Is reverse recruiting a real career service — or a clever racket preying on job seekers? And what happens to recruiting when AI takes over the top of the funnel?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brian Fink, one of LinkedIn’s most respected recruiting voices, to unpack two disruptive trends reshaping the talent industry. We dive into the reverse recruiting craze — where candidates pay recruiters to apply for them — and why Brian calls it “a racket in new packaging.” I also share insights from my Fast Company article on the Talent Portfolio Manager (TPM) — a next-gen model redefining the recruiter’s role in the age of AI.

What you’ll learn:

Why the “AI eliminates 75% of resumes” stat is misleading — and who profits from that fear

The ethical problem with charging both candidates and companies

What a Talent Portfolio Manager does — and why it’s the future of recruiting

Why internal mobility is broken (and who’s hoarding the fix)

The 30-minute daily habit that keeps Brian and me ahead of the AI curve

Timestamps:
0:00 — Intro & Meet Brian Fink
2:00 — Reverse Recruiting: Trend or Racket?
6:30 — The “AI Eliminates 75%” Myth
9:00 — The Ethics of Reverse Recruiting
15:00 — The Talent Portfolio Manager Model
20:00 — Internal Mobility & Ownership
30:00 — HR’s Non-Negotiables in the Age of AI
35:00 — Daily Learning Habits & Staying Ahead
39:00 — Sprint Recruiting + Closing Thoughts

📌 Connect with Brian Fink: linkedin.com/in/brian-fink | @TheBrianFink on Substack, Instagram, and X
📌 Connect with Trent Cotton: linkedin.com/in/trentcotton | trentcotton.com/blog

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