Digital Recruiter Podcast

#102- Jen Jones on Becoming an AI-Powered Recruiter: Confidence Over Confusion

SUMMARYIn this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit podcast series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Jen Jones, Senior Technical Recruiter at Cedar. While new to AI, Jen has quickly transformed her workflow by adopting automation and practical tools. She went from a curious learner to a team trainer in less than a year. Her upcoming session, “AI Fundamentals for Recruiters: Building Confidence, Not Confusion,” is tailored for those who feel overwhelmed by AI but want to use it effectively.
Jen shares how one bootcamp sparked her journey into AI, leading her to create a writing assistant that mirrors her tone and helps her draft content faster. She has since trained her team and built a library of tools that make AI practical and approachable. The conversation dives into real recruiter challenges, from fake candidates to optimizing processes with limited resources. Jen shows how AI helps recruiters become more human and strategic, not less.
 
JEN'S BIOJen Jones is a Senior Technical Recruiter at Cedar and an emerging voice in the AI-for-recruiting space. Since early 2023, she has embraced AI tools to optimize her work, train her team, and share practical workflows that anyone can use. She is also the wife of Josh Jones, the ERE Summit organizer, giving her a unique insider view of the event. Jen is known for her relatable, no-jargon approach to AI and is passionate about helping other recruiters build confidence with technology.
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitradical/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#101- Jay Olson on AI, Empathy, and the Future of Talent Acquisition at Medtronic

SUMMARYJay Olson didn’t just ride the wave of recruiting trends, he’s been shaping them for decades. From the dot-com boom to today's AI revolution, Jay brings a seasoned, thoughtful perspective as the Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic. In this conversation with host Clark Wilcox, Jay opens up about the real challenges and opportunities AI presents for recruiting leaders and why it’s not about replacing people but enabling them.The episode explores Jay’s role on the upcoming ERE panel “A Practical AI Framework for Smarter Recruiting” and dives into the emotional rollercoaster of hiring. He shares why empathy is still the recruiter’s superpower, how feedback (when done right) builds trust, and why automation must serve, not replace, human connection. If you're navigating modern hiring while trying to keep it real, this one’s for you.
 
JAY'S BIOJay Olson is the Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies. With a career spanning both agency and corporate recruiting, Jay has witnessed and influenced the evolution of TA from faxed resumes to AI-driven workflows. Known for his emotionally intelligent leadership style, he champions a people-first approach to hiring and organizational culture. Jay will be speaking on the general session panel at ERE San Diego, “A Practical AI Framework for Smarter Recruiting.”Connect with Jay on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayolson/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#100- Brian Fink on AI, Ethics, and the Bold Future of Recruiting

SUMMARYIn this high-energy episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark Wilcox sits down with the ever-electric Brian Fink, Managing Partner at the WeWork Group and MC of the upcoming ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit. Known for his sourcing wizardry, bold AI workflows, and relentless optimism, Brian dives into what makes this event, and this moment in recruiting, so powerful.The episode kicks off with Brian’s enthusiasm for ERE and why this smaller, 200-person gathering beats mega-conferences for real relationship-building. He shares what he’s most excited about: agentic recruiting, ethical AI adoption, building custom search engines, and having hallway conversations with the brightest minds in the space.
But this isn’t just a hype session. Brian brings insight after insight, from his "core four" recruiting values (curiosity, empathy, tenacity, mischievousness) to how recruiters should be thinking about AI legally, ethically, and tactically. Whether you're agency, corporate, or in career transition, this episode will fire you up and make you want to lean in, not back.
 
BRIAN'S BIOFor nearly two decades, Brian Fink continues to help startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises find the people who build the future.
Whether it's engineers architecting AI systems, marketers driving growth, or leaders defining culture, Fink specializes in recruiting talent that doesn't just fill a seat. They raise the bar.
Leading searches for companies ranging from early-stage ventures to Fortune 100s, partnering directly with founders, execs, and hiring managers to close hard-to-fill roles, Fink believes great recruiting isn't just about pipelines and platforms. It's about business acumen, storytelling, and knowing when to challenge the status quo.
Connect with brian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfink/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#99- How Michael Vroman Went from Vintage Car Parts to Mastering the Talent Sourcing Hackathon

SUMMARYIn this special episode from the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Michael Vroman, Senior Executive Talent Acquisition Researcher at Equinix, to unpack his unique journey into recruiting, his philosophy on sourcing, and his role in this year's SourceCon Hackathon. What begins with a childhood obsession with rare car parts evolves into a sourcing career defined by curiosity, technical precision, and AI-enabled strategy.Michael shares how he sharpened his Boolean skills hunting for discontinued Volkswagen and Audi parts, a passion that became a surprising precursor to a sourcing career. From helping veterans land jobs to supporting space-tech talent needs, he discusses how tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT now help him go deeper, faster. This isn’t just about automation. It's about being a sharper, more informed problem solver.The conversation dives into how sourcing has changed (and hasn’t), how AI is reshaping workflows without replacing core skills, and why events like the ERE Hackathon offer something irreplaceable: community, challenge, and growth. If you’ve ever felt like sourcing was a solo sport, Michael’s journey will remind you how collaboration and innovation fuel the next level.
 
MICHAEL'S BIOMichael Vroman is the Senior Executive Talent Acquisition Researcher at Equinix, a global digital infrastructure leader. His journey into recruiting started unconventionally, searching online for rare vintage car parts. A U.S. Army veteran with a passion for sourcing puzzles, Michael built his chops across companies like Recruit Military, Macy’s, and Maxar Technologies. He’s a contributor to SourceCon, a sourcing competition veteran, and currently pursuing his master’s degree. When he's not sourcing or writing, you can catch him cheering on FC Cincinnati.
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/talent-sourcer-michael-vroman/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi
 

#98- AI Fraud in Hiring: How Zapier Tackles Deepfakes, Interview Swaps, and Business Risk

SUMMARYIn this episode from the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit series, host Clark Wilcox sits down with Anita Chandrasekhar, Global Head of Talent Strategy and Operations at Zapier, to explore one of the most urgent challenges in modern recruiting: candidate fraud and AI misuse. From deepfakes to fraudulent interview swaps, Anita shares how this new wave of deception is transforming hiring risks, especially in remote-first environments.Anita dives into her team's journey of discovery, detection, and proactive system-building. She shares how Zapier uses layered tech safeguards, including IP checks, ATS-level fraud detection, and interview recordings, to flag bad actors before they get too far into the hiring funnel. With AI empowering both recruiters and candidates, Anita stresses that fraud isn’t just a recruiting problem, it’s a core business risk that demands real solutions.Beyond the fraud conversation, Clark and Anita talk about vendor vetting, tech partner selection, and how to build strong, reciprocal relationships with software companies. Anita also reflects on what’s changed, and what hasn’t, in her 17-year TA career, including the enduring importance of candidate experience. This episode is a must-listen for recruiting leaders who want to future-proof their process without sacrificing humanity.
 
ANITA'S BIOAnita Chandrasekhar is the Global Head of Talent Strategy and Operations at Zapier, a fully remote, automation-first company. With over 17 years in recruiting and talent leadership, she’s known for building scalable systems that balance innovation with integrity. Anita is especially passionate about protecting hiring processes from emerging fraud risks—an issue she’s led from the front lines at Zapier. She’s also a thoughtful advocate for people-first candidate experiences and intentional vendor partnerships.
Connect with Anita on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-chandrasekhar/Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#97- Fixing the Candidate Black Hole: Elaine Orler on Building Match2 and Redefining Career Search Tools

SUMMARYElaine Orler didn’t plan on disrupting the candidate experience. She lived it. With roots in early childhood education, she transitioned into recruiting at Qualcomm before launching a consulting firm and co-founding the Candidate Experience Awards. In 2023, she took a bold leap again, joining forces with Doug to tackle one of the industry’s biggest pain points: the candidate black hole.In this episode, Elaine shares the origin story of Match 2, a platform designed to empower candidates with ATS-style tools while helping employers surface better-qualified applicants. Instead of relying on vague job boards and outdated resumes, Match 2 uses intelligent matching to serve candidates the right roles and helps recruiters cut through the noise. It’s candidate experience, reimagined.Elaine and Clark also preview what to expect at this year’s ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit, where Match 2 is a featured Silver Sponsor. From real-time resume data feeds to deeper CRM integration and personalized job matches, this conversation is a masterclass in how thoughtful tech is making hiring more human.
 
ELAINE'S BIOElaine Orler is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Product Officer at Match 2, a platform aimed at transforming candidate-employer relationships through intelligent matching and profile-driven job discovery. A long-time champion of the candidate experience, Elaine previously founded Talent Function and co-founded the Candidate Experience Awards (Talent Board). Her career spans recruiting operations, consulting, and product leadership across the globe. Bonus fact: She began her professional life as a kindergarten teacher, proving that people-first skills never go out of style.
Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaineorler/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#96- How Chad & Cheese Became the Recruiting Podcast and What Joel Cheesman Sees Coming Next

SUMMARYJoel Cheesman didn’t just witness the evolution of recruiting media, he helped shape it. In this candid conversation, the co-host of the iconic Chad & Cheese Podcast sits down with Clark Wilcox to share how a friendship, a few blog posts, and a bold bet turned into 1500-plus episodes and one of the most trusted voices in HR tech.They dig into the early days of podcasting, back when it meant blog embed codes and desktop speakers, the mindset shift from hobbyist to business builder, and the lessons learned from staying consistent in an industry where most shows fizzle by episode six. Joel shares why having a clear mission, and one early sponsor check, was crucial, and how the show keeps evolving to match the chaos of recruiting and tech.From the rise of AI to the rebirth of trust-based influencer marketing, Joel pulls no punches on what’s working, what’s failing, and what every recruiter and startup should pay attention to right now. Whether you're a content creator, agency owner, or just trying to survive the noise, this is a masterclass in endurance, brand, and being unapologetically yourself.
 
JOEL'S BIOJoel Cheesman is the co-founder and “Cheese” of the Chad & Cheese Podcast, often described as “TMZ meets TechCrunch for HR.” With over 1500 episodes recorded, Joel has become one of the most recognizable and trusted voices in recruiting media. A former blogger at Cheesehead, Joel turned early podcasting experiments into a thriving brand that blends industry news, irreverent commentary, and sharp analysis.He’s known for keeping it real, building partnerships rooted in trust, and showing how media can still be both entertaining and essential. When he’s not podcasting, you might find him at the bar with fellow recruiting OGs or quoting obscure ‘80s movies.
Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelcheesman/ or at https://www.chadcheese.com/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#95- Shally on the AI Rubric That Slashes Review Time by 86% and Why Fewer Resumes Are Better

SUMMARYIn this episode of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with Shally Steckerl, known across the industry as the godfather of sourcing, for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked elements in executive hiring: how to actually make selection decisions faster, smarter, and fairer.Shally shares his journey from transforming niche fellowship reviews to streamlining Fortune 100 hiring processes with his now-proven Side Ticket Frick framework, which cuts review time by 86%. Far from theory, this is a hands-on method built in the trenches, one that combines rubric-driven calibration, candidate segmentation, and AI-driven simulations to ensure fewer, better decisions. And yes, he’s even singing Hotel California from a wheelchair at the ERE Summit karaoke night.But this conversation goes way beyond sourcing hacks. Shally and Clark unpack how recruiters can lead the hiring conversation by interpreting data, reading between the lines of “I need more resumes,” and creating clarity from chaos. Whether you're overwhelmed with applicant volume or trying to teach hiring managers how to choose, this episode brings sharp perspective on balancing the art and science of recruiting in the age of AI.
 
SHALLY'S BIOShally Steckerl is a globally recognized sourcing strategist, founder of The Sourcing Institute, and an associate principal consultant at Riviera Advisors. He’s built recruiting systems and sourcing strategies for giants like Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and Coca-Cola. With over three decades of experience, Shally’s mission has always been to blend data, human behavior, and scalable frameworks into hiring decisions that work. He’s also known for his karaoke skills and candid takes on the AI revolution in recruiting. 
Connect with Shally on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shally/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#94- Jeff Taylor on Reinventing Hiring, Betting on Yourself, and Why AI is a Career Wake-Up Call

SUMMARYIn this special ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit edition of the Digital Recruiter Podcast, Clark sits down with tech visionary and Monster.com founder Jeff Taylor. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path, Jeff’s story will shift your perspective. From DJing in Boston clubs to founding one of the first 500 websites on the internet, Jeff’s nonlinear career path is a testament to grit, intuition, and the power of betting on yourself.Jeff recounts his early days at UMass, where he didn’t exactly thrive in the classroom but flourished everywhere else, managing school newspapers, throwing parties, and building the social capital that would eventually launch his recruiting empire. That same outlier energy led him to create Monster.com, reshape how people find jobs, and now re-enter the industry with a bold new venture: Boom Band.Together, Jeff and Clark unpack the rise of AI, the brokenness of traditional resumes, and the need for more human-centered hiring signals. They explore how platforms like Boom Band can flip the script, spotlighting not just what you’ve done but who you are. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating career change, trying to innovate inside their company, or just wondering what’s next in the future of talent.
JEFF'S BIOJeff Taylor is a pioneer in the world of digital recruiting. As the founder of Monster.com, one of the internet’s first-ever websites, he revolutionized how people search for jobs. Jeff has led organizations through massive scale, from DJing to creating a global brand with over 10,000 employees. Today, he's back with Boom Band, a human-first AI-powered talent marketplace designed to showcase people’s full selves, not just their job history.He’s also a UMass alum who returned to finish his degree at age 40, a former nightclub DJ, a public speaker, and a longtime entrepreneur obsessed with rethinking what’s possible. 
Connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-taylor-5212115a/ or sign up for early access to Boom Band at BoomBand.com
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter
Make sure to sign up for the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit on November 4th and 5th in San Diego. In person and virtual seats available.
Get 10% off your ticket by using code "DigiRec" at checkout: https://lnkd.in/ewQcNVEi

#93- From Recruiter to Revenue Machine: Jon Davis on Turning Contract Staffing into a Scalable Asset

SUMMARYWhat if your recruiting agency could scale without the cash-flow headaches or backend chaos? Jon Davis, CEO of Signature Back Office Solutions, shares how he went from placing rural physicians in the ‘90s to leading one of the most trusted EOR partners in the staffing world.In this episode, Jon breaks down what makes Employer of Record (EOR) services such a game changer for recruiters, especially those used to direct hire models. You’ll hear how his firm has helped over 500 agencies scale with confidence, handling payroll, insurance, onboarding, and funding, so recruiters can focus on selling and placing talent.But this isn’t just about operations. It’s a playbook for long-term growth. Jon and Clark get deep into business development strategies, how to ask better questions, and why contractors are a hidden salesforce inside every client. From increasing your firm’s valuation to recession-proofing your income, this conversation will have you rethinking how you build and sustain client relationships in 2025.
JON'S BIOJon Davis is the CEO of Signature Back Office Solutions, a premier Employer of Record (EOR) provider serving over 500 staffing agencies across North America. With three decades of experience, from physician recruitment to scaling Matrix Resources to 2,000+ consultants, Jon brings unmatched insight into the art and science of staffing. Known for his deep operational knowledge and problem-solving mindset, he’s helped firms navigate contract staffing, cash flow challenges, and scale confidently.He’s also a die-hard staffing geek who loves empowering recruiters to turn one placement into recurring revenue, and eventually, a more valuable firm.
Connect with Jon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondavislinked/
Stop wasting money on lead-gen tools that don’t work. Learn how top recruiters are winning on LinkedIn with content, messaging, and automation—without spamming.  Get live coaching, ongoing support, and a proven system to drive revenue inside Digital Recruiter Bootcamp. Join now: DigitalRecruiter.io/bootcamp
Get the best and most current digital recruiting insights, tips, and strategies every Sunday—straight to your inbox, for free: https://www.digitalrecruiter.io/drnewsletter
For more information about Digital Recruiter, click HERE ---＞ https://linktr.ee/thedigitalrecruiter