The Recruiting Future Podcast - Innovation In Hr And Recruitment

With work stress levels at all-time highs and remote working set to continue at scale for the foreseeable future, one of the essentials things that 2020 has given us focus on is the necessity to build and scale cultures for both productivity and wellbeing. My guest this week is Ruth Penfold, People Practice Lead at Launchpad, a start-up accelerator focused on clean energy. Ruth has helped codify culture in several high growth companies and has a personal mission to improve wellness and wellbeing at work. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   Bringing your whole self to work    ▪   Building, codifying and scaling culture    ▪   Honesty    ▪   How cultures evolve    ▪   Co-creating the culture story with employees    ▪   Wellbeing and productivity    ▪   How leaders need to show up for themselves Subscribe to this podcast in Apple Podcasts

As employers increase their efforts to improve diversity in their hiring, there is a growing debate about the role technology can play in solving diversity challenges. It is evident that tech isn't a silver bullet here with something that is very much a human problem; however, there are certainly ways that technologies such as AI can help to identify the scale of the problem. My guest this week is Mahe Bayireddi, CEO and Co-Founder of Phenom. Mahe is a thought leader in the AI space and has some valuable insights to share on the role it can play in diversity, equity and inclusion. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   Bias in recruiting    ▪   Why D&I issues can't be solved with AI    ▪   When AI makes things worse    ▪   How AI can create an awareness of bias that can be used to change human thought processes    ▪   Leadership, accountability and the importance of C Suite goals    ▪   Redesigning talent and reimagining work for the future Register for Phenom's IAMHR event here Subscribe to this pod

Back in May, I spoke to author Scott Berkun about Design Thinking, and we touched on some of the ways it can be used in talent acquisition. I now wanted to dig a bit deeper into some of the practicalities of this and explore the value that design thinking can bring to recruiting. My guest this week is Jodi Brandstetter, talent strategy consultant and author of the book Hire By Design. Jodi has previously worked as a Director of Talent Acquisition and has some great experience of applying design thinking to recruiting challenges. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   The current state of the market    ▪   What is design thinking?    ▪   How can design thinking be applied to talent acquisition?    ▪   The importance of empathy    ▪   Improving the candidate experience    ▪   Journey mapping    ▪   The role of technology    ▪   What should talent acquisition leaders be doing now to prepare for the future Subscribe to this podcast in Apple Podcasts

To say that 2020 has been a tough year would be somewhat of an understatement. The health and economic challenges have put massive pressure on everyone and changed working life dramatically. Unsurprisingly some recent research from employee engagement specialists Glint reports a 33% rise in employees reporting burnout. So what can employers do to deal with this burnout crisis and what support are employees asking for? To answer these questions and talk about their research, my guest this week is Steven Buck, Head of People Science at Glint. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   What is employee burnout?    ▪   The decline in connectedness and belonging    ▪   What can employers do to help?    ▪   No one size fits all solutions.    ▪   Wellbeing and work/life balance    ▪   Building habits around conversations fed by good data.    ▪   What is the role of HR Technology? Subscribe to this podcast in Apple Podcasts

Recruiting transformations are currently underway in many companies to solve both the problems of the present and create a vision of the future. Change is tough, and it's always good to hear from talent acquisitions leaders who have been successful in innovating their company's approach to recruiting. My guest this week is Trent Cotton, Director of Talent Acquisition at BBVA.  Trent has successful transformed BBVA's approach to talent acquisition with the heavy influence of agile methodology and design thinking. He is now seeking Recruiting Utopia and has the vision to get there. This is a must-listen interview for everyone. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   Adopting Agile and Design Thinking in talent acquisition    ▪   The development of Sprint Recruiting    ▪   Priorities and feedback loops    ▪   The four principles of Sprint Recruiting    ▪   WIP limits on candidate submissions    ▪   Managing the change    ▪   The role of recruiting technology    ▪   What is Recruiting Utopia and how might

Employer Branding, it's a been a topic we've mentioned in passing a lot on the show this year, but unusually we haven't done a deep dive into it for a quite a while. So what are the current trends in employer branding, how are the events of this dystopian year shaping what employers are doing and what should employer brand strategies for the future look like? My guest this week is the perfect person to answer all of these questions. David Thompson is a highly experienced employer brand consultant and the founder of Employer Branding Made Easy. Keep listening to hear his thoughts on the present state and future direction of employer branding. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   Employer brand trends that are being accelerated by the pandemic    ▪   Three key areas where employer brand is now having an impact    ▪   The importance of great stories and how to tell them    ▪   Keeping employees engaged by strengthening emotional ties    ▪   Managing reputation    ▪   Where should employer brand sit withi

The changing relationship between talent acquisition and talent management is something we've been talking about a lot in 2020. With accelerated digital transformation causing a skill crisis for many employers, the role of learning across the talent acquisition journey is increasingly important. Upskilling recruiters and hiring managers is an obvious part of this, but what about the potential for employers to use digital learning systems to upskill talent pools of potential hires. To explore this in more detail, my guest this week is Peter Gold, Manager of Recruiting Solutions EMEA for Cornerstone On Demand. Cornerstone is doing some pioneering work in this area, and with over 30 years of experience in recruiting, Peter has a lot of insights to share. In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   Recruiting resilience    ▪   The changing relationship between skills and talent acquisition    ▪   Skills matching and gap analysis via machine learning    ▪   Upskilling talent pools    ▪   Moving to a buy and build

The world of work has changed more this year than any of us could have ever imagined back in January. However in the all the discussion around working from home the future of flexible working we are often not taking into account the radical changes that technology and Artificial Intelligence will bring to jobs and the workplace over the next few years. The implications for talent acquisition and talent management are enormous as companies will need to continuously find and develop new skills as well as managing the evolving relationship between humans and ever more intelligent machines. My guest this week is Amanda Fajak, Executive Director at Walking The Talk. Walking the Talk have recently published some research on employers cultural readiness for the transformations AI will drive, and Amanda has some interesting insights, and actionable advice to share In the interview, we discuss:    ▪   What changes is AI driving for companies and workplaces?    ▪   Digitization versus Digital Transformation    ▪ 

In my opinion, one of the most significant changes we are likely to see in Talent Acquisition next year is a rethinking of recruitment marketing. Programmatic advertising, career site systems and a sophisticated foundation of data and analytics are all going to part of this change. So what should talent acquisition leaders be considering in their recruitment marketing strategies and what changes in talent markets are marketing data currently showing us? My guest this week is Chris Forman, CEO of Appcast. Appcast has access to a vast dataset that gives them a unique view of global recruitment marketing efficacy, and Chris has some incredibly valuable insights to share. In our conversation, we discuss:    •   Definitions of programmatic advertising    •   What is the data telling us about current labour market trends?    •   The new focus of the war for talent    •   What does effective recruitment marketing look like    •   The number one signal of recruitment marketing success    •   How employers ca

2020 has seen more focus than ever before on diversity, equity and inclusion. Despite this though many employers are still struggling to make tangible progress in these areas. So why are diversity strategies failing and how should companies be changing their thinking. To help answer this question based on her considerable experience and expertise in organisational diversity, my guest this week is Michelle Silverthorn, CEO of Inclusion Nation and author of the book "Authentic Diversity". In the interview, we discuss:    •   Michelle's backstory and the reasons she wrote her book    •   Why the old rules of diversity don't work    •   The problems with "just making the business case."    •   Talking about race    •   Being comprehensive with diversity data    •   The importance of prioritising, establishing goals and taking bold actions    •   Vital accountability    •   Inclusivity and allowing differences to shine    •   Michelle's very powerful personal story about empathy and community Subscri

Over the last few weeks, the show has been focusing on the long term strategic changes talent acquisition leaders are making to ensure their teams are fit for purpose in 2021, and this will continue to be the theme of the podcast moving forward. However, I wanted to take a quick break from it in this episode and focus on some very practical advice. Lockdowns and remote working mean that video communications are now playing a hugely increased role in all of our lives. So how can you make sure you are presenting yourself in the best light (quite literally) and what elements of personal video production could you adopt to make sure you are effect when presenting to colleagues, candidates or customers. My guest this week is the king of professional do it yourself video production, Stephen O’Donnell. Many of you will know Stephen from the video content he creates and the excellent advice he shares. Whether you are looking to stand out on a Zoom call, use video to promote your vacancies or deliver a memorable pre

Remote working, flexible working and distributed working were all big topics last year in a debate that has jumped forward ten years during 2020. So what does the future of work now look like? How will remote working develop as we move forward and how can employers build culture and a sense of belonging with a distributed workforce. My guest this week is Tami Rosen a Senior HR Executive with leadership expertise at startups and Fortune 100 companies, including Atlassian, Apple, and Goldman Sachs. Tami recently took an instrumental role in developing a framework for the future of work called "TEAM Anywhere" and has a vast amount of knowledge to share on remote and distributed working. In the interview, we discuss:    •   Why a company's people strategy is its business strategy    •   Being people-centric, not office-centric    •   The continuum of distributed working    •   Balance work and life remotely    •   Opening up global talent pools    •   The importance of collaborative moment for connection

Talent Acquisition has changed dramatically this year, and many employers are now finding that their TA tech stacks are not fit for purpose moving forward. However, in such an economically uncertain environment, unlocking the investment required to update technologies is a real challenge. So what can talent acquisition leaders do to build compelling business cases for investment to develop their technology strategies for the future? My guest this week is Tony de Graaf, Hiring Success Director EMEA at SmartRecruiters. As well as working on the technology vendor side of the industry, Tony has himself been a Talent acquisition leader and has some very valuable insights to share on building internal business cases for recruiting technology investment. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The current state of the market    •   What are talent acquisition leaders focusing on for 2021    •   The need for investment when the willingness to invest is low    •   Building business cases around transformation   

In previous episodes of the show, we've talked about the reinvention of talent acquisition and what it takes to be world-class. Behind any significant reinvention lies a transformation process of people, practices and purpose. So how are employers approaching recruiting transformation and what is the best way to ensure success. My guest this week is Diane Circo, Head of Talent Acquisition at Siemens US. Siemens has been executing a significant transformation in talent acquisition, and Diane has valuable insights to share about co-creation, innovation and technology. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The drivers behind recruiting transformation at Siemens    •   Automating repetitive and transactional work    •   Design thinking in delivery excellence    •   Opportunity and urgency in 2020    •   Using technology to reimagine the hiring manager process    •   The importance of a robust well-segmented tech stack    •   Why candidate experience is now critical    •   Innovations and the future Subs

As we move towards 2021, it's increasingly evident that a paradigm shift is taking place in talent acquisition. Forced remote hiring has added rocket fuel to technology adoption, and the deep recession is driving new strategic thinking around purpose, people and process. So what does world class talent acquisition now look like and what kind of competitive advantages does it bring. My guest this week is Harry Osle, Principal and CHRO at The Hackett Group. The Hackett Group is a strategic consultancy which benchmarks best practice within enterprises, and Harry has some unique research-driven insights to share on talent acquisition and the future of work. In the interview, we discuss:    •   How the pandemic has put HR front and centre    •   Workplace, Workspace and Workmates    •   Productivity in the new world of work    •   The impact on Talent Acquisition    •   Increased digitalisation and digital transformation    •   Why world class companies are able to spend less on a per hire basis    •   Dr

Skills are very much on the agenda at the moment as many employers review their talent strategies to ensure they are adequately preparing for the future. Having the right skills is also vital for talent acquisition professionals with the profound changes we have seen in recruiting approaches and processes likely to become permanent. My guest this week is Catalina Schveninger, Chief People Officer at Futurelearn. Catalina has a dual background in talent acquisition and learning and development, so is very well placed to talk about the skills talent acquisition teams will need in the future and how talent acquisition professionals can acquire them. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The increasing demands of learners around the world    •   Has the pandemic changed the way employers think about skills?    •   Total talent thinking, what is the role for Talent Acquisition?    •   Futurelearn's Course on Online Recruitment and Onboarding    •   The skills Talent Acquisition teams need right now.    •   

With many countries facing a second wave of COVID 19, taking a long term view on the outlook for work and employment is difficult. However, several months into this global crisis, crucial labour market trends are emerging, which will shape the future of talent acquisition. 
My guest this week is Neil Carberry, CEO of The Recruitment & Employment Confederation. The REC is doing a vast amount of work to understand the changes in the labour market and advise talent acquisition leaders and recruiting firms on the likely future. In our conversation, Neil shares some valuable perspectives on the challenges that lie ahead. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The current state of global labour markets    •   Hiring hotspots where the jobs market is recovering    •   The long term impact of the pandemic on the shape of employment    •   Creating career pathways into in-demand jobs    •   The recruiting implications of a mixed model of remote working    •   The role of recruiters in rebuilding economies    •  

Personal branding is something we've been talking about for at least a decade now, and it sometimes feels that much of advice that is shared is unrealistic and somewhat divorced from most people's reality. With the global economic crisis causing many people to rethink their long-held career plans, arguably personal branding has never been more critical, and some fresh thinking and new ideas are desperately needed. My guest this week is consultant, author and speaker Jeff Gothelf. Jeff's new book "Forever Employable" is fantastic and offers advice and insights on personal branding that are relevant, realistic and achievable. This interview is a must-listen for everyone in the difficult times we are currently going through. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The story behind "Forever Employable"    •   Personal branding in 2020    •   The end of corporate loyalty    •   Creating a safety net of opportunity    •   Planting your flag and building a personal platform    •   Standing out from the noise v

I've been advocating for broader adoption of established digital marketing practices in recruitment marketing for a long time now. With many talent acquisition teams now having to deliver results with reduced resources, understanding targeting and measurement in marketing has arguably never been more important. My guest this week is David Larsen, Global Talent & Employer Brand Lead at Knauf. David has a really interesting background, having worked at Google and also spent time as an entrepreneur starting up and successfully exiting from a tech company. David has some great thoughts and insights to share on the role digital marketing should be playing in talent acquisition moving, forward particular in terms of how employers define and understand their target audiences. In the interview, we discuss:    •   The lessons David has learned about talent acquisition during his career to date.    •   The talent acquisition challenges at Knauf    •   Applying digital marketing practices to recruitment marketing

Round up is the monthly show on The Recruiting Future Podcast channel that highlights episodes you may have missed and gives you my take on some of the key learnings from the guests. Episodes mentioned in this Round Up: Ep 300: On the Frontline Ep 294: Global Recruiting Ep 296: Engagement and Mobility Ep 297: Introvert Friendly Workplaces Ep 298: The Productivity Puzzle Ep 299: Talent Acquisition Has Changed Subscribe to this podcast in Apple Podcasts