The Tech Savvy Recruiter

Most recruitment founders are still doing business development like it’s 2020 and it’s quietly killing their response rates.In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we sit down with Niklas Huetzen, Founder of Automindz Solutions, to unpack how AI is fundamentally reshaping recruitment business development.Niklas breaks down how signal-driven strategies powered by AI is helping recruiters identify high-intent opportunities before competitors even see them.From job listings and leadership changes to fundraising signals and automation workflows, you’ll learn how top-performing agencies are moving away from “spray and pray” outreach and building smarter and more targeted systems.We also dive into the practical side of AI adoption, including tools, automation stacks, data quality, and how recruitment founders can stay competitive without getting lost in the noise of new tech.If you want to future-proof your recruitment BD strategy, this episode will shift how you think about pipeline generation entirely.Questions: Many recruitment founders are still doing BD like it’s 2020. What specifically has changed that they haven’t caught up with yet? 2:15-2:22If I had to pick three for the audience of the biggest bang for your buck for return on investment. So for me to build something to monitor those signals, what three would you pick to start with? 6:04-6:13What's the one belief that you think that they have that's sort of limiting them in their BD growth. Now what's getting in the way of more uptake of these tools that should be beneficial? 22:15-22:24 You’ve probably seen people looking at too many things and they’re overcomplicating their setup. What are the key things you could give guidance for founders when they’re thinking about setting a system like this up? What shouldn't they do basically to be overcomplicating it. 27:11-27:23What about when it comes to structuring data? Is there anything worth talking about there? 30:18-30:23Where do you think we’re heading from here? 40:49-40:51Connect with Nikhttps://www.automindz-solutions.com/ Download The 2026 AI in Recruitment Playbook - https://automindz-solutions.com/ai-recruitment-playbook Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is changing business communication but are we using it to work smarter or just faster?In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda and Andrew sit down with Veronica Fernandez, Strategic Partner Manager from Aircall, to explore how AI is transforming recruitment, sales, and customer service.What you’ll learn:- How AI handles repetitive tasks so you can focus on meaningful conversations- Real-time coaching and data-driven insights to improve performance- Ways to reduce call reluctance and boost confidence in sales- Choosing the right AI use cases without losing the human touch- Streamlining workflows to free up time for high-impact workWhether it’s AI agents running first-round interviews or nudging you during calls, this episode shows how to amplify human skills, streamline your workflow, and build stronger relationships.Connect with Veronicalinkedin.com/in/veronicafernandez-wonderaircall.ioConnect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

Small businesses are under attack, and cyber threats are more real than ever. In this episode, Luke Irwin, fractional Chief Information Security Officer at Aegis Cybersecurity, breaks down the world of cybercrime - from email-based attacks and ransomware to social engineering and emerging AI risks. He shares practical steps for SMBs to boost cybersecurity, including frameworks like SMB1001, cybersecurity insurance, employee training, password management, and multi-factor authentication.Learn how to build cyber resilience, protect your business, and recover quickly when attacks happen. Whether you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode gives you actionable insights to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.Questions:Get an overview of the landscape. What's happening? What should we be thinking about? 2:53-2:56 In Australia, the SMB 1009 and in The States, North America. Does that help with your insurance premiums? 14:5-14:58With the SMB businesses, what are some of the typical breaches that you see? 16:49-16:57Last time we spoke you gave a really good agenda of 60% or 70% of what people could do to stay safe. Would you mind running through that? 27:26-27:37What percentage of Xero users do you reckon are actually backing up? 35:54-35:57If you're thinking about backing it up, are there any sort of preferred smarter methods? 36:32-36:37If you walked into a small to medium agency recruitment agency today, what would you say are the top three things you can do to bridge that gap? 44:57-45:06Connect with Lukelinkedin.com/in/luke-irwinE: [email protected]: https://aegiscyber.com.auConnect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/Check out CyberWardens at https://train.cyberwardens.com.au

AI is everywhere in recruitment, but are agencies actually using it well?In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda and Andrew sit down with Ez Khan, Founder of Hume Scope to explore why many founders feel behind, and how early, simple adoption can create a serious competitive advantage.From automating admin and improving productivity to enhancing candidate communication and building trust with clients, this conversation focuses on practical, real-world applications. The trio also discuss the difference between automation and AI, why prompt engineering matters more than most recruiters realise, and what the future holds for agency owners committed to staying relevant.Questions:What’s the biggest misconception small agency founders have about AI and recruitment tech right now? 1:43-1:50What are founders sharing with you as their biggest concerns around where we are headed with AI? And how can people like us support them? 3:28-3:45What are we seeing now as practical use cases for AI? 7:41-7:47What differences are you seeing between the founders that are doing well and those who are struggling? 28:59-29:11What skills as a recruiter do I need to keep learning and honing? 35:54-36:14If you were running a 2 or 3 person agency right now - what tools would be non negotiables in your stack? 41:52-42:03Notes: https://fal.ai/ Download the Prompt Engineering file here - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.07927Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMatehttps://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is everywhere in recruitment, but what is actually working right now and what is just hype?In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rodger sit down with Martin Herbst, CEO of JobAdder, to unpack the real impact of AI on recruiter productivity, candidate selection, and client relationships. With more than 20 years of experience scaling SaaS marketplaces, Martin shares how smart agencies are cutting admin by up to 50 percent, using AI inside their CRM workflows, and building stronger talent communities without losing the human connection.You will learn where recruiters are wasting time, how to avoid shiny tech distractions, and why the future of recruitment is not about replacing people but freeing them to focus on what matters most.Perfect for recruitment agency owners who want practical, no-nonsense insight into using AI to grow faster and recruit smarter.Questions:When you zoom out and look at the industry where it’s up to now as a whole, how would you describe the current state of play of AI adoption in recruitment? What are recruiters actually doing with AI today versus what’s still largely theoretical? 2:55-3:15If we're thinking about the practical gains with AI at the moment without kind of losing the human connection, but what should we be thinking about from a practical perspective right here, right now? What are you seeing across your customer base? What are people doing? What sort of habits are they engaging? How are they engaging with the way that you've got JobAdder moving through? 11:41-12:00We're starting to see things like fake CVs and these sorts of things. How big a problem are they going to be? Are there going to be things that counter them before they get too out of control? 14:54-15:03What about when it comes to data too? There's a profuse amount of data available now and it's relatively inexpensive to harness. Do you feel like there's an opportunity for people to be using that more so and better as well? 21:20-21:33You've mentioned Adder intelligence. I'd love to get a glimpse behind the scenes a little bit around how the team's approaching or how they approach designing it and the ongoing modifications and enhancements. And I guess what core principles that you use to ensure that it's useful, trustworthy, and it's got that genuine improvement on what we need it to do for our day to day, to move that human back into the human stuff as we were just talking around, rather than the admin things. 22:28-22:54What do you think the next couple of years, the crystal ball of six months is a long time at the moment, but the next couple of years will look like for recruiters. And what should we be gearing up for? 28:50-28:58What about on the client side? How many are going to be losing clients because they can just do it themselves with more tools? 30:05-30:12Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is reshaping recruitment faster than most agencies can keep up. In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Andrew and Belinda are joined by global HR influencer and recruiting tech expert Tim Sackett to cut through the noise and explain what is actually working right now.They dive into AI screening, interview technology, candidate experience, bias reduction, hiring data, and the growing risk of candidate fraud. Tim shares practical insights on how agencies and TA leaders can use AI to improve quality of hire, speed up processes, protect their systems, and create better experiences for candidates and hiring managers alike.If you want to understand where recruitment tech is heading, how to avoid costly mistakes, and where to invest your time and money next, this is a must-listen.Questions:As AI screening sits today, to your mind what’s working well, where are companies seeing the biggest impact and on the flip side where are we coming unstuck? 1:33-1:42When it comes to interview technology as it is today and where you see the biggest disruptors that are coming for us putting that lens on, how do you think agencies should be approaching what's happening in our market? Where should we be investing as professionals to make sure we're staying up and maybe getting ahead of the game as well? 8:03-8:22At what point do we put that human layer on it? For example, I've got a team and I've got eight blokes and I just want a bit of female energy and mix it up a little bit. But the AI is a kind of screening for not that. Do you feel like this process comes in at the end, or when do we start adding that in? 12:27-12:45This whole concept of candidate fraud and fake resumes and fake interviews. Where are we going with all of this? 14:59-15:26What are you recommending that people start to think about doing to both educate themselves and mitigate the risk? 18:16-18:23Just thinking if we fast forward, say 3 to 5 years, if we were to look at that window of time, what do you think the interviewing process might look like? 21:50-22:12When it comes to data, what do we need to be thinking about? What should we be measuring? What are your thoughts around the importance of it in the process? 33:14-33:21A lot of thought leaders like yourself are talking about the importance of being across that conversation, trying things out with little baby steps where you can, I guess on top of understanding the problem that you're trying to achieve and improve upon. But before you try any new tech, is there anything else you'd say about helping people look in the right direction or to make better tech decisions? 40:34-40:56Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr Recruitment GarageLinkedIn Andrew Rodger recMate Check out more from Tim on these platformsTimsackett.com HR Famous podcast

Recruitment is shifting faster than most Recruitment Founders can keep up and Dexter Cousins joins us from Tier One People to dig deeper on what that means for our future. With almost 30 years in FinTech recruitment, Dexter breaks down the real impact of AI as he sees it, the human skills that will never be replaced, and the brutal truths most recruiters don’t want to admit.We dig into client-centricity, personal brand power, where the market is heading, and how to use AI intelligently without losing your edge.Listen in if you want to stay relevant, build relationships that last, and understand what the future means for you.Questions:What are some of the fun ways you’ve been using tech and AI? 07:14-07:18How long do you think it is before a silver bullet appears for the recruitment space? 25:37-25:41What technologies are you keeping an eye on that may not be just right yet to allow you to spend a little bit more time in the field having coffees with the right people? 48:31-48:40Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerrRecruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodgerrecMate https://www.recmate.com.au/Check out more from Dexter on FinTech Chatter:https://tieronepeople.com/fintech-chatter-podcast/

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rodger chat with Adam Posner, founder of NHP Talent Group and host of The Pozcast, to explore how recruiters can harness AI as a tool, not a crutch. Adam dives into the future of recruitment, the gold rush of new tech, and how to balance automation with the human touch that truly connects candidates and clients.Learn how to use AI to scale smarter, build stronger relationships, and future-proof your agency.🎧 Tune in for practical takeaways, candid industry insights, and real talk on what’s next for recruiters who embrace tech the right way.Questions:You’ve got a foot in a few camps Adam and such a wide breadth of both commercial and life experience, what do you believe is going to be the next big challenge for recruitment founders? How is AI and Tech going to further its impact? 3:01 - 3:24How advanced is the implementation of Robot or AI recruiters in your part of the world Adam? 12:46 - 13:10What are your thoughts on OpenAI’s recent announcement of their jobs platform launch? 15:10 - 15:13Do you think these smaller founders running their own recruitment agencies will eventually get stomped on, or is there still a place for smaller tech? 20:14 - 20:29Adam to share a little bit about his podcast journey — what inspired him to start Pozcast, how he is growing it, and give any tips 25:30 - 25:55It is really clear Adam that you’re a natural connector, genuinely interested in the welfare of others and building an engaged community is important to you. How can founders follow your lead here as they attempt to build meaningful relationships with their wider audience? 33:44 - 34:36I know you are a cancer survivor Adam and I’d love to hear how you managed through that time with so much responsibility… a young family, work etc. And how you are feeling now. I see more often than I’d like stories about founders becoming unwell, so if somebody watching this is facing health issues what advice would you offer? 49:44 - 50:32Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodgerrecMate https://www.recmate.com.au/You can find Adam on the following platforms and shows:www.nhptalentgroup.com www.thePOZcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/c/ThePOZcastThe Purple Acorn HR Morning Show - https://open.spotify.com/show/7dFFBuqNWVNIIKPEsa3YC2?si=d97493b5277d4753

After nearly two years and 30+ expert interviews, hosts Andrew Rodger and Belinda Kerr sit down to unpack their biggest insights from The Tech Savvy Recruiter so far.From the rise of AI agents and automation tools transforming recruitment workflows, to candid chats about staying curious, avoiding overwhelm, and future-proofing your agency. This episode is your fast-track catch-up on the biggest shifts in tech, tools, and trends shaping the industry. Tune in for:Real-world takeaways from the show’s most inspiring guestsHow recruiters can use AI today (without the burnout)Why curiosity beats perfection in a fast-changing tech worldPerfect for: recruiters, staffing leaders, and tech-curious founders ready to turn innovation into a competitive edge.Introduction: Highlights on AI and TechKick off to some of their favorite episodes with Tech and Founders. What AR and BK gained most out of these series that they have been running (4:02-4:06)Talk about automation (5:00-7:42)Favorite guests and why (7:46-33:32)What tools do you think are sort of coming into common play now that went, say 12 months ago, what is it that people you’re finding are using and engaging a lot more? (33:41-33:50)Any parting words, comments, thoughts (38:46-38:49)Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is shaking up recruitment fast, and the biggest barrier isn’t the tech, it’s our mindset. In this episode, international recruitment director and AI consultant Kat Kingshott joins Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rogers to unpack how agency owners can ditch fear, embrace innovation, and build confidence in using AI tools.Kat shares how to navigate change, avoid “tech overwhelm,” and create a team culture that’s curious and adaptable. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or leading a growing team, you’ll learn practical ways to make AI your ally, not your enemy.Key topics:- Mindset shifts that make tech adoption easier- Overcoming recruiter fear and burnout- Building AI literacy in your team- Balancing human connection with automation- Real-world tips for using ChatGPT, Claude, and PerplexityPerfect for recruitment founders and leaders who want to future-proof their business without losing the human touch.Questions:When you talk about the mindset shift needed to adopt new tech, what will help founders make the leap to being more open and potentially less worried here? 2:04-2:14Do you think recruiters are starting to second guess their importance or relevance in the whole recruitment ecosystem right now? 4:51-4:59Do you have any other vibes how vendors could make it a little bit easier for us to make that change better? 11:15-11:21I know Kat you help recruitment businesses audit their tech stack. What are the key things you are looking for in doing this? 18:43-18:52Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodgerrecMatehttps://www.recmate.com.au/

Recruiters, tired of wasting hours scheduling interviews? In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we sit down with Brian Gabay, founder of Arrange, the scheduling tool built for recruiters, by a recruiter. Brian shares how frustration in his New York staffing agency pushed him to create a smarter way to coordinate interviews, cut out admin, and give recruiters their time back.From non-technical founder challenges to scaling a SaaS product, this episode is packed with insights for agency owners, staffing leaders, and talent pros who want to work smarter, not harder.Learn how to:- Eliminate interview scheduling headaches- Harness automation to save hours every week- Adopt tech without getting overwhelmedHit play now and see how automation can transform your recruitment business.Questions:Can you take us back to the moment when the frustration of booking meetings prompted you to build Arrange? And what was the specific pain point that triggered that? 1:54-2:04You launched Arrange earlier this year. A brave move in a crowded market with no dev experience. How did you sort of pull that all together from ideation of that? I guess friction point through to building a tech solution. I'd love to know more. 4:31-4:46What surprised you most about stepping into the tech founder role? 9:34-9:39Were there any surprises there for you that you thought, this is kind of a little bit different to what I might have expected. 15:27-15:38What challenges did you see with those clients making that change? And maybe how can other firms avoid that change process gap? In making a seamless pathway from adoption, implementation and then actually getting return on investment for tech. 17:51-18:04We know that many founders are feeling overwhelmed by the explosion of AI. What advice would you give to those feeling this way right now? 20:16-20:43If you had to pick just one process inside an agency that every founder should automate first, what would it be? Clearly after adding a scheduling tool:) 26:25-26:36In a couple of sentences what is Arrange designed to do and how are you seeing it help founders? 28:20-28:25Recruiters, imagine scheduling interviews without the endless back-and-forth. 💡 With Arrange, it’s possible. Sign up now and make interview scheduling effortless: https://app.arrangeai.io/signup?via=belindaConnect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerrlinkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

"Recruitment isn’t just about placements; it’s about the experience."In this episode, Justin Hillier (Founder & CEO, Recruiter Insider) reveals how data-driven insights can transform candidate and client journeys, boost consultant performance, and increase fill rates by as much as 60%.We unpack:- Why NPS is no longer enough to measure success- The small detail that makes a 25% difference in placements- How AI is reshaping recruiter training and performance trackingIf you’re serious about scaling smarter, delighting clients, and protecting your brand, this episode is your blueprint. 🚀Questions:Why are the basics things getting ignored? What's happening that's stopping these questions being asked and how do we fix it?What else have you got? What other insights were you surprised about?Where do you think people should start? Where are they gonna get the biggest wins do you think to start looking at their data?What's changed in the way that like your platform is helping people? How have things evolved? How much are you integrating AI?What could they do today that will have a compound effect?Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/Recruiter Insiderhttps://www.recruiterinsider.com/aus/nz-fill-rate-white-paper

The recruitment world is drowning in AI hype but most agencies are still stuck with clunky, disconnected tools that drain time instead of saving it.In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, hosts Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rodger sit down with John Bourke (Founder of RecView) to reveal how to cut through the noise, ditch “shiny object” syndrome, and build a tech stack that actually works.Discover why integration with your ATS/CRM is the real game-changer, how to stay competitive when in-house TA teams get the same tech, and the simple automation tweaks that free you to do what only great recruiters can build relationships, win clients, and place top talent faster.What You’ll Learn:The #1 reason AI tools fail in recruitment agenciesHow to future-proof your business against TA teams using the same techSmart integrations that turn data into dealsWhy less tech (done right) beats more tech every timeQuestions:Is tech making our jobs a little easier? 2:35-2:38In the last 18 months, are we progressing or have we diverted or do you think that utopia will come to play or do we want it to come to play? 3:12-3:18Is there quite a collaboration in the rec tech space? Do you guys all kind of get together and collaborate and share ideas? What does it look like on that side of things? 10:34-10:43Do you know of a tech directory where someone’s like really keeping up today with what’s going on founders can access? 12:59-13:05If you think about TA versus recruitment agencies then, what is it that recruitment founders need to be looking out for? What are the TAs, teams and clients’ thinking process and what are they doing? 18:04-18:17Advise: If I am a recruitment founder sitting here with a small team. How do I then approach that company knowing that we got the same tools? 19:22-19:33So John, I know that you have to go shortly and I'd love to know what you've got in the pipeline; what you guys are doing now… things have obviously moved since we spoke 12 months ago, so let's hear it. 25:55-26:04Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/Apologies in advance: We experienced some minor technical issues during this recording, causing brief blurring and a video/audio sync delay for one host. We’ve kept the full episode intact because the discussion with John Bourke is packed with valuable takeaways for recruiters.

It’s not just about the AI tools.It’s about everything you’ve been putting off: workflows, data hygiene, system optimization, and the human experience.In this episode, automation leader Billy Davis shares the real path to ROI with AI from process mapping to candidate engagement. Learn how to finally make your tech stack deliver better placements, happier clients, and more efficiency across your business.💡 Key takeaways:✅ Why you must fix your operations before AI can work✅ The 3 most effective automations for recruiters✅ Why “just getting started” beats perfection✅ How to improve client & candidate experience at scale✅ What AI will (and won’t) do for you in the next 12–24 monthsWhether you’re automation-curious or deep in your tech stack, this episode is loaded with practical advice, smart strategy, and plenty of ‘aha’ moments.Questions:You often talk about the importance of pairing best-in-class AI technology with foundation operational work. “Can you just break down a little bit more around why maybe system optimization and process mapping of your recruitment tech stack are just as critical as the AI or automation tools themselves?” 2:07-2:27What are some of the other mistakes that you commonly see? People make when they're trying to go through this process. 5:23-5:28Do you have a set of typical problems that people should be looking to solve, if they're kind of going, you know, “They don't know what they don't know”. Are there sort of familiar themes or things that people should be looking at solving? 6:35-47How does that focus on customer experience being client or candidate play into that overall formula of AI success in recruitment or automation success and what role can technology help with customer success? 18:20-18:33Where do you see your customers putting those stages in and getting the best results throughout this cycle of recruitment? 22:20-22:28With agencies that are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all these operational changes that are required to get there, where do you recommend that they start to ensure that their AI investments are really delivering for them? 25:36-25:50What are the things that you’re finding that people are taking off their plates and really enjoying having them taking off their plates? 31:42-31:49What do you see is changing fundamentally in terms of how recruiters will recruit say fast forward 2 years time with the company that has done all the right things today? 35:40-36:06Tell us a bit more about what’s going with Bullhorn and especially the work that you're doing there in relation to AI. 41:51-41:57Connect with Belinda and Andrew:LinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/Connect with Billylinkedin.com/in/buildwithbillydavisBuild With Billyhttps://buildwithbilly.substack.com/

In the episode we invited our very first guest Lauren Jones the Founder of Leap Advisory Consulting back to the mic. We discuss how things have changed in the last 18 months and how AI continues to shake up recruitment and why agency owners need to pay attention. From writing better prompts to automating tasks, we explore how AI can save time and free you up to focus on higher-value work. We also dig into to how to adapt before you’re left behind. If you’re in recruitment and feeling overwhelmed by all the tech talk, this episode breaks it down for you.🎯 What we cover:How to future-proof your agency against tech disruptionWhy 55% of firms are using AI—and what’s holding the rest backThe “prompt trifecta” that unlocks better AI resultsHow to build a tech stack that increases your company’s valuationIf you’ve been overwhelmed by all the tools, terms, and trends—this episode gives you clarity and direction.🎧 Listen in and discover what top-performing firms are doing differently.A lot has happened in the staffing industry in the last 18 months since they spoke to Lauren Jones, it's very overwhelming. What's your approach when you're talking with your customers around. 2:13- 2:32Do you feel like, Lauren, that this next year or so is gonna be a big shakedown? 6:12-6:15Is prompt just literally knowing what to ask the AI or is there something a little bit more scientific behind it? 9:52-10:01What are you finding the biggest problems they're trying to solve are. And how are you helping them do that? 13:01-13:08What are you most excited about? What do you think is, is when we are sitting down in another year and a half, what are we gonna be talking about then? 16:51-16:58Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

In Episode 26 of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we’re joined by the brilliant Justin Blij, founder of GTM Digital and certified tech nerd, who reveals how he took a scattered stack of 15+ disconnected tools and turned it into one lean, automated, and revenue-driving machine… in just one weekend. 🤯You’ll hear: ⚙️ The exact tools Justin uses (and ditched) 🧠 How he connected everything—without hiring a dev 🤖 Why ChatGPT became his personal AI co-pilot 📈 The impact it had on performance, data hygiene, and time savingsWhether you're drowning in tools or curious how to scale smarter with AI, this episode is gold for any recruitment founder ready to level up.🎧 Tune in now and learn how to make your tech stack actually work for you.Justin you integrated your entire tech stack in one weekend, what were the main reasons behind doing this, I’m assuming it wasn’t just about saving time? 1:27-1:36Did you have a specific way that you approach that weekend when you got all your tech laid out and brought it all together? 5:05-5:13What was the hardest part of this integration? 14:56-14:58How do you think average Joe or average Jane recruiter would fare doing what you did over that weekend period? 17:02-17:08What was the final outcome for Justin? Can you give us a bit of a rundown on what that tool stack looks like for your final or integrated stack and how it all playing together now? 26:41-26:52What’s been your biggest win since the integration went live? 46:47-47:01If somebody is watching this session and thinks, oh, I'd like to give this a crack, what advice would you give them? 48:32-48:36Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

What if you could save 8 hours a week per recruiter without hiring anyone new?In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we’re talking with Josh Kirkham, VP at Quil.ai, the #1 AI platform built exclusively for recruitment agencies. We cover real-world, recruiter-specific use cases for automation and AI, including:✅ How to eliminate 80% of your admin without losing quality✅ The shocking stat: 66% of your placed candidates are already in your database (and how to stop resourcing from scratch)✅ The tools smart agency owners are using to scale faster without burning out✅ What skills you need to stay relevant in a tech-powered hiring marketIf you’re a recruitment agency founder juggling sales, delivery, and ops—and want to reclaim your time while growing smarter—this episode is your fast-track.🎧 Tune in now How is artificial intelligence reshaping the talent acquisition funnel, from sourcing candidates to making final hiring decisions? 3:06-3:27What are the biggest concerns regarding bias in AI-driven recruitment tools, and how can organizations mitigate these risks? 12:58-13:09 What are your top 2 or 3 tips for recruiters not to be doing and to have an automation set up or some sort of AI tool set there to help them, rather than doing those admin tasks manually. 17:17-17:28How can AI really help recruiters maintain that human connection with candidates and clients? 21:56-22:02Are there some skills or competencies that you see that recruiters should be thinking about to develop to remain that relevant in this modern technological landslide that's happening? 26:38-26:46Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

Still running your agency like a one-person band?In this episode, we speak with Ryan Halson, founder of Managed, about the shift happening in recruitment ops—where outsourcing and automation are no longer optional if you want to scale.💡 Why now is the best time to outsource candidate delivery and marketing💡 How to integrate offshore consultants and keep quality high💡 Tools like Clay, ChatGPT & automation platforms that are powering top-performing agencies💡 The mindset shift recruitment founders must make to growIf you're a recruitment business owner ready to buy back your time, build a scalable engine, and stand out in a noisy market—this one's for you.📱 Tune in now and upgrade how your agency runs.Mindful of the rise and importance of tech / AI in recruitment businesses, what makes now an ideal time for agency owners to be thinking about outsourcing the recruitment function or rather parts you believe to be outsourcing as well? 1:13-1:28 What should the listeners be thinking about passing on to somebody else as opposed to keeping it on their plate? 9:48-9:53 What are you seeing are the biggest mistakes that founders are making when it comes to outsourcing. What do they get wrong?16:10-16:16 With the explosion of tech/AI maybe as well throwing into the mix, how do you believe agency owners should be looking at their tech stack for success in 2025? 20:06-20:15  Have you got any case studies that you are happy to share from any of the elements that you have spoken about just to make it a little bit more tangible perhaps to the listeners. 28:54-29:07 What would you say if I had to say name one piece of tech that you couldn't live without or you think agencies shouldn’t be living without. What would that one piece of tech be for 2025? 31:42-31:54 Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we speak with Pranav Badami, co-founder of Stardex, about the practical changes AI is bringing to recruitment systems. We cover what’s working, what’s outdated, and how small agencies can start using AI to reduce manual work and improve results.Key takeaways include:Why Boolean search is being replaced in modern systemsHow to get more value from your existing candidate databaseThe real role AI can (and can’t) play in interviewsWhat to expect in the next wave of recruitment techIf you're looking for clearer ways to use AI to grow your agency and streamline your process—this episode is a must.You’ve mentioned Boolean search is becoming obsolete with AI candidate search. Can you tell me more about you thoughts here? 6:35-6:50 What's really interesting is that often recruitment will lean on SaaS or software outside of recruitment and pull those in. Coming from outside recruitment in, what your thoughts around that and the bigger, broader world has to offer recruitment. 18:11-18:31You’ve mentioned experimenting with tools like ChatGPT to rapidly build app prototypes. How has integrating AI tools like ChatGPT influenced your development workflow and the features you’ve got in your platform. 22:32-22:51 Where do you see recruitment heading with all of this in the next 12 months, two years, et cetera. 26:33-26:41Are there any other misconceptions that you are hearing in the market and happy to, to raise where AI isn't the bee's knees for the recruitment market. 32:07-32:16 Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

In this eye-opening episode, we’re joined by Andrew Naar, CEO of Sapphire Computing Solutions, to talk all things IT, cybersecurity, and how recruitment agencies can stay protected and productive in 2025.From backup myths (yes, your cloud storage might not be backing up your data!) to BYO devices, remote teams, and the rise of AI threats, we dive into the risks many agency owners are unknowingly exposed to—and how to fix them. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll sort my IT setup later,” this is your wake-up call. 💥Packed with practical tips, real-life cautionary tales, and a few “Oh no… I’m doing that!” moments—this episode is a must-listen for modern recruiters.What your thoughts are around staffing agencies operating with fully remote or hybrid teams perhaps fully remote sometimes teams and some of those critical IT infrastructure items that they may not be thinking about but that is needs to be considered for operations to run smoothly. 2:31-2:48Recruiters traditionally rely heavily on phone and video calls to connect with clients and candidates. So when it comes to VoIP, what new developments and communication tools should we be aware of and thinking about?  13:37-13:50What do you think is the weakest link in IT security? And what are other weak links and how can you know recruiters protect their assets in 2025? 18:27-18:37In 2025, AI isn’t just for sourcing candidates - it’s also revolutionising IT support. Can you shed some light on how automation and AI-driven tools are enhancing the tech side of recruitment operations? 25:50-26:12How in 2025 do you see IT Support scaling up or down efficiently to make sure that it is meeting the business needs of your customers. 33:25-33:32🎧 Tune in now to future-proof your agency.Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

In this episode, Belinda and Andrew are joined by Daniel Shnaider, Founder of AnyBiz – an AI-powered business development platform built to supercharge lead gen for recruitment firms and beyond.Daniel shares how AI agents are transforming business development by automating outreach across email, LinkedIn, and even phone calls—without losing the personal touch. We explore how AI is enabling recruiters to work smarter, why personalization at scale matters, and where the real opportunity lies for recruiters willing to innovate.🔥 Expect insights on:The power of AI agents in sales and recruitmentPersonalization using machine learningReal-world results from AI-powered outreachWhy creativity and differentiation are the recruiter’s next big edgeThe future of bots talking to bots (yep, it’s already happening)How are AI Sales Agents revolutionizing lead generation in recruitment, and what specific challenges are they uniquely equipped to address in today’s market? 3:13-3:3:25 Can you explain how your AI Sales Agents leverage machine learning and data analytics to personalize outreach efforts and identify the highest quality leads for recruitment teams? 8:04-8:27What trends you're observing if we think about traditional recruitment as opposed to where we are going, especially around the sales process. What are you seeing people more moving towards, more specifically like what sort of tools, where in the whole sales process, where are the real gems that we should be really doubling down on.  11:35-12:00With increasing concerns around data privacy and ethical use of AI, how does your solution ensure compliance and maintain trust with both candidates and clients?15:47-16:20 Could you share a success story or key metrics that demonstrate the impact of your AI Sales Agents on a recruitment sales pipeline, and what emerging technological trends do you anticipate will further enhance lead generation in the industry? 18:10-18:52 This is one you don’t want to miss if you're serious about future-proofing your recruitment business.🎧 Listen now and rethink what's possible.Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we sit down with David Cahill to unpack the untapped goldmine of candidate referrals. With 15+ years in recruitment and now leading the charge at HireSplit, David shares how he built a business (and landed some massive contracts) through strategic, tech-enabled referrals—without cold calling.From building repeat referrers and turning candidates into your resourcing arm, to using AI and analytics to boost referral ROI, this episode is packed with actionable insights for recruiters who want to win in today’s tough market.💡 Learn:How to turn your candidate network into a revenue-generating referral engineWhy transparency and trust are the missing links in most referral programsSmart ways to build community and keep your candidates warm and engagedWhat tech to use (and what to avoid) when scaling your referral gameWith business development being a priority in a tough market, how can tech-driven referrals support both client acquisition and candidate generation?6:03-6:27 How can recruiters effectively leverage referrals to quickly generate strong candidates, and obviously leading to strong sales. 12:43-12:49 In what ways does Al improve the quality of referrals, helping recruiters match top candidates to high-demand roles? 17:11-17:20 How can recruiters use data analytics to evaluate the ROI of referrals in a challenging market? 18:15-18:22 With fewer people inclined to make cold calls, how can tech-enabled referrals help recruiters build their client and candidate networks more naturally? 20:42-20:53 What are best practices for using tech to keep candidates engaged after they've been referred? 21:43-21:48 Generally, what innovations not just in referral technology but just broadly are you seeing that are going to be making their mark on helping recruiters stay more competitive? 23:25-23:34 Whether you’re a solo recruiter or running a growing agency, you’ll love David’s no-fluff, real-world approach to referrals and tech.🎧 Tune in now and start turning relationships into results.Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerr Recruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/ LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodger recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

🚀 Automate the Process – Amplify the Humanity 🎙️AI is shaking up recruitment—but does that mean recruiters are being replaced? Not so fast.In this episode, we sit down with Sean Withford, marketing expert and Founder of Eloquent, to break down how AI is transforming recruitment agencies and what that means for you. We explore the balance between automation and the human touch, revealing how you can streamline your process while making your recruitment more personal than ever.Key Takeaways: ✅ How AI is changing recruitment—without replacing recruiters ✅ The biggest opportunities (and risks) for businesses adopting AI ✅ Why "high-tech, high-touch" is the future of hiring ✅ The intersection of AI, marketing, and talent acquisitionIf you're a recruitment founder running an agency and you've been diving into AI and doing different things, what should we be starting to think about now when we're running our agencies?1:42-1:55What are the sorts of questions we should be asking ourselves to really maximize what's going on in relation to AI tech?1:56-2:04Let me ask you a question about EVP, because I know you're really big on, employee value proposition. So how do you see that evolving and what part does the tech have to play there? 13:30-13:52 What should recruitment founders be thinking about when it comes to marketing  and tech? 18:09-18:24 What's the most exciting tech that you've seen pop up? 28:41-28:46 What's your predictions for this year in tech, AI, recruitment. What do you think's going to be the shifts? 37:59-38:06 If you’re a recruitment founder or agency owner wondering how to leverage AI without losing the personal connections that drive success, this episode is for you!PS. The newsletter BK mentioned in the show notes appears to have finished - sorry!Connect with Belinda and AndrewLinkedIn Belinda Kerr linkedin.com/in/belindakerrRecruitment Garagehttps://recruitmentgarage.com/LinkedIn Andrew Rodgerlinkedin.com/in/andrewrodgerrecMate https://www.recmate.com.au/

Today we're joined by Ross Clennett, High Performance Coach for recruiters. We discuss how high volume recruitment is over thanks to AI. We also challenge outdated recruitment practices and critical market shifts to be mindful of to stay current in this rapidly evolving AI infused landscape.

Vanessa Raath teaches recruiters across the globe the most successful sourcing methods. Today she shares her views on sourcing and tech and AI's place within this vital function.

Today we chat with Guy Day from Kamal.ai a new cloud and data analytics platform for recruitment agencies. In this episode, we drill down on how easy access to data is so important when it comes to making key business decisions and forecasting with accuracy. Questions "Can you explain the key financial metrics that recruitment businesses should be tracking to assess overall performance and profitability?" "How do performance metrics, such as placement ratios or time-to-fill, tie into the financial success of a recruitment firm, and how can these be optimised?" "What are the most common financial challenges recruitment agencies face, and how can the use of data analytics help mitigate those risks?" "How can recruitment businesses leverage financial data to make more informed decisions when it comes to scaling operations or investing in new technologies?" "In your experience, what role do financial and performance metrics play in improving client relationships and enhancing overall service delivery?"

Shaun Henry is the Co-Founder of Floats. Frustrated by the outdated tools he was using in his tech recruiting agency he co-created floats. And today he chatted with us about how AI and tech can help recruiters leverage the strategy of floating or speccing candidates. Q1 "To start, can you explain what reverse marketing is when it comes to leveraging candidate profiles for sales? How does this concept work, and why is it particularly valuable in a sales context?” Q2 "How can AI tools be utilised to analyse candidate profiles and identify potential sales leads? What specific data points do AI algorithms look for in a candidate profile that can indicate a strong sales opportunity?" Q3 "Once potential leads are identified through AI, how can sales teams use this information to craft personalised sales strategies? Can you give us some examples of how AI-driven insights have helped tailor approaches to specific clients or industries?" Q4 "How does leveraging AI for reverse marketing candidate profiles impact conversion rates? What are some of the key success metrics that sales teams should focus on to ensure they’re making the most of AI-generated leads?" Q5 "While AI offers powerful tools for identifying and nurturing leads, there’s still a human element involved in sales. Can you give us a few tips on how sales teams can balance the use of AI with personal touchpoints to build genuine relationships and close deals effectively?"

Lee Whitaker is a tech strategist with almost 20 years of experience in rectech space. Passionate about reducing operational costs through business process and design she has some great pearls of wisdom to share on hyper-automation.

Nicole Clarke Co founder of Shazamme discusses the relationship between recruitment and marketing—some tips and techniques for getting your recruitment marketing woking harder for you.

Robert Garner Director of Abstraction Labs joins us to share his thoughts, ideas, and a ton of tips as to how you can get your recruitment website working hard for you. Questions: - What key elements contribute to a user-friendly website design for recruitment agencies? - What SEO strategies should recruitment agencies implement to ensure their website ranks well in search engines? - What features or tools are essential for effectively capturing leads on a recruitment agency website? - How can recruitment agencies ensure their website content remains fresh and engaging for clients and candidates? - What integrations (e.g., CRM, ATS) are crucial for recruitment agency websites, and how can they enhance functionality? - What emerging trends and innovations in web development that recruitment agencies should be aware of?

Karen Tisdell, a world-class LinkedIn profile writer, and trainer joined us this week to share her thoughts about maximising the evolving features of LinkedIn for networking, marketing, and more broadly, your continued business growth. "How can professionals effectively network on LinkedIn to build meaningful connections that can lead to marketing opportunities? Are there specific approaches or etiquettes to follow?" "What types of content perform best on LinkedIn for marketing purposes? Can you share some tips on how to create and share content that engages your target audience?" How important is personal branding on LinkedIn, and what steps can individuals take to establish a strong and authentic personal brand attracting marketing opportunities? "What are the best practices for engaging with your LinkedIn network? How can regular interaction with connections enhance marketing efforts and visibility? "LinkedIn offers various features like groups, articles, and events. How can marketers leverage these features to maximise their reach and create marketing opportunities without relying on automation tools?"

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we chat with David Tell, co-founder of KWAL.AI, about the rise of AI-powered voice agents in recruitment. We explore the current state and future potential of this technology, along with its impact on resume screening and candidate experience.

Carl Sagun, launched Synaptico to solve an internal problem of uncovering valuable data in their database and today he shares his journey and and insights into how he sees AI as transforming the sales process for recruiters.

Rod Smyth is the CEO and co-founder of Glyde. He is a serial entrepreneur in the world of recruitment and today he shares his insights and thoughts about AI and all that means for the near term in recruitment.

Rod Smyth is the CEO and Cofounder of Glyde. He is a serial entrepreneur in the world of recruitment and today he shares his insights and thoughts around AI and all that means for the near term in recruitment.

Derry Holt and his team at OneUp are at the forefront of enabling recruiters to leverage gamification and data analytics to make the hiring process more efficient and dare we say a hell of a lot of fun. Let's take a look at how.

Darren Westall CEO of Paiger chats to us about how we can do more with less now in marketing. Instead of worrying about losing jobs, he shares how we can embrace AI in marketing to free us up to operate at a higher level in business.

Wendy McDougall is the Founder of Firefish Software. Wendy hails from a recruitment background and is passionate about recruitment and tech. She has this lovely knack for transforming complex concepts into straight-up practical advice. Join us as we discuss, data, AI, and how to optimise them to make more placements.

Things are moving pretty quickly in the world of video and when you layer on AI, video takes on a whole new dimension. This discussion with Ashwin Mathews - CEO & Founder of Dopplio explores new ways to start thinking about AI-enhanced video for your agency.

The importance of using the insights from data is now a strategic imperative and a weapon when it comes to finding those areas in your business you can improve - In this episode, we explore what it takes to deliver "best in class" customer service and how tech can help. Enjoy!

The importance of using the insights from data is now a strategic imperative and a weapon when it comes to finding those areas in your business you can improve - In this episode, we explore what it takes to deliver "best in class" customer service and how tech can help. Enjoy!

Video is playing an increasing role in recruitment. And for good reason. It's getting easier to use and becoming more of a regular in our tech stack. So how can we stay one step ahead with video and what should we also be careful of?

Video is playing an increasing role in recruitment. And for good reason. It's getting easier to use and becoming more of a regular in our tech stack. So how can we stay one step ahead with video and what should we also be careful of?

We are kicking off "The Tech Savvy Recruiter" with an absolute industry shining star Lauren Jones to discuss the recruitment trends in 2024. Lauren is recognised as one of the top 15 influencers for the Staffing Industry and self-proclaimed HR Tech super nerd. This episode packs a punch from thoughts on AI and data to the human touch and the melding of both for greater success.