RecTalk Podcast - Explore Recruitment Insights

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/

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

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 hiring

One 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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossnthompson/

🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma

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

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

Recruitment doesn't sit still, and neither do we. This month's news roundup covers the trends, laws, and numbers every recruitment leader needs on their radar right now — from candidate ghosting to a game-changing shift in how executive search firms are using AI.Jeremy Snell (Your People Engine) breaks down the three candidate experience trends on the rise: ghosting, offer rejections, and "career catfishing." Andrian Marlowe (Lawspeed) unpacks the real cost of UK employment right now and the government consultation on zero hours contracts that could hand your temp candidates straight to your clients — without a transfer fee. Then we look at why AI-integrated search firms are growing 54% faster than the rest, the new EU pay transparency rules that just changed how your consultants can talk about salary, and the LinkedIn stats proving thought leadership beats traditional marketing every time.Featuring:🎙️ Jeremy Snell (Your People Engine)🎙️ Andiran Marlowe (Lawspeed / Association of Recruitment Consultancies)🎙️ Tayla (Thinking Circles)🎙️ Ross Thompson (Infinity Staff Global)🎙️ Robert Woodford (The Marketing Junction)🎙️ Akshad (Recruiterflow)Topics discussed include:✅ Why 64% of candidates say they've been ghosted post-interview✅ Job offer rejections almost doubling in two years✅ "Career catfishing" and why it's rising fast under-30s✅ The real cost of employing someone in the UK in 2026✅ The zero hours contract consultation and what it means for temp-to-perm✅ Why AI-integrated search firms are outgrowing everyone else✅ Agentic orchestration: what it actually means for your workflow✅ The EU Pay Transparency Directive — what's banned, what's now mandatory✅ Why LinkedIn thought leadership is outperforming product marketingOne thing's clear across every story this month: the businesses paying attention to what's changing — legally, technologically, and culturally — are the ones staying ahead. The rest are just absorbing the cost.🎤 Hosted by Nitin SharmaIf you're a recruiter, business owner, or talent leader trying to keep up with where the industry's actually heading, this one's for you.🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, HR professionals and industry experts.#Recruitment #RecruitmentNews #AIRecruitment #EmploymentLaw #EUPayTransparency #ZeroHoursContracts #ExecutiveSearch #RecruitmentMarketing #HR #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #FutureOfWork

Can AI make better hiring decisions than recruiters?

Dave Jenkins, founder of Wave, doesn't think so.

In this episode, Nitin Sharma visits Wave HQ to explore how recruitment technology is evolving, why candidate attraction matters more than simply posting jobs, and where AI should — and shouldn't — be trusted in the hiring process.

Rather than replacing recruiters, Dave explains why technology should help recruiters work faster without taking away the human judgement that makes great hiring possible.

✅ Why Wave evolved from a traditional multiposter into a candidate attraction platform
✅ How AI can speed up recruitment without replacing recruiter expertise
✅ Why recruiters should never let AI make hiring decisions for them
✅ The hidden cost of searching job boards before your own CRM
✅ Candidate attraction vs job advertising explained
✅ Why recruitment businesses should focus on their niche, not just Boolean searches
✅ Building technology that supports recruiters instead of replacing them
✅ The future roadmap for Wave and the mission to ensure "talent is never missed"

Dave also shares his thoughts on market conditions, surviving difficult recruitment markets, and why business owners should stay focused on what they can control.

"Focus on the things that you can actually influence… and work bloody hard."

🎙️ Guest: Dave Jenkins, Founder of Wave

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefromwave/

🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma

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

📍 Recorded at Wave HQ

Whether you're an agency recruiter, talent acquisition leader or recruitment business owner, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on AI, recruitment technology and why human expertise still wins.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders and technology innovators shaping the future of hiring.

🔗 Get in touch with these recommended suppliers

SourceWhale: https://sourcewhale.com/

CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/

Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/

Infinity Staff Global: https://www.infinitystaffglobal.com/

#Recruitment #AI #RecruitmentTechnology #Hiring #Recruiters #Wave #CandidateAttraction #HRTech #TalentAcquisition #RecruitmentBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #RecTalk #RecruitmentPodcast #Staffing #FutureOfWork

DEI. Diversity. Inclusion. Neurodiversity. Workplace culture.Few topics create more debate in business right now.Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Sean Kennedy and Nitin Sharma sit down with Michael Platt and Parul Singh for an honest, balanced conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, why so many organisations struggle to get buy-in, and whether businesses are approaching DEI in the right way.This isn't a corporate tick-box discussion.It's a real conversation exploring the challenges, misconceptions and opportunities surrounding inclusion in modern organisations.Topics include:✅ Why DEI often receives resistance from employees and leaders✅ The commercial case for diversity and inclusion✅ Neurodiversity in recruitment and the workplace✅ Why data matters more than good intentions✅ The role HR should (and shouldn't) play in driving inclusion✅ Employee resource groups, workplace culture and leadership accountability✅ The difference between performative initiatives and meaningful change✅ Why inclusion should benefit everyone, not just specific groupsOne of the most thought-provoking discussions from IHR Manchester, this episode challenges assumptions from every angle while exploring what true inclusion looks like in practice.🎙️ Guests:Michael PlattParul Singh🎤 Hosts:Nitin SharmaSean Kennedy📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterSubscribe for weekly conversations with recruiters, talent acquisition leaders, HR professionals, founders and industry experts.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday and Friday#DEI #DiversityAndInclusion #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #HR #Neurodiversity #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Recruiting #HRPodcast #RecTalk #IHRManchester #Inclusion #EqualityAtWork

What can UK recruiters learn from the US market? And what separates recruitment businesses that continue to grow during difficult economic conditions?Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026, Nitin Sharma speaks with recruitment business owners, international recruiters and long-standing TEAM members about growth, resilience, relationship building and the future of recruitment.Featuring conversations with:🎙️ Johnny (US-focused Design Recruitment Specialist)🎙️ Kat King (Recruitment Marketing & Community Builder)🎙️ Stephen Kennedy (Town Partners)🎙️ Stuart Moore (Plus One Recruitment)Topics discussed include:✅ Why UK recruiters have a competitive advantage in the US market✅ The biggest opportunities for recruiters looking internationally✅ Lessons learned from 20+ years in recruitment✅ How to survive market downturns and economic uncertainty✅ Why relationship-driven recruiters continue to outperform competitors✅ Using AI to remove admin while keeping the human touch✅ Building long-term client partnerships instead of transactional business✅ The value of communities like TEAM for independent recruitersOne recurring theme runs throughout this episode: recruitment is still a people business. The technology may evolve, markets may change, but trust, relationships and reputation remain the foundations of long-term success.🎤 Hosted by Nitin Sharma📍 Recorded live at TEAM Conference 2026Subscribe for weekly conversations with recruiters, agency founders, talent leaders and industry experts.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday and Friday#Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #TEAMConference #Recruiters #StaffingIndustry #AgencyRecruitment #BusinessGrowth #RecruitmentAgency #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #RecruitmentPodcast #RecTalk #AIInRecruitment #Leadership #entrepreneurship

Book your place on Lawspeed’s seminar on 7th July regarding the consultation on zero/guaranteed hours contracts:

https://www.lawspeed.com/consultation-on-guaranteed-hours-contracts-seminar/

What could be the most significant change to hit the recruitment industry since the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR)?

In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma sits down with Adrian Marlowe and Theresa Mimnagh from Lawspeed to unpack the Government's proposed Guaranteed Hours consultation and why recruiters, staffing firms, employers, and contractors should be paying close attention.

The discussion explores the proposed requirement for hirers to offer agency workers direct contracts after a reference period currently suggested at 12 weeks, and the potentially far-reaching consequences this could have on temporary staffing, contract recruitment, workforce flexibility, and business growth.

Adrian and Theresa share their concerns around:

• Why this could be the biggest recruitment industry shake-up since AWR
• The Government's rationale behind guaranteed hours legislation
• Whether agency workers are genuinely being protected or whether flexibility is being undermined
• The impact on temporary staffing, contract recruitment, and contingent workforce models
• How recruitment agencies may need to rethink their commercial models and pricing structures
• The potential knock-on effects for clients, contractors, SMEs, and large employers
• Risks around transfer fees, compliance costs, and employment tribunal claims
• Why many agencies fear this could reduce hiring, increase costs, and hinder growth
• The unintended consequences that policymakers may not have fully considered
• How recruitment businesses can influence the consultation before legislation is finalised
• The role of ARC (Association of Recruitment Consultancies) and Lawspeed in helping the industry navigate these changes

This is an essential listen for anyone involved in recruitment, staffing, workforce planning, HR, temporary labour, contractor management, or employment law.

Who This Episode Is For

• Recruitment agency owners
• Staffing and workforce solution providers
• Temporary recruitment specialists
• Contract recruitment businesses
• HR leaders and hiring managers
• Recruitment consultants and directors
• Compliance professionals
• Employment law specialists
• Workforce planning teams
• Business owners reliant on temporary labour

🔗 Connect with the guests

Adrian Marlowe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianmarlowe/

Theresa Mimnagh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresamimnagh/

Learn more about Lawspeed: https://www.rectools.io/product/lawspeed/

Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC): https://www.arc-org.net/

🔗 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 #StaffingIndustry #RecruitmentAgency #TemporaryRecruitment #ContractRecruitment #EmploymentLaw #Lawspeed #ARC #AgencyWorkers #AWR #GuaranteedHours #RecruitmentCompliance #WorkforcePlanning #RecruitmentLeadership #Hiring #Contractors #UKRecruitment #FutureOfWork #NitinSharma

Recorded live from the IHR Live Lounge in Manchester, this special edition of RecTalk sees Nitin Sharma joined by co-host Sean Kennedy from Talking Talent, alongside Peter O'Rourke from Handshake, one of the fastest-growing early talent platforms helping employers connect with students and graduates at scale.

In this episode, Peter explains why Handshake is much more than a job board. With over one million students on the platform, Handshake focuses on precision hiring, helping employers build meaningful relationships with future talent long before graduation. The conversation explores how employers can reduce application overload, improve candidate quality, create stronger graduate pipelines, and build employer brands that resonate with the next generation of workers.

Nitin and Sean challenge Peter on some of the biggest questions facing early talent recruitment today, including:

• Why graduate recruitment is broken for many employers
• The problem of receiving thousands of applications but making very few hires
• How students can stand out without traditional work experience
• The role of skills, extracurricular activities and personal interests in hiring decisions
• Diversity, inclusion and underrepresented talent pipelines
• The future of university education and graduate employment
• How AI, automation and global remote work are reshaping early careers
• Why businesses should invest in graduates beyond salary savings
• Building long-term talent strategies through employer branding and relationship building

The episode also features a follow-up discussion with three University of Liverpool students who actively use Handshake:

• Noor – Fifth-year Medical Student
• Mary – Second-year English Student
• Yusuf – Second-year Computer Science Student

Together they provide a candid view of what it's really like entering today's job market. They discuss the challenges students face when searching for opportunities, the frustrations of generic hiring processes, the importance of networking, personalisation in recruitment, and why resilience remains one of the most important skills for job seekers.

Some standout takeaways include:

• Why students feel like "just another application" in many hiring processes
• The value of meaningful employer interaction before applying
• How personalised recruitment experiences create better outcomes
• Why quality applications outperform quantity applications
• The importance of consistency, resilience and relationship building
• How employers can better engage Generation Z talent
• Practical advice for students navigating an increasingly competitive jobs market

Whether you're an employer hiring graduates, an early careers professional, a recruiter looking to improve candidate engagement, or a student preparing to enter the workforce, this episode offers valuable insight into the future of talent acquisition from both sides of the hiring equation.

🔗 Connect with the guest

Peter O’Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-orourke/

Learn more about Handshake: https://joinhandshake.co.uk/

🔗 Connect with the hosts

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

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/

#RecTalk #Handshake #GraduateRecruitment #EarlyCareers #TalentAcquisition #EmployerBranding #StudentRecruitment #FutureOfWork #HiringStrategy #RecruitmentTechnology #IHRLive #UniversityRecruitment #HRTech #GraduateHiring #RecruitmentPodcast #NitinSharma #SeanKennedy #PeterORourke

Is Talent Acquisition facing its biggest challenge yet?Recorded live at IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma and Sean Kennedy sit down with talent acquisition leader Akbar Karenga for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of hiring, the state of recruitment, skills-based hiring, DE&I, neurodiversity, candidate experience and why the industry may have become too reliant on shortcuts.While everyone else is talking about AI, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually matter:✅ Why recruitment "got lazy" after the post-Covid hiring boom✅ The growing importance of skills-based hiring✅ Why junior talent is disappearing from the market✅ How Talent Acquisition professionals can future-proof their careers✅ Neurodiversity, inclusion and designing better hiring processes✅ Why recruiters aren't going anywhere despite constant predictions of doom✅ The biggest trends shaping hiring over the next 12 monthsAkbar shares lessons from multiple economic downturns, challenges some of the industry's biggest assumptions, and explains why the best recruiters will continue to thrive regardless of technology or market conditions.🎙️ Guest: Akbar Karenga📍 Recorded live at IHR ManchesterSubscribe for weekly conversations with recruitment leaders, founders, talent acquisition professionals and industry experts.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday and Friday#Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #Hiring #HR #Recruiting #DEI #Neurodiversity #FutureOfWork #IHRManchester #RecTalkPodcast #TalentManagement #EmployerBranding #RecruitmentPodcast #HiringTrends #HRTech