby unpack where they believe the line should be drawn, why protecting community culture matters, and whether intent is more important than outcome.Along the way they discuss:Why community-led spaces need clear boundaries.The difference between promotion, networking and outright selling.Whether free events can still count as sales.Why consistency matters when enforcing community rules.The importance of accountability—and how people respond when challenged.A live phone call to resolve one of the community's latest "sales chat" debates.Why making your own opportunities beats waiting for permission.The value of showing up in the right rooms and building genuine relationships.How founders often become the biggest obstacle to their own growth.Why limiting beliefs stop more careers than lack of opportunity ever will.As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few tangents, real-life interruptions, honest opinions and practical takeaways from two people passionate about making recruitment communities better.Who this episode is forRecruiters who want to build authentic relationships.Recruitment business owners growing their network.Recruitment suppliers navigating community engagement.Anyone wondering where the line sits between adding value and self-promotion.Founders looking for practical advice on creating opportunities instead of waiting for them.Whether you agree with every opinion or not, this episode is a reminder that great communities don't happen by accident—they're built through trust, consistency and shared values.🔗 Connect with the hostsBobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursdays.Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentCurryClub #TheMixedGrill #RecTalk #RecruitmentLeadership #Community #Networking #BusinessDevelopment #RecruitmentPodcast #FounderJourney #Sales #Marketing #RecruitmentLife

Welcome back to another episode of RecTalk, the world's largest recruitment industry podcast.This week, Nitin Sharma is joined by James Whitelock, founder of ThinkinCircles, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing recruitment businesses today: standing out in an increasingly crowded market.James joins the podcast to introduce his latest ebook and explains why most recruitment agencies, RecTech companies and talent businesses don't actually need more marketing—they need greater belief in what they stand for.Together they explore why so many businesses end up saying exactly the same things, why visibility alone doesn't build authority, and how the most memorable brands become known for owning a conversation instead of simply participating in one.The conversation covers:Why "visibility" doesn't automatically create authorityThe difference between marketing and market leadershipHow recruitment businesses become memorable rather than comparableWhy having an opinion matters more than playing it safeBuilding authority without a huge marketing budgetThe dangers of becoming a commodity and competing only on priceWhy businesses should focus on the problems they solve—not just the services they sellExamples of recruitment and technology companies that have successfully owned their nicheHow founders can translate their passion into authentic marketingWhether you're running a recruitment agency, building a RecTech platform, leading a marketing function or scaling a talent business, this episode is packed with practical advice on creating a brand that people remember.Who this episode is forRecruitment agency ownersRecTech foundersRecruitment marketersTalent acquisition leadersBusiness owners looking to build authority in their marketAnyone responsible for growing a recruitment brand🔗 Connect with the guestJames Whitelock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswhitelock/Learn more about ThinkinCirlces: https://www.rectools.io/product/thinkincircles/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentMarketing #EmployerBrand #RecruitmentAgency #RecTech #MarketingStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #BrandBuilding #BusinessGrowth #TalentAcquisition #JamesWhitelock #ThinkinCircles

Future-proofing Talent Acquisition isn't about replacing recruiters—it's about redefining their value.In this episode of Talking Talent, host Sean Kennedy (aka. Sean The TA Guy) sits down with Oscar Machado, Talent Acquisition Lead for EMEA & APJ at Similarweb, to explore how recruitment has transformed over the last two decades—and where it's heading next.Drawing on experience across agency recruitment, RPO, embedded recruitment and in-house Talent Acquisition leadership, Oscar shares a refreshingly honest perspective on the future of hiring, AI's growing influence, and why recruiters must become strategic business partners rather than operational order-takers.Together, Sean and Oscar discuss:Oscar's journey from organisational psychology into Talent Acquisition.The differences between agency, RPO and in-house recruitment—and why each develops different skills.Why strategic Talent Acquisition has a measurable impact on business growth.How AI is changing candidate behaviour, CVs and recruitment workflows.Why AI literacy will soon become an essential skill for every recruiter.The opportunities—and risks—AI creates for future Talent Acquisition careers.How recruiters can future-proof themselves as automation accelerates.Why storytelling and demonstrating business impact matter more than traditional recruitment metrics.The continued value of RPOs in scaling businesses.Why cover letters may finally become obsolete.Oscar's thoughts on candidate feedback, hiring decisions and moving on from rejection.The skills tomorrow's Talent Acquisition professionals will need to stay relevant.Oscar also shares his concerns about the shrinking number of entry-level recruitment roles as automation removes administrative tasks—and what that could mean for the next generation of Talent Acquisition professionals.If you're wondering what recruitment will look like over the next five years, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas.🔗 Connect with the guestOscar Machado: https://www.linkedin.com/in/machadooscar/Learn more about Similarweb: https://www.similarweb.com/🔗 Connect with the hostSean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#TalkingTalent #RecTalk #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #Recruiting #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Hiring #HR #Leadership #EmployerBranding #TalentStrategy #RecruitmentTechnology #PeopleOps #FutureOfRecruitment

Settlement agreements, restrictive covenants, employment disputes, shareholder disagreements and AI in legal disputes… if you run a recruitment agency, this episode is packed with practical advice from one of the recruitment industry's leading legal specialists.In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down once again with Barry Cullen, founder of recLAW, to break down the legal issues every recruitment business owner is likely to face at some point.Barry shares real examples from recruitment businesses and explains why the biggest legal mistakes usually start with emotional decisions rather than commercial ones.Whether you're managing consultant exits, protecting client relationships, dealing with restrictive covenants or simply trying to avoid expensive litigation, this episode will help you understand how to approach disputes commercially.Together they explore:Why settlement agreements protect both the business and the individualThe biggest mistakes recruitment business owners make during disputesWhy emotional decisions often lead to costly legal battlesWhen it makes commercial sense to settle rather than fightEmployer and employee obligations during negotiated exitsShareholder disputes and agency breakupsFee disputes and preserving valuable client relationshipsHow non-disparagement clauses actually workWhy communication beats email during difficult conversationsRestrictive covenants — are they really "not worth the paper they're written on"?Real examples of recruiters being taken to court for breaching restrictionsThe commercial reality of litigation versus settlementHow AI is changing legal disputes—and why blindly trusting it can be dangerousBarry also explains why the best commercial outcome isn't always about "winning", but about protecting time, relationships, reputation and your business.If you've ever had a consultant resign, argued over recruitment fees, fallen out with a business partner, or simply wondered how employment disputes are really handled in recruitment, this episode is packed with practical advice.Who this episode is for:Recruitment agency foundersRecruitment directorsManaging consultantsHR leaders within recruitment businessesBusiness partners and shareholdersAnyone responsible for employment law or commercial disputes in recruitment🔗 Connect with the guestBarry Cullen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/Learn more about recLAW: https://www.rectools.io/product/reclaw/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #RecruitmentAgency #EmploymentLaw #SettlementAgreement #RestrictiveCovenants #RecruitmentBusiness #AgencyOwner #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeadership #LegalAdvice #RecruitmentFounder #RecTalk #BarryCullen #recLAW #AI #ChatGPT #BusinessGrowth

What does it take to completely redefine an industry?In this special episode of The Mixed Grill, the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club, host Bobby Banerjee sits down with one of Britain's most influential chefs and restaurateurs, Vivek Singh, to celebrate 25 years since opening the iconic Cinnamon Club.While this isn't a recruitment episode in the traditional sense, the lessons couldn't be more relevant. Vivek shares the mindset behind challenging convention, scaling a premium hospitality brand from a single restaurant to six successful venues, and why building communities—not just businesses—is the real key to long-term success.The conversation explores how audacity, ambition and a willingness to ignore industry stereotypes helped transform perceptions of modern Indian cuisine, while drawing striking parallels with the recruitment industry itself.Vivek also opens up about leadership, creating cultures where people want to stay, the importance of supporting employee mental health, and why investing in your team always delivers the greatest return.Whether you're growing a recruitment business, leading a team, or simply fascinated by entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from someone who has successfully navigated one of the UK's toughest industries for over two decades.In this episode, you'll discover:How Vivek challenged the traditional perception of Indian restaurants and built a premium hospitality brand.Why questioning industry norms is often the catalyst for innovation.Lessons learned from scaling six restaurants over 25 years.The parallels between hospitality and recruitment when it comes to changing public perception.Why strong communities create stronger businesses.How culture, retention and employee wellbeing contribute to long-term commercial success.Why supporting people through difficult periods builds exceptional loyalty and performance.The leadership principles that have helped The Cinnamon Collection thrive in a notoriously challenging industry.Who this episode is forRecruitment business owners and leadersEntrepreneurs and foundersHospitality professionalsTeam leaders and hiring managersAnyone interested in culture, leadership and business growthProfessionals looking to build high-performing, people-first organisations🔗 Connect with the guestVivek Singh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-singh-02188629/Learn more about The Cinnamon Collection:https://www.cinnamon-kitchen.com/the-cinnamon-collection/🔗 Connect with the hostBobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#TheMixedGrill #RecruitmentCurryClub #VivekSingh #BobbyBanerjee #Leadership #Hospitality #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #MentalHealthAtWork #Recruitment #RestaurantIndustry #Innovation #CommunityBuilding

What happens when Google stops being the place your clients search?In this eye-opening episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Nicole Clarke from Shazamme to discuss one of the biggest shifts the recruitment industry has ever faced: the move from traditional SEO to AI-powered search.As platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and other Large Language Models become the first place buyers look for answers, recruitment agencies need to rethink everything they know about websites, branding and online visibility.Nicole explains why simply having a beautiful website is no longer enough, why trust signals such as Google Reviews and case studies are becoming more valuable than ever, and how agencies can position themselves to become "the answer" that AI recommends.The conversation covers:Why AI search is fundamentally changing recruitment marketingWhy agencies need to optimise for Large Language Models (LLMs), not just GoogleThe importance of structured content, FAQs and location-specific landing pagesHow specialist recruiters can outperform much larger competitorsWhy branding is becoming about trust and expertise rather than logos and coloursThe role of reviews, testimonials and case studies in AI visibilityThe opportunities recruitment businesses have over the next 12–18 monthsHow agency owners should rethink growth, positioning and even exit strategies in an AI-first worldNicole also shares practical advice on adapting quickly, embracing change and ensuring your recruitment business remains visible as AI transforms how buying decisions are made.Whether you're a recruitment agency owner, marketer, recruiter or supplier, this episode is packed with actionable insights that could fundamentally change how you think about your website and your future.🔗 Connect with the guestNicole Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleclarke/Learn more about Shazamme: https://www.rectools.io/product/shazamme/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #RecruitmentMarketing #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #SEO #LLM #RecruitmentTechnology #EmployerBranding #DigitalMarketing #AgencyGrowth #RecruitmentAgency #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork #RecTalk

AI has changed recruitment forever.Candidates are applying to hundreds of jobs in minutes, CVs increasingly look identical, and employers are struggling to identify genuine talent amongst the noise.Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy sit down with talent and employer branding experts to discuss AI-driven hiring, skills-based assessments, employer branding and what organisations must do differently to attract and identify top talent.Featuring:🎙️ Nick Leslie (Canditech)🎙️ Paul Vidler (Employer Brand & Talent Attraction)Topics discussed include:✅ Why traditional CV screening is becoming less effective✅ The rise of skills-based hiring and job simulations✅ How AI is changing candidate applications forever✅ Why employers should stop worrying about AI and start measuring AI fluency✅ The future of candidate assessments and recruitment technology✅ Employer branding versus corporate messaging✅ How companies can attract better talent through authentic employee stories✅ Why recruitment became "lazy" during the hiring boomOne of the strongest themes throughout this episode is that employers need better ways to identify capability, while candidates need better ways to stand out. The old hiring playbook is changing rapidly, and organisations that adapt fastest will have a significant advantage.🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma🎙️ Co-Hosted by Sean Kennedy📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterIf you're a recruiter, talent acquisition leader, HR professional or hiring manager, this episode is packed with practical insights into the future of hiring, AI and employer branding.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, HR professionals and industry experts.#Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #AIRecruitment #EmployerBranding #Hiring #HR #RecruitmentTechnology #FutureOfWork #SkillsBasedHiring #CandidateExperience #IHRManchester #RecTalk #HRTech #ArtificialIntelligence #RecruitmentPodcast

Thinking about hiring recruiters or support staff offshore?Success isn't about finding the cheapest option. It's about building the right team.In this episode, Nitin Sharma sits down with Ross Thompson, Founder of Infinity Staff Global, to discuss why more UK recruitment businesses are turning to South African talent, the biggest mistakes agency owners make, and how to build high-performing remote teams that actually last.Having worked together for several years, Nitin also shares his own experiences of building remote teams and the lessons he's learned along the way.Topics covered:✅ Why recruitment agencies are struggling to hire in the UK✅ The biggest myths about offshore recruitment✅ Why "cheap labour" is the wrong mindset✅ Building successful remote recruitment teams✅ The importance of culture, onboarding and management✅ Why transparency on pricing builds trust✅ How South African recruiters compare with UK talent✅ Common mistakes that cause offshore hires to fail✅ AI, recruitment and the future of global hiringOne of the biggest takeaways?"Price is only an issue in the absence of value."If you're considering offshore recruitment, this conversation will help you avoid expensive mistakes and understand what it really takes to make remote hiring work.🎙️ Guest: Ross Thompson, Founder of Infinity Staff Globalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

Recruitment doesn't sit still, and neither do we. This month's news roundup covers the trends, laws, and numbers every recruitment leader needs on their radar right now — from candidate ghosting to a game-changing shift in how executive search firms are using AI.Jeremy Snell (Your People Engine) breaks down the three candidate experience trends on the rise: ghosting, offer rejections, and "career catfishing." Andrian Marlowe (Lawspeed) unpacks the real cost of UK employment right now and the government consultation on zero hours contracts that could hand your temp candidates straight to your clients — without a transfer fee. Then we look at why AI-integrated search firms are growing 54% faster than the rest, the new EU pay transparency rules that just changed how your consultants can talk about salary, and the LinkedIn stats proving thought leadership beats traditional marketing every time.Featuring:🎙️ Jeremy Snell (Your People Engine)🎙️ Andiran Marlowe (Lawspeed / Association of Recruitment Consultancies)🎙️ Tayla (Thinking Circles)🎙️ Ross Thompson (Infinity Staff Global)🎙️ Robert Woodford (The Marketing Junction)🎙️ Akshad (Recruiterflow)Topics discussed include:✅ Why 64% of candidates say they've been ghosted post-interview✅ Job offer rejections almost doubling in two years✅ "Career catfishing" and why it's rising fast under-30s✅ The real cost of employing someone in the UK in 2026✅ The zero hours contract consultation and what it means for temp-to-perm✅ Why AI-integrated search firms are outgrowing everyone else✅ Agentic orchestration: what it actually means for your workflow✅ The EU Pay Transparency Directive — what's banned, what's now mandatory✅ Why LinkedIn thought leadership is outperforming product marketingOne thing's clear across every story this month: the businesses paying attention to what's changing — legally, technologically, and culturally — are the ones staying ahead. The rest are just absorbing the cost.🎤 Hosted by Nitin SharmaIf you're a recruiter, business owner, or talent leader trying to keep up with where the industry's actually heading, this one's for you.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, HR professionals and industry experts.#Recruitment #RecruitmentNews #AIRecruitment #EmploymentLaw #EUPayTransparency #ZeroHoursContracts #ExecutiveSearch #RecruitmentMarketing #HR #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #FutureOfWork

Can AI make better hiring decisions than recruiters?Dave Jenkins, founder of Wave, doesn't think so.In this episode, Nitin Sharma visits Wave HQ to explore how recruitment technology is evolving, why candidate attraction matters more than simply posting jobs, and where AI should — and shouldn't — be trusted in the hiring process. Rather than replacing recruiters, Dave explains why technology should help recruiters work faster without taking away the human judgement that makes great hiring possible.✅ Why Wave evolved from a traditional multiposter into a candidate attraction platform✅ How AI can speed up recruitment without replacing recruiter expertise✅ Why recruiters should never let AI make hiring decisions for them✅ The hidden cost of searching job boards before your own CRM✅ Candidate attraction vs job advertising explained✅ Why recruitment businesses should focus on their niche, not just Boolean searches✅ Building technology that supports recruiters instead of replacing them✅ The future roadmap for Wave and the mission to ensure "talent is never missed"Dave also shares his thoughts on market conditions, surviving difficult recruitment markets, and why business owners should stay focused on what they can control."Focus on the things that you can actually influence… and work bloody hard." 🎙️ Guest: Dave Jenkins, Founder of Wavehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davefromwave/🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/📍 Recorded at Wave HQWhether you're an agency recruiter, talent acquisition leader or recruitment business owner, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on AI, recruitment technology and why human expertise still wins.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders and technology innovators shaping the future of hiring.🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/#Recruitment #AI #RecruitmentTechnology #Hiring #Recruiters #Wave #CandidateAttraction #HRTech #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #Staffing #FutureOfWork

DEI. Diversity. Inclusion. Neurodiversity. Workplace culture.Few topics create more debate in business right now.Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Sean Kennedy and Nitin Sharma sit down with Michael Platt and Parul Singh for an honest, balanced conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, why so many organisations struggle to get buy-in, and whether businesses are approaching DEI in the right way.This isn't a corporate tick-box discussion.It's a real conversation exploring the challenges, misconceptions and opportunities surrounding inclusion in modern organisations.Topics include:✅ Why DEI often receives resistance from employees and leaders✅ The commercial case for diversity and inclusion✅ Neurodiversity in recruitment and the workplace✅ Why data matters more than good intentions✅ The role HR should (and shouldn't) play in driving inclusion✅ Employee resource groups, workplace culture and leadership accountability✅ The difference between performative initiatives and meaningful change✅ Why inclusion should benefit everyone, not just specific groupsOne of the most thought-provoking discussions from IHR Manchester, this episode challenges assumptions from every angle while exploring what true inclusion looks like in practice.🎙️ Guests:Michael PlattParul Singh🎤 Hosts:Nitin SharmaSean Kennedy📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterSubscribe for weekly conversations with recruiters, talent acquisition leaders, HR professionals, founders and industry experts.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday and Friday#DEI #DiversityAndInclusion #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #HR #Neurodiversity #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Recruiting #HRPodcast #RecTalk #IHRManchester #Inclusion #EqualityAtWork

Book your place on Lawspeed’s seminar on 7th July regarding the consultation on zero/guaranteed hours contracts:https://www.lawspeed.com/consultation-on-guaranteed-hours-contracts-seminar/What could be the most significant change to hit the recruitment industry since the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR)?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Adrian Marlowe and Theresa Mimnagh from Lawspeed to unpack the Government's proposed Guaranteed Hours consultation and why recruiters, staffing firms, employers, and contractors should be paying close attention.The discussion explores the proposed requirement for hirers to offer agency workers direct contracts after a reference period currently suggested at 12 weeks, and the potentially far-reaching consequences this could have on temporary staffing, contract recruitment, workforce flexibility, and business growth.Adrian and Theresa share their concerns around:Why this could be the biggest recruitment industry shake-up since AWRThe Government's rationale behind guaranteed hours legislationWhether agency workers are genuinely being protected or whether flexibility is being underminedThe impact on temporary staffing, contract recruitment, and contingent workforce modelsHow recruitment agencies may need to rethink their commercial models and pricing structuresThe potential knock-on effects for clients, contractors, SMEs, and large employersRisks around transfer fees, compliance costs, and employment tribunal claimsWhy many agencies fear this could reduce hiring, increase costs, and hinder growthThe unintended consequences that policymakers may not have fully consideredHow recruitment businesses can influence the consultation before legislation is finalisedThe role of ARC (Association of Recruitment Consultancies) and Lawspeed in helping the industry navigate these changesThis is an essential listen for anyone involved in recruitment, staffing, workforce planning, HR, temporary labour, contractor management, or employment law.Who This Episode Is ForRecruitment agency ownersStaffing and workforce solution providersTemporary recruitment specialistsContract recruitment businessesHR leaders and hiring managersRecruitment consultants and directorsCompliance professionalsEmployment law specialistsWorkforce planning teamsBusiness owners reliant on temporary labour🔗 Connect with the guestsAdrian Marlowe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianmarlowe/Theresa Mimnagh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresamimnagh/Learn more about Lawspeed: https://www.rectools.io/product/lawspeed/Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC): https://www.arc-org.net/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Recruitment #StaffingIndustry #RecruitmentAgency #TemporaryRecruitment #ContractRecruitment #EmploymentLaw #Lawspeed #ARC #AgencyWorkers #AWR #GuaranteedHours #RecruitmentCompliance #WorkforcePlanning #RecruitmentLeadership #Hiring #Contractors #UKRecruitment #FutureOfWork #NitinSharma

Recorded live from the IHR Live Lounge in Manchester, this special edition of RecTalk sees Nitin Sharma joined by co-host Sean Kennedy from Talking Talent, alongside Peter O'Rourke from Handshake, one of the fastest-growing early talent platforms helping employers connect with students and graduates at scale.In this episode, Peter explains why Handshake is much more than a job board. With over one million students on the platform, Handshake focuses on precision hiring, helping employers build meaningful relationships with future talent long before graduation. The conversation explores how employers can reduce application overload, improve candidate quality, create stronger graduate pipelines, and build employer brands that resonate with the next generation of workers.Nitin and Sean challenge Peter on some of the biggest questions facing early talent recruitment today, including:Why graduate recruitment is broken for many employersThe problem of receiving thousands of applications but making very few hiresHow students can stand out without traditional work experienceThe role of skills, extracurricular activities and personal interests in hiring decisionsDiversity, inclusion and underrepresented talent pipelinesThe future of university education and graduate employmentHow AI, automation and global remote work are reshaping early careersWhy businesses should invest in graduates beyond salary savingsBuilding long-term talent strategies through employer branding and relationship buildingThe episode also features a follow-up discussion with three University of Liverpool students who actively use Handshake:Noor – Fifth-year Medical StudentMary – Second-year English StudentYusuf – Second-year Computer Science StudentTogether they provide a candid view of what it's really like entering today's job market. They discuss the challenges students face when searching for opportunities, the frustrations of generic hiring processes, the importance of networking, personalisation in recruitment, and why resilience remains one of the most important skills for job seekers.Some standout takeaways include:Why students feel like "just another application" in many hiring processesThe value of meaningful employer interaction before applyingHow personalised recruitment experiences create better outcomesWhy quality applications outperform quantity applicationsThe importance of consistency, resilience and relationship buildingHow employers can better engage Generation Z talentPractical advice for students navigating an increasingly competitive jobs marketWhether you're an employer hiring graduates, an early careers professional, a recruiter looking to improve candidate engagement, or a student preparing to enter the workforce, this episode offers valuable insight into the future of talent acquisition from both sides of the hiring equation.🔗 Connect with the guestPeter O’Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-orourke/Learn more about Handshake: https://joinhandshake.co.uk/🔗 Connect with the hostsNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Handshake #GraduateRecruitment #EarlyCareers #TalentAcquisition #EmployerBranding #StudentRecruitment #FutureOfWork #HiringStrategy #RecruitmentTechnology #IHRLive #UniversityRecruitment #HRTech #GraduateHiring #RecruitmentPodcast #NitinSharma #SeanKennedy #PeterORourke

Is Talent Acquisition facing its biggest challenge yet?Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy sit down with talent acquisition leader Akbar Karenga for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of hiring, the state of recruitment, skills-based hiring, DE&I, neurodiversity, candidate experience and why the industry may have become too reliant on shortcuts.While everyone else is talking about AI, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually matter:✅ Why recruitment "got lazy" after the post-Covid hiring boom✅ The growing importance of skills-based hiring✅ Why junior talent is disappearing from the market✅ How Talent Acquisition professionals can future-proof their careers✅ Neurodiversity, inclusion and designing better hiring processes✅ Why recruiters aren't going anywhere despite constant predictions of doom✅ The biggest trends shaping hiring over the next 12 monthsAkbar shares lessons from multiple economic downturns, challenges some of the industry's biggest assumptions, and explains why the best recruiters will continue to thrive regardless of technology or market conditions.🎙️ Guest: Akbar Karenga📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterSubscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, talent acquisition professionals and industry experts.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday and Friday#Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #HR #Recruiting #DEI #Neurodiversity #FutureOfWork #IHRManchester #RecTalkPodcast #TalentManagement #EmployerBranding #RecruitmentPodcast #HiringTrends #HRTech

Is AI transforming recruitment for the better, or are agencies getting distracted by the hype?In this week's episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma is joined by Poonam Mawani from Azuki Accounts and AI consultant Dylan Humphreys from First Frontier AI for an honest, practical discussion about how recruitment businesses should be approaching AI today.Rather than focusing on shiny new tools and buzzwords, this episode dives into the real challenges recruitment agencies face every day—from CV overload and candidate engagement to business development, data quality, operational efficiency and the future of retained search.Poonam puts Dylan in the hot seat with a series of real-world recruitment challenges gathered from agency leaders, founders and operators across the industry. Together, they explore where AI can genuinely add value, where human expertise remains essential, and why many agencies are still solving the wrong problems.Key topics covered:• Why AI should be treated as an assistant, not a replacement for expertise• The importance of keeping humans "in the loop"• How poor prompting creates poor AI outcomes• Using AI to tackle CV overload and candidate screening• The ethics of AI-driven candidate data management• Why most recruitment businesses have a data problem, not an AI problem• How AI can improve business development through market intelligence and insights• The shift from contingent recruitment towards retained and consultancy-led models• Automation opportunities in recruitment operations, finance and back-office functions• The future of candidate engagement, outreach and relationship building• Why recruitment agencies should think of themselves as data businesses• Whether AI is a genuine revolution or simply another technology bubbleOne of the standout themes throughout the conversation is that agencies shouldn't start with AI tools—they should start with business problems. Dylan explains why successful AI adoption begins by identifying operational pain points and then determining whether AI, automation or process improvement is the right solution.Poonam also shares practical examples from finance and recruitment operations, highlighting how automation can eliminate repetitive tasks, improve reporting and free up consultants to focus on higher-value work.Who this episode is for:• Recruitment agency founders• Recruitment consultants and team leaders• Talent acquisition professionals• Recruitment operations specialists• Finance and back-office leaders in staffing businesses• Anyone exploring AI, automation and the future of recruitment🔗 Connect with the guestsDylan Humphreys: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanjhumphreys/First Frontier AI: https://firstfrontier.ai/Poonam Mawani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poonammawaniazuki/Azuki Accounts: https://www.rectools.io/product/azuki-accounts/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #AI #RecruitmentTechnology #StaffingIndustry #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentLeadership #Automation #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentOperations #RetainedSearch #BusinessDevelopment #DataDrivenRecruitment #RecTalk #RecTools #FirstFrontierAI #Azuki

USE CODE RECTALK30RF at check out for 30% off!RecFest 2026 is nearly here, and we sat down to discuss what attendees can expect from the UK's biggest talent acquisition festival. From AI and automation to employer branding, hiring trends, networking opportunities, and the famous RecFest after-parties, we cover it all.Join RecTalk's Nitin Sharma and Talking Talent host Sean "The TA Guy" Kennedy as they give their unfiltered take on:🎪 What RecFest 2026 is really all about🤖 The "Human Advantage" theme and whether AI has gone too far📉 Why graduate hiring is falling and what it means for employers💼 The reality facing job seekers and green lanyard attendees🎤 The sessions we'd attend (and the ones we'd probably skip!)🎁 RecFest merch, exhibitors and supplier stands🍻 Networking, social selling and building genuine relationships🎙️ The huge guest lineup joining us live at RecFestWe'll also reveal some of the industry names expected to join us at the RecTalk podcast booth, including conversations with some of the biggest voices in recruitment, talent acquisition and HR tech.If you're attending RecFest this year, come and say hello.👇 Let us know in the comments:What's the one session, speaker or supplier you're most looking forward to seeing?#RecFest2026 #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #HRTech #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #ArtificialIntelligence #EmployerBranding #Hiring #Recruiters #HumanAdvantage #TalentStrategy #FutureOfWork #RecruitmentTechnology #SeanTheTAGuy #HungLee #ChadAndCheese #RecruitmentEvents

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down once again with Matt Fox, Founder of Exitus Advisory, to discuss one of the hottest topics in recruitment right now: selling recruitment businesses.Matt shares what he's seeing across the SME recruitment market, why more founders are considering an exit, and why buyer appetite remains surprisingly strong despite ongoing economic uncertainty. The conversation explores business valuations, buy-and-build strategies, deal structures, common misconceptions about selling a recruitment business, and what founders can do to maximise value before heading to market.The pair also discuss founder burnout, market volatility, the challenges recruitment leaders have faced over the last decade, and why many business owners are reassessing what success really looks like. Rather than chasing ever-increasing valuation targets, many founders are focusing on lifestyle, financial security, and reducing stress.Matt provides practical insight into:Why now may still be a good time to sell a recruitment businessThe current appetite from buyers in the recruitment marketHow buy-and-build groups evaluate acquisition opportunitiesWhat makes a recruitment business attractive to buyersCommon mistakes founders make when preparing for saleHow debt, liabilities, compliance issues, and operational challenges impact dealsThe importance of transparency during due diligenceReal-world examples of recent recruitment business transactionsThe role of specialist recruitment M&A advisors versus general business brokersHow recruitment business owners can prepare for a future exit strategyWhether you're actively considering an exit, exploring growth through acquisition, or simply curious about how recruitment M&A works, this episode is packed with practical advice and valuable market insight.🔗 Connect with the guestMatt Fox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-fox-50b10311/Learn more about Exitus Advisory: https://www.rectools.io/product/exitus-advisory/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries) drop regularly on Wednesday and Friday.Also look out for new episodes of Talking Talent and The Mixed Grill (the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club).https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #RecruitmentFounder #RecruitmentLeadership #BusinessSale #BusinessExit #RecruitmentMAndA #ExitStrategy #BuyAndBuild #RecruitmentIndustry #StaffingIndustry #MattFox #ExitusAdvisory #NitinSharma #Rectools

What does it feel like to hear voices every day?Recorded live at IHR Live Manchester, Sean Kennedy and Nitin Sharma sit down with talent acquisition leader Jed Shaw for one of the most honest conversations we've ever had on the podcast. Jed shares his experience living with psychosis, including auditory hallucinations, a mental health crisis that led to hospitalisation, and how he rebuilt his life and career afterwards. Despite hearing multiple voices every day, Jed has gone on to become a respected leader, speaker and advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. This episode also explores:✅ Living with psychosis and auditory hallucinations✅ Neurodiversity in the workplace✅ Mental health recovery and resilience✅ How employers can better support neurodivergent employees✅ Why sharing your story matters✅ Automation vs AI in talent acquisition✅ Building a successful career despite adversityJed's story is a powerful reminder that people are capable of far more than a diagnosis, and that understanding creates opportunities for everyone. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, please remember that support is available and reaching out is a sign of strength.#MentalHealth #Psychosis #Neurodiversity #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #WorkplaceWellbeing #IHRLive #RecTalk #TalkingTalent

For years, recruiters have focused on email deliverability—getting SPF, DKIM, DMARC, domain reputation, and technical compliance right. But what happens when your emails are landing in the inbox and you're still not getting replies?In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Ben Fielding, founder of Quinset and one of the recruitment industry's leading experts on email deliverability and outreach strategy, to explore the next evolution of business development in recruitment.Together they unpack why many traditional recruitment outreach tactics no longer work, why recruiters are struggling to generate engagement despite having the right technology in place, and how the modern market demands a completely different approach to building relationships with clients.Ben explains why deliverability is only one layer of the challenge. Once your email reaches the inbox, your messaging, positioning, relevance, credibility, and understanding of the prospect's world become the deciding factors in whether somebody responds.The conversation dives deep into:Why mass spec CV campaigns are becoming less effectiveThe shift from transactional outreach to relationship-led business developmentHow recruiters can become memorable and stay front-of-mind when hiring needs eventually ariseThe psychology behind prospect engagement and "critical filters"Why most recruitment marketing makes the recruiter the hero instead of the clientStorytelling techniques that increase response ratesHyper-personalisation versus mass outreachThe importance of demonstrating outcomes rather than simply selling recruitment servicesWhy engagement rates now directly impact email performance and domain reputationThe mistakes recruiters make when trying to scale outreach through volume aloneHow branding, trust signals and familiarity influence open rates and responsesPractical ways to improve candidate and client engagement without sending more emailsOne of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that recruiters need to stop focusing solely on getting emails delivered and start focusing on giving recipients a compelling reason to respond.If you've ever wondered why your outreach isn't generating conversations despite having the right tech stack, this episode is packed with practical insights you can implement immediately.🔗 Connect with the guestBen Fielding: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfielding/Learn more about Quinset: https://www.rectools.io/product/quinset-powermail/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries) drop regularly on Wednesday and Friday.Also look out for new episodes of Talking Talent and The Mixed Grill (the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club).https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Watch or listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#Recruitment #RecruitmentAgency #BusinessDevelopment #ColdOutreach #EmailMarketing #EmailDeliverability #RecruitmentSales #RecruitmentMarketing #ExecutiveSearch #TalentAcquisition #StaffingIndustry #RecruiterLife #RecTech #SalesPsychology #B2BSales #RecTalk #Rectools #Quinset #BenFielding #NitinSharma

Look out for RecTalk podcast at RecFest in Knebworth, 2 July 2026Use code RECTALK30RF for 30% off tickets: https://recfest.com/uk/tickets/?&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=tickets&utm_campaign=rectalkIn this special crossover episode of RecTalk, Talking Talent and Mixed Grill, Nitin Sharma is joined by two familiar faces from the recruitment community: Sean Kennedy and Bobby Banerjee.Filmed at the incredible Full Swing Europe HQ (https://fullswingsports.eu/), the trio dive into one of the biggest conversations happening in recruitment right now: the evolving relationship between agency recruiters and talent acquisition teams.From the realities of working in TA versus agency recruitment, to the future impact of AI on talent functions, this episode is packed with honest opinions, industry debate, plenty of laughs, and a few controversial takes along the way.The conversation also explores the upcoming RecFest, why events matter more than ever, how recruiters can build stronger relationships with TA leaders, and whether talent acquisition belongs inside HR at all.Expect discussions around:RecFest and why it's become one of recruitment's most anticipated eventsWhy agency recruiters and TA teams often misunderstand each otherSean's experience moving into a fractional Talent Acquisition roleThe biggest differences between agency recruitment and internal hiringStakeholder management, hiring managers and candidate experienceWhen businesses should use agencies (and when they shouldn't)The changing role of Talent Acquisition in a world increasingly influenced by AIJeremy Snell's prediction that TA has less than 18 months left in its current formWhether Talent Acquisition should sit within HR, RevOps, Sales or People OperationsWhy relationship-building beats transactional recruiting every timeCommunity, networking and the power of events like RecFest, TA hikes and industry meetupsRecruitment leadership, promotion mistakes and the challenges of building great teamsOne of the standout themes throughout the episode is empathy — understanding the challenges faced by clients, candidates, hiring managers and talent teams in order to become a more effective recruiter and business partner.Who This Episode Is For:Agency RecruitersTalent Acquisition ProfessionalsHeads of TalentRecruitment LeadersRecruitment Business OwnersHR ProfessionalsRecruitment Technology VendorsStaffing EntrepreneursAnyone interested in the future of hiring, recruitment and workforce planning🔗 Connect with the hostsBobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries) drop regularly on Wednesday and Friday.Also look out for new episodes of Talking Talent and The Mixed Grill (the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club).https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/#RecTalk #TalkingTalent #MixedGrill #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #RecFest #AgencyRecruitment #RecruitmentLeadership #Hiring #RecruitmentIndustry #HRTech #FutureOfWork #PeopleOps #EmployerBranding #RecruitmentMarketing #TalentStrategy #SeanKennedy #BobbyBanerjee #NitinSharma

Is remote work dying? Is AI making content better or worse? And what do candidates, employers and recruiters need to do to adapt?Recorded live at IHR Live Manchester, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy sit down with Michelle Coulson and Victoria Dawe to discuss some of the biggest workplace trends shaping recruitment, talent acquisition and employer branding today.From the growing push to bring employees back into the office to the rise of AI-generated content, this episode explores what happens when technology, culture and human behaviour collide.🎙️ In this episode:✅ Why companies are forcing staff back into the office✅ The truth about remote working and productivity✅ Why trust is at the heart of the return-to-office debate✅ How candidates can stay competitive in a shrinking remote job market✅ Whether AI is helping or hurting content creation✅ Why authenticity still matters in marketing and employer branding✅ How businesses can create content people actually connect with✅ What the future of work could look like over the next decadeFeaturing:🎤 Michelle Coulson – Remote hiring specialist🎤 Victoria Dawe – Content strategist and photojournalistWhether you're a recruiter, TA leader, founder, marketer or business owner, this conversation offers practical insights into the changing world of work and the skills that will matter most moving forward.🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, marketers and innovators.#futureofwork #aiinrecruitment #remotework #employerbranding #recruitment #talentacquisition #leadership #contentmarketing #hiring #RecTalk

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with recruitment sales trainer Jeremy Snell, founder of Your People Engine, for a thought-provoking discussion on one of recruitment's longest-running debates: sales versus marketing.Recorded on Jeremy's farm (with a few unexpected guest appearances from lambs Judy and Erica), this conversation explores what really drives buying decisions, how recruiters should approach business development in today's market, and why many agencies may be focusing on the wrong metrics altogether.Topics covered include:Do people buy from people they like, or from people who understand their problems?Why trust matters more than likability in recruitment sales.The difference between "wants" and "needs" when selling recruitment services.Why Jeremy believes sales is simply finding out what somebody wants and helping them get it.The evolution from B2B to Human-to-Human selling.Why data alone doesn't win business without emotional context.The growing importance of combining sales and marketing into a true revenue-generating function.Why recruitment marketing teams should have greater visibility of CRM data and customer conversations.The future of business development as cold outreach becomes more challenging.How recruiters can build attention, trust and familiarity across multiple channels.Why nurturing prospects remains critical even when immediate opportunities aren't available.Jeremy's predictions for recruitment over the next 6-12 months.The continued contraction of the recruitment market and what successful agencies will do differently.Why Jeremy believes Talent Acquisition will continue to evolve beyond traditional hiring functions.Nitin's view on the future relationship between Talent Acquisition, Revenue Operations and HR.One of the standout discussions focuses on the misconception that business development is "broken." Jeremy argues that people still answer the phone, still respond to outreach, and still buy—but only when businesses create enough trust and attention over time. The conversation dives into how modern recruiters should balance immediate revenue generation with longer-term relationship building to create sustainable growth.🔗 Connect with the guestJeremy Snell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitmentsalestraining/Learn more about Your People Engine: https://yourpeopleengine.com/🔗 Connect with the hostNitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/New episodes of RecTalk (including Founder Diaries and Talking Talent) drop regularly on Wednesday and Friday.Also look out for new episodes of The Mixed Grill — the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliersCoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/Your People Engine: https://yourpeopleengine.com/Recruiterflow: https://recruiterflow.short.gy/rectalk-recommendationsSourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/#Recruitment #RecruitmentSales #BusinessDevelopment #Marketing #SalesTraining #RecruitmentMarketing #RevOps #TalentAcquisition #YourPeopleEngine #JeremySnell #RecTalk #RecruitmentIndustry #Hiring #AgencyRecruitment #NitinSharma

What if one of the most recognised voices in talent acquisition is right?A few weeks before recording this episode, Jeremy Snell made a bold prediction: Talent Acquisition as we know it won't exist in 18 months.Live from IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy, co-host of Talking Talent and RecTalk contributor, to unpack one of the most controversial topics currently facing the recruitment and HR industry.Will AI replace Talent Acquisition teams? Is the traditional TA function becoming obsolete? Or are we simply witnessing the next evolution of the profession?Drawing on Sean's experience across agency recruitment, embedded hiring and talent acquisition leadership, the pair explore what the future could look like for TA professionals, how hiring teams are changing, and why the role may become far more strategic than many organisations currently allow.Topics discussed include:• Jeremy Snell's prediction that Talent Acquisition won't exist in 18 months• How AI is changing sourcing, assessment and recruitment workflows• Why Talent Acquisition must evolve beyond simply filling vacancies• The growing importance of employer branding and candidate experience• The differences between UK and North American hiring models• Why agencies are viewed differently in the US compared to the UK• The relationship between Talent Acquisition, HR and People Operations• Whether TA professionals should be worried about disruption• Why stakeholder management is often harder than recruitment itself• The future skills today's Talent Acquisition professionals need to developKey Takeaways:Sean argues that Talent Acquisition isn't disappearing — it's evolving. As AI automates more administrative and repetitive recruitment tasks, the value of TA professionals will increasingly come from stakeholder management, workforce planning, talent strategy, employer branding, candidate experience and business partnership. The job title may change, but the need for great talent professionals isn't going away anytime soon.Who This Episode Is For:• Talent Acquisition professionals• Internal recruiters• HR Business Partners• Heads of People• Recruitment leaders• Agency recruiters considering a move in-house• Recruitment technology providers• Anyone interested in the future of hiring and AIAbout Sean Kennedy:Sean Kennedy is the co-host of Talking Talent, a RecTalk podcast dedicated to exploring the realities of modern Talent Acquisition, recruitment leadership and the future of hiring. With experience spanning agency recruitment, embedded hiring and internal TA functions, Sean brings a practical and candid perspective to the industry's biggest challenges.What do you think?Will Talent Acquisition still exist in 18 months, or is the industry heading for its biggest transformation yet?Let us know your thoughts in the comments.#RecTalk #TalkingTalent #talentacquisition #recruitment #HRTech #futureofwork #Hiring #recruitmentindustry #PeopleOps #EmployerBranding #ArtificialIntelligence #HRLeadership #IHRManchester #TalentStrategy #RecruitmentTechnology