Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring?

Matt Alder
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Talent acquisition is undergoing unprecedented disruption as AI, economic uncertainty, and the ever-shortening lifespan of skills radically reshape recruiting. On Recruiting Future, Matt Alder explores this evolving landscape, using insightful interviews with transformational TA practitioners and forward-thinking experts to spark your imagination and provide the insights you need to shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization. Each episode explores topics such as AI, recruiting automation, recruitment marketing, employer branding, skills-based hiring, assessment, candidate experience, DEI, internal mobility, and the transformation of TA teams. Recruiting Future is an essential resource for everyone involved in hiring. Matt Alder is a globally respected talent acquisition futurist, author, and speaker with over 25 years of experience exploring what’s next in recruiting. Renowned for his expertise in strategic foresight and technology trends, Matt provides a unique perspective that empowers leaders to navigate disruption. His deep industry knowledge and ability to spark meaningful conversations make Recruiting Future a must-listen for talent acquisition and HR professionals everywhere.

  1. 6D AGO

    Can AI Democratize Hiring?

    Application volumes have surged in recent years, and many talent acquisition teams are struggling to keep up. Candidates apply and disappear into a black hole, never hearing back, never getting a real chance to show what they can do. When volumes reach into the millions, the traditional recruiting model simply breaks. There aren't enough recruiters to give everyone a fair hearing. Some organisations are now rethinking this entirely, using AI not to replace human decision-making, but to open the door wider than any human team ever could. So what does it actually look like when a company goes AI-first across every stage of hiring? My guest this week is LJ Brock, Chief People Officer at Coinbase. In our conversation, he explains how they've deployed AI across five core areas of recruiting, why they now assess every candidate on AI fluency, their focus on talent density to constantly raise the quality bar, and what hiring will look like in the future. In the interview, we discuss: The shift from volume to quality and value What does talent density mean at Coinbase? AI first recruiting to democratize access to the company Evaluating candidates on AI fluency Human connection in the hiring process Augmenting recruiters, not replacing them. Will all recruiting look like executive search in the future? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify. A full transcript will appear here shortly.

    19 min

  2. MAR 23

    What Makes Talent Acquisition Truly Strategic?

    The role of talent acquisition is changing fast. AI and automation are transforming what's possible, while CFOs and CEOs are demanding a different kind of conversation. They want to understand the value talent acquisition creates for the business and how it delivers returns that directly tie to strategic goals. The old transactional language of efficiency no longer cuts it. TA leaders who can connect what they do to business impact are the ones building a successful case for investment. The problem is, with vendor capabilities increasingly overlapping, knowing where to put that investment has never been harder. So what does it take to reposition talent acquisition as a truly strategic function? My guest this week is Jason Cerrato, SVP of Global Talent at Amentum. In our conversation, he shares how the TA conversation has evolved, why business acumen matters more than ever, and how to cut through the technology noise to make the right investment decisions. In the interview, we discuss: How the TA conversation has changed Telling a story of impact, not efficiency Speaking the language of the CFO The new criteria for tech investment Moving from a cost centre to a strategic function Changing the way organizations think about talent. Balancing AI with human connection Navigating similarity and sameness in tech products Choosing the right fit, not just the best tool The future of talent acquisition Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    23 min
  3. Why AI Needs To Drive Value Not Efficiency

    MAR 23

    Why AI Needs To Drive Value Not Efficiency

    We’re at a fork in the road for how companies adopt AI. Some are taking shortcuts, slashing entry-level roles and chasing efficiency savings. Others are slowing down to ask a harder question: how does this technology actually create new value? The data suggests that many companies are choosing the wrong path, using AI as a scapegoat for cost-cutting that is really caused by other business challenges. The consequences for their talent pipelines, skills development, and long-term competitiveness could be severe. So what separates organisations that get AI right from those that don't, and what does this mean for talent acquisition? My guest this week is Kelly Monahan, founder of Beyond the Desk. and a highly experienced labour economist who advises organisations on building genuine AI capability. In our conversation, she explains what most companies are getting wrong, the skills that actually matter, and the implications for talent acquisition. In the interview, we discuss: How are skills evolving? Why AI is being used as a scapegoat The real cost of cutting entry-level roles Three skills that define AI readiness Protecting high-value human touchpoints Buy or build? Using technology strategically AI for organizational value, not efficiency shortcuts Data privacy and compliance risks Developing the skills and mindset needed to future-proof your career What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    27 min
  4. Designing Hiring For Humans

    MAR 13

    Designing Hiring For Humans

    Hiring processes are full of design choices that nobody ever questions. Requirements that sound reasonable but aren't defined. Formats that have stayed the same for decades. Onboarding systems built for one type of learner. Talented people are being screened out, not because they can't do the job, but because of how the process itself is designed. These aren't people failures; they're design failures that quietly exclude the people organisations most need. So how do we actually design hiring in a way that works for everyone? My guest this week is Theo Smith, author of the new book Designed for Humans: Rethinking Work in the Age of AI. In our conversation, he shares practical ways to spot and fix the system design flaws hiding in plain sight across the hiring process. In the interview, we discuss: Why people aren't always the problem The hidden barriers in job ads Probation periods as red flags Why structured interviews still fail How people mask gaps at work AI is accelerating flawed system design. Onboarding as a critical failure point Designing workplaces for humans Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    28 min
  5. Round Up February 2026

    MAR 12

    Round Up February 2026

    If you’ve not listened to Roundup before, it’s a short review of the episodes that I’ve published in the last month to make sure you don’t miss out on the valuable insights that my guests are sharing. This month Round UP returns to its live format, and this is a recording of my live conversation with Ritu Mohanka, CEO at Vonq, about six of the episodes published in February 2026 Episodes featured in this Round Up: Ep 766 How TA Proves Its Business Impact Ep 767: Inside EY’s Talent Strategy for AI and the Future Ep 769: Managing Risk In Talent Acquisition Ep 770: The Science of Better Hiring Ep 771 Recruiting At The Speed Of AI Ep 772: Surfing The AI Tsunami Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    30 min
  6. What Makes An Excellent Workplace?

    MAR 11

    What Makes An Excellent Workplace?

    Attracting talent gets all the headlines, but retention is where the real competitive advantage lives. In a market where top performers are constantly being approached by competitors and salary expectations keep rising, holding on to your best people has never been harder. At the same time, the rapid pace of AI and automation means the skills companies need are shifting faster than ever, making internal development and mobility just as critical as external hiring. So how do you build a workplace where people genuinely want to stay and grow? My guests this week are Annika in der Beek, Chief People Officer, and Giovanni Di Felice, Director of Talent Acquisition at Statista. In our conversation, they share the science-backed framework behind what makes an excellent employer and explain how hiring and retention are becoming inseparable parts of the same strategy. In the interview, we discuss: Hiring challenges in AI and tech Encouraging candidates to use AI Why retention has become critical Measuring what makes an excellent employer Autonomy, competence, and relatedness at work The power of honest feedback Internal mobility and career development TA as a strategic business partner What does the future look like? Learn more about The Excellent Workplace Rating. Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    33 min
  7. Will Candidate AI Use Transform Recruiting?

    MAR 9

    Will Candidate AI Use Transform Recruiting?

    Many talent acquisition teams are dealing with surging application volumes right now, and AI is a major factor. Candidates are using it to apply faster, at a greater scale, and with more targeted information than ever before. The instinct has been to treat candidate AI use as noise, something to filter out or push back on. That response misses the long-term implications entirely. AI isn't just a tool for corporate hiring teams anymore. Candidates have access to the same technology, and platforms are emerging specifically to help them use it strategically. The innovation this unlocks could drive more change in recruiting than anything employers are currently investing in. So what is candidate-side AI actually capable of, and are talent acquisition teams thinking seriously enough about where this leads? My guest this week is Sam Wright, Head Of Career Strategy at Huntr, a data-backed job search platform. In our conversation, he shares what candidates are really doing with AI and what the data reveals about where this is heading. In the interview, we discuss: The job market from a candidate's perspective How the job search is changing Declaring a truce in the AI arms race Candidate-driven disruption and innovation in hiring Ethics and responsibility The importance of human judgement What does the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    25 min

  8. MAR 5

    How LLMs Are Changing Recruitment Marketing

    For years, recruitment marketing strategies have been built around a familiar set of rules: optimize your career site, rank well in search results, and ensure candidates can find you. But those rules were written for a world where Google was the gateway. That world is changing. Candidates are increasingly turning to LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude to research potential employers, asking detailed, conversational questions about culture, benefits, and working environment. And the way those tools surface information is fundamentally different from traditional search. The content that performs well in Google often doesn't translate, and organizations that have invested heavily in their employer brand discovery may be largely invisible in this new landscape. So what does it take to show up when candidates are searching in LLMs? My guest this week is Graham Thornton, President of Consulting and Growth at Talivity. In our conversation, he explains how candidate discovery is changing, why existing SEO thinking doesn't apply, and what organizations need to do differently. In the interview, we discuss: How AI is disrupting recruitment marketing The new uneven playing field Content and context The importance of structure and specificity How third-party content is influencing discovery How are job seekers now searching? New ways of measuring ROI What will the future look like? Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

    25 min
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About

Talent acquisition is undergoing unprecedented disruption as AI, economic uncertainty, and the ever-shortening lifespan of skills radically reshape recruiting. On Recruiting Future, Matt Alder explores this evolving landscape, using insightful interviews with transformational TA practitioners and forward-thinking experts to spark your imagination and provide the insights you need to shape the future of talent acquisition in your organization. Each episode explores topics such as AI, recruiting automation, recruitment marketing, employer branding, skills-based hiring, assessment, candidate experience, DEI, internal mobility, and the transformation of TA teams. Recruiting Future is an essential resource for everyone involved in hiring. Matt Alder is a globally respected talent acquisition futurist, author, and speaker with over 25 years of experience exploring what’s next in recruiting. Renowned for his expertise in strategic foresight and technology trends, Matt provides a unique perspective that empowers leaders to navigate disruption. His deep industry knowledge and ability to spark meaningful conversations make Recruiting Future a must-listen for talent acquisition and HR professionals everywhere.

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