In this episode of Talking Talent, host Sean Kennedy sits down with Sam Schloss, Head of Talent Acquisition for the Americas at Similarweb, for an honest conversation about what modern Talent Acquisition really looks like—and where it's heading next.

Sam shares how he accidentally found his way into recruitment, why relationship-building became his superpower, and how his career evolved from filling vacancies to becoming a trusted strategic advisor to business leaders. Along the way, Sean and Sam explore what separates great recruiters from average ones, the importance of influencing hiring managers, and why understanding the business is just as important as understanding candidates.

The conversation then turns to one of the hottest topics in Talent Acquisition: AI.

Rather than debating whether AI will replace recruiters, Sam explains why the future belongs to recruiters who embrace technology while doubling down on the human skills that can't be automated. Together they discuss:

• Why Talent Acquisition is evolving—not disappearing
• How recruiters can become genuine strategic business partners
• Using market data to influence hiring decisions
• Building trust with hiring managers through consultation rather than administration
• Why candidate experience will always require a human touch
• Practical ways AI can automate repetitive work while enhancing recruiter effectiveness
• Where AI should automate, collaborate, and where humans should always stay involved
• How recruiters can use the time AI saves to become more strategic
• The importance of continuous improvement and operational excellence in TA
• Creating better hiring processes through stronger intake meetings and behavioural interviewing

Away from recruitment, Sean and Sam also share stories about music, work routines, career journeys, and the habits that help them stay energised in demanding Talent Acquisition roles, making for an engaging and refreshingly authentic conversation.

Who this episode is for

• Talent Acquisition Leaders
• Recruiters looking to become more strategic
• HR Directors and People Leaders
• Hiring Managers
• Recruitment Operations professionals
• Anyone exploring how AI is reshaping hiring
• Leaders building high-performing recruitment functions

🔗 Connect with the guest

Sam Schloss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schloss-3b728a5a/

Similarweb: https://www.similarweb.com/

🔗 Connect with the host

Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#TalkingTalent #RecTalk #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #Hiring #AI #RecruitmentTechnology #FutureOfWork #PeopleLeadership #CandidateExperience #HR #Recruiting #Leadership #TalentStrategy #EmployerBrand #HiringManagers #RecruitmentOps #Similarweb

Why do recruiters work for months to make a placement… then wait another two months to get paid?

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma is joined by Louisa Plint, founder of Auxeris and creator of AuxPay, to uncover why late payments have become "normal" in recruitment—and why they shouldn't be.

Louisa shares how she went from launching a recruitment agency with no industry experience to building a fintech platform that's changing the way recruitment businesses get paid.

In this episode you'll learn:

✅ Why 63% of recruitment invoices are paid late

✅ How payment automation can remove invoice chasing

✅ The psychology behind CFOs and payment decisions

✅ Alternatives to invoice finance and factoring

✅ International payments, FX savings and recruitment cash flow

✅ Why founders should stop accepting poor payment habits

✅ The future of recruitment fintech

Whether you're running a boutique agency or a multi-office recruitment business, this conversation will change how you think about cash flow.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Louisa Plint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-plint/

Learn more about AuxPay: https://www.rectools.io/product/auxpay-by-auxeris/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #CashFlow #RecruitmentTechnology #FinTech #RecTech #AuxPay #RecruitmentFounder

Welcome back to The Mixed Grill, a RecTalk podcast and the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club, hosted by Nitin Sharma and Bobby Banerjee. This week, an honest, entertaining, and occasionally fiery conversation about one question that's divided plenty of people recently...

When does networking become selling?

Following a number of "sales chat" debates inside the Recruitment Curry Club community, Nitin and Bobby unpack where they believe the line should be drawn, why protecting community culture matters, and whether intent is more important than outcome.

Along the way they discuss:

• Why community-led spaces need clear boundaries.
• The difference between promotion, networking and outright selling.
• Whether free events can still count as sales.
• Why consistency matters when enforcing community rules.
• The importance of accountability—and how people respond when challenged.
• A live phone call to resolve one of the community's latest "sales chat" debates.
• Why making your own opportunities beats waiting for permission.
• The value of showing up in the right rooms and building genuine relationships.
• How founders often become the biggest obstacle to their own growth.
• Why limiting beliefs stop more careers than lack of opportunity ever will.

As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few tangents, real-life interruptions, honest opinions and practical takeaways from two people passionate about making recruitment communities better.

Who this episode is for

• Recruiters who want to build authentic relationships.
• Recruitment business owners growing their network.
• Recruitment suppliers navigating community engagement.
• Anyone wondering where the line sits between adding value and self-promotion.
• Founders looking for practical advice on creating opportunities instead of waiting for them.

Whether you agree with every opinion or not, this episode is a reminder that great communities don't happen by accident—they're built through trust, consistency and shared values.

🔗 Connect with the hosts

Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/

Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursdays.

Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#Recruitment #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentCurryClub #TheMixedGrill #RecTalk #RecruitmentLeadership #Community #Networking #BusinessDevelopment #RecruitmentPodcast #FounderJourney #Sales #Marketing #RecruitmentLife

Welcome back to another episode of RecTalk, the world's largest recruitment industry podcast.

This week, Nitin Sharma is joined by James Whitelock, founder of ThinkinCircles, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing recruitment businesses today: standing out in an increasingly crowded market.

James joins the podcast to introduce his latest ebook and explains why most recruitment agencies, RecTech companies and talent businesses don't actually need more marketing—they need greater belief in what they stand for.

Together they explore why so many businesses end up saying exactly the same things, why visibility alone doesn't build authority, and how the most memorable brands become known for owning a conversation instead of simply participating in one.

The conversation covers:

• Why "visibility" doesn't automatically create authority
• The difference between marketing and market leadership
• How recruitment businesses become memorable rather than comparable
• Why having an opinion matters more than playing it safe
• Building authority without a huge marketing budget
• The dangers of becoming a commodity and competing only on price
• Why businesses should focus on the problems they solve—not just the services they sell
• Examples of recruitment and technology companies that have successfully owned their niche
• How founders can translate their passion into authentic marketing

Whether you're running a recruitment agency, building a RecTech platform, leading a marketing function or scaling a talent business, this episode is packed with practical advice on creating a brand that people remember.

Who this episode is for

• Recruitment agency owners
• RecTech founders
• Recruitment marketers
• Talent acquisition leaders
• Business owners looking to build authority in their market
• Anyone responsible for growing a recruitment brand

🔗 Connect with the guest

James Whitelock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswhitelock/

Learn more about ThinkinCirlces: https://www.rectools.io/product/thinkincircles/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentMarketing #EmployerBrand #RecruitmentAgency #RecTech #MarketingStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #BrandBuilding #BusinessGrowth #TalentAcquisition #JamesWhitelock #ThinkinCircles

Future-proofing Talent Acquisition isn't about replacing recruiters—it's about redefining their value.

In this episode of Talking Talent, host Sean Kennedy (aka. Sean The TA Guy) sits down with Oscar Machado, Talent Acquisition Lead for EMEA & APJ at Similarweb, to explore how recruitment has transformed over the last two decades—and where it's heading next.

Drawing on experience across agency recruitment, RPO, embedded recruitment and in-house Talent Acquisition leadership, Oscar shares a refreshingly honest perspective on the future of hiring, AI's growing influence, and why recruiters must become strategic business partners rather than operational order-takers.

Together, Sean and Oscar discuss:

• Oscar's journey from organisational psychology into Talent Acquisition.
• The differences between agency, RPO and in-house recruitment—and why each develops different skills.
• Why strategic Talent Acquisition has a measurable impact on business growth.
• How AI is changing candidate behaviour, CVs and recruitment workflows.
• Why AI literacy will soon become an essential skill for every recruiter.
• The opportunities—and risks—AI creates for future Talent Acquisition careers.
• How recruiters can future-proof themselves as automation accelerates.
• Why storytelling and demonstrating business impact matter more than traditional recruitment metrics.
• The continued value of RPOs in scaling businesses.
• Why cover letters may finally become obsolete.
• Oscar's thoughts on candidate feedback, hiring decisions and moving on from rejection.
• The skills tomorrow's Talent Acquisition professionals will need to stay relevant.

Oscar also shares his concerns about the shrinking number of entry-level recruitment roles as automation removes administrative tasks—and what that could mean for the next generation of Talent Acquisition professionals.

If you're wondering what recruitment will look like over the next five years, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Oscar Machado: https://www.linkedin.com/in/machadooscar/

Learn more about Similarweb: https://www.similarweb.com/

🔗 Connect with the host

Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#TalkingTalent #RecTalk #TalentAcquisition #Recruitment #Recruiting #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Hiring #HR #Leadership #EmployerBranding #TalentStrategy #RecruitmentTechnology #PeopleOps #FutureOfRecruitment

Settlement agreements, restrictive covenants, employment disputes, shareholder disagreements and AI in legal disputes… if you run a recruitment agency, this episode is packed with practical advice from one of the recruitment industry's leading legal specialists.

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down once again with Barry Cullen, founder of recLAW, to break down the legal issues every recruitment business owner is likely to face at some point.

Barry shares real examples from recruitment businesses and explains why the biggest legal mistakes usually start with emotional decisions rather than commercial ones.

Whether you're managing consultant exits, protecting client relationships, dealing with restrictive covenants or simply trying to avoid expensive litigation, this episode will help you understand how to approach disputes commercially.

Together they explore:

• Why settlement agreements protect both the business and the individual
• The biggest mistakes recruitment business owners make during disputes
• Why emotional decisions often lead to costly legal battles
• When it makes commercial sense to settle rather than fight
• Employer and employee obligations during negotiated exits
• Shareholder disputes and agency breakups
• Fee disputes and preserving valuable client relationships
• How non-disparagement clauses actually work
• Why communication beats email during difficult conversations
• Restrictive covenants — are they really "not worth the paper they're written on"?
• Real examples of recruiters being taken to court for breaching restrictions
• The commercial reality of litigation versus settlement
• How AI is changing legal disputes—and why blindly trusting it can be dangerous

Barry also explains why the best commercial outcome isn't always about "winning", but about protecting time, relationships, reputation and your business.

If you've ever had a consultant resign, argued over recruitment fees, fallen out with a business partner, or simply wondered how employment disputes are really handled in recruitment, this episode is packed with practical advice.

Who this episode is for:

• Recruitment agency founders
• Recruitment directors
• Managing consultants
• HR leaders within recruitment businesses
• Business partners and shareholders
• Anyone responsible for employment law or commercial disputes in recruitment

🔗 Connect with the guest

Barry Cullen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrycullen/

Learn more about recLAW: https://www.rectools.io/product/reclaw/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#Recruitment #RecruitmentAgency #EmploymentLaw #SettlementAgreement #RestrictiveCovenants #RecruitmentBusiness #AgencyOwner #RecruitmentPodcast #RecruitmentLeadership #LegalAdvice #RecruitmentFounder #RecTalk #BarryCullen #recLAW #AI #ChatGPT #BusinessGrowth

What does it take to completely redefine an industry?

In this special episode of The Mixed Grill, the official podcast of the Recruitment Curry Club, host Bobby Banerjee sits down with one of Britain's most influential chefs and restaurateurs, Vivek Singh, to celebrate 25 years since opening the iconic Cinnamon Club.

While this isn't a recruitment episode in the traditional sense, the lessons couldn't be more relevant. Vivek shares the mindset behind challenging convention, scaling a premium hospitality brand from a single restaurant to six successful venues, and why building communities—not just businesses—is the real key to long-term success.

The conversation explores how audacity, ambition and a willingness to ignore industry stereotypes helped transform perceptions of modern Indian cuisine, while drawing striking parallels with the recruitment industry itself.

Vivek also opens up about leadership, creating cultures where people want to stay, the importance of supporting employee mental health, and why investing in your team always delivers the greatest return.

Whether you're growing a recruitment business, leading a team, or simply fascinated by entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from someone who has successfully navigated one of the UK's toughest industries for over two decades.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Vivek challenged the traditional perception of Indian restaurants and built a premium hospitality brand.
• Why questioning industry norms is often the catalyst for innovation.
• Lessons learned from scaling six restaurants over 25 years.
• The parallels between hospitality and recruitment when it comes to changing public perception.
• Why strong communities create stronger businesses.
• How culture, retention and employee wellbeing contribute to long-term commercial success.
• Why supporting people through difficult periods builds exceptional loyalty and performance.
• The leadership principles that have helped The Cinnamon Collection thrive in a notoriously challenging industry.

Who this episode is for

• Recruitment business owners and leaders
• Entrepreneurs and founders
• Hospitality professionals
• Team leaders and hiring managers
• Anyone interested in culture, leadership and business growth
• Professionals looking to build high-performing, people-first organisations

🔗 Connect with the guest

Vivek Singh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-singh-02188629/

Learn more about The Cinnamon Collection:

https://www.cinnamon-kitchen.com/the-cinnamon-collection/

🔗 Connect with the host

Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/

Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/

Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#TheMixedGrill #RecruitmentCurryClub #VivekSingh #BobbyBanerjee #Leadership #Hospitality #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #MentalHealthAtWork #Recruitment #RestaurantIndustry #Innovation #CommunityBuilding

What happens when Google stops being the place your clients search?

In this eye-opening episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Nicole Clarke from Shazamme to discuss one of the biggest shifts the recruitment industry has ever faced: the move from traditional SEO to AI-powered search.

As platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and other Large Language Models become the first place buyers look for answers, recruitment agencies need to rethink everything they know about websites, branding and online visibility.

Nicole explains why simply having a beautiful website is no longer enough, why trust signals such as Google Reviews and case studies are becoming more valuable than ever, and how agencies can position themselves to become "the answer" that AI recommends.

The conversation covers:

• Why AI search is fundamentally changing recruitment marketing
• Why agencies need to optimise for Large Language Models (LLMs), not just Google
• The importance of structured content, FAQs and location-specific landing pages
• How specialist recruiters can outperform much larger competitors
• Why branding is becoming about trust and expertise rather than logos and colours
• The role of reviews, testimonials and case studies in AI visibility
• The opportunities recruitment businesses have over the next 12–18 months
• How agency owners should rethink growth, positioning and even exit strategies in an AI-first world

Nicole also shares practical advice on adapting quickly, embracing change and ensuring your recruitment business remains visible as AI transforms how buying decisions are made.

Whether you're a recruitment agency owner, marketer, recruiter or supplier, this episode is packed with actionable insights that could fundamentally change how you think about your website and your future.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Nicole Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleclarke/

Learn more about Shazamme: https://www.rectools.io/product/shazamme/

🔗 Connect with the host

Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/

Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/

Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/

#Recruitment #RecruitmentMarketing #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #SEO #LLM #RecruitmentTechnology #EmployerBranding #DigitalMarketing #AgencyGrowth #RecruitmentAgency #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfWork #RecTalk

AI has changed recruitment forever.Candidates are applying to hundreds of jobs in minutes, CVs increasingly look identical, and employers are struggling to identify genuine talent amongst the noise.Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy sit down with talent and employer branding experts to discuss AI-driven hiring, skills-based assessments, employer branding and what organisations must do differently to attract and identify top talent.Featuring:🎙️ Nick Leslie (Canditech)🎙️ Paul Vidler (Employer Brand & Talent Attraction)Topics discussed include:✅ Why traditional CV screening is becoming less effective✅ The rise of skills-based hiring and job simulations✅ How AI is changing candidate applications forever✅ Why employers should stop worrying about AI and start measuring AI fluency✅ The future of candidate assessments and recruitment technology✅ Employer branding versus corporate messaging✅ How companies can attract better talent through authentic employee stories✅ Why recruitment became "lazy" during the hiring boomOne of the strongest themes throughout this episode is that employers need better ways to identify capability, while candidates need better ways to stand out. The old hiring playbook is changing rapidly, and organisations that adapt fastest will have a significant advantage.🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma🎙️ Co-Hosted by Sean Kennedy📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterIf you're a recruiter, talent acquisition leader, HR professional or hiring manager, this episode is packed with practical insights into the future of hiring, AI and employer branding.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, HR professionals and industry experts.#Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #AIRecruitment #EmployerBranding #Hiring #HR #RecruitmentTechnology #FutureOfWork #SkillsBasedHiring #CandidateExperience #IHRManchester #RecTalk #HRTech #ArtificialIntelligence #RecruitmentPodcast

Thinking about hiring recruiters or support staff offshore?Success isn't about finding the cheapest option. It's about building the right team.In this episode, Nitin Sharma sits down with Ross Thompson, Founder of Infinity Staff Global, to discuss why more UK recruitment businesses are turning to South African talent, the biggest mistakes agency owners make, and how to build high-performing remote teams that actually last.Having worked together for several years, Nitin also shares his own experiences of building remote teams and the lessons he's learned along the way.Topics covered:✅ Why recruitment agencies are struggling to hire in the UK✅ The biggest myths about offshore recruitment✅ Why "cheap labour" is the wrong mindset✅ Building successful remote recruitment teams✅ The importance of culture, onboarding and management✅ Why transparency on pricing builds trust✅ How South African recruiters compare with UK talent✅ Common mistakes that cause offshore hires to fail✅ AI, recruitment and the future of global hiringOne of the biggest takeaways?"Price is only an issue in the absence of value."If you're considering offshore recruitment, this conversation will help you avoid expensive mistakes and understand what it really takes to make remote hiring work.🎙️ Guest: Ross Thompson, Founder of Infinity Staff Global🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma