Happy New Year! Host Matt Alder (Recruiting Future) and co-host Rhona Pierce kick off 2025 with a new episode of The Alder Hour, part of the Purple Acorn Network — your favorite way to clock out and catch up on the future of work.

This week:

New Year, New Career?: Matt breaks down why switching careers is more about mindset — and why hiring managers urgently need to rethink "perfect fit" hiring.

Deepfake Hiring Risks: AI-generated identities are on the rise. What HR and TA teams need to know about cybersecurity and safeguarding hiring processes in the age of AI deepfakes.

AI Cheating in Schools—and at Work: Universities are struggling with AI use among students. What lessons does this offer for recruiters trying to distinguish resourcefulness from real fraud?

Guest Interview:

Joanne Dennison (Talent Tech and Strategy Expert) joins to discuss why task-based hiring will overtake job-based hiring — and how TA teams must radically rethink productivity, skills, and automation.

Trending or Ending?:

Rhona unpacks a viral controversy: a smoothie shop asking applicants for their social media handles. Are social media checks trending, or crossing a major boundary?

🎙 New year, same mission: clock out, tune in, and stay ahead of the curve.

Find out more at PurpleAcornNetwork.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!