The Tech Savvy Recruiter

AI is changing business communication but are we using it to work smarter or just faster?

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda and Andrew sit down with Veronica Fernandez, Strategic Partner Manager from Aircall, to explore how AI is transforming recruitment, sales, and customer service.

What you’ll learn:

- How AI handles repetitive tasks so you can focus on meaningful conversations

- Real-time coaching and data-driven insights to improve performance

- Ways to reduce call reluctance and boost confidence in sales

- Choosing the right AI use cases without losing the human touch

- Streamlining workflows to free up time for high-impact work

Whether it’s AI agents running first-round interviews or nudging you during calls, this episode shows how to amplify human skills, streamline your workflow, and build stronger relationships.

Connect with Veronica

linkedin.com/in/veronicafernandez-wonder

aircall.io

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr 

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate 

https://www.recmate.com.au/

Small businesses are under attack, and cyber threats are more real than ever. In this episode, Luke Irwin, fractional Chief Information Security Officer at Aegis Cybersecurity, breaks down the world of cybercrime - from email-based attacks and ransomware to social engineering and emerging AI risks. He shares practical steps for SMBs to boost cybersecurity, including frameworks like SMB1001, cybersecurity insurance, employee training, password management, and multi-factor authentication.

Learn how to build cyber resilience, protect your business, and recover quickly when attacks happen. Whether you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode gives you actionable insights to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Questions:

Get an overview of the landscape. What's happening? What should we be thinking about? 2:53-2:56

In Australia, the SMB 1009 and in The States, North America. Does that help with your insurance premiums? 14:5-14:58

With the SMB businesses, what are some of the typical breaches that you see? 16:49-16:57

Last time we spoke you gave a really good agenda of 60% or 70% of what people could do to stay safe. Would you mind running through that? 27:26-27:37

What percentage of Xero users do you reckon are actually backing up? 35:54-35:57

If you're thinking about backing it up, are there any sort of preferred smarter methods? 36:32-36:37

If you walked into a small to medium agency recruitment agency today, what would you say are the top three things you can do to bridge that gap? 44:57-45:06

Connect with Luke

linkedin.com/in/luke-irwin

E: [email protected]

W: https://aegiscyber.com.au

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr 

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate 

https://www.recmate.com.au/

Check out CyberWardens at https://train.cyberwardens.com.au

AI is everywhere in recruitment, but are agencies actually using it well?

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda and Andrew sit down with Ez Khan, Founder of Hume Scope to explore why many founders feel behind, and how early, simple adoption can create a serious competitive advantage.

From automating admin and improving productivity to enhancing candidate communication and building trust with clients, this conversation focuses on practical, real-world applications. The trio also discuss the difference between automation and AI, why prompt engineering matters more than most recruiters realise, and what the future holds for agency owners committed to staying relevant.

Questions:

What’s the biggest misconception small agency founders have about AI and recruitment tech right now? 1:43-1:50

What are founders sharing with you as their biggest concerns around where we are headed with AI?

And how can people like us support them? 3:28-3:45

What are we seeing now as practical use cases for AI? 7:41-7:47

What differences are you seeing between the founders that are doing well and those who are struggling? 28:59-29:11

What skills as a recruiter do I need to keep learning and honing? 35:54-36:14

If you were running a 2 or 3 person agency right now - what tools would be non negotiables in your stack? 41:52-42:03

Notes: https://fal.ai/ Download the Prompt Engineering file here - chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.07927

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate

https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is everywhere in recruitment, but what is actually working right now and what is just hype?

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rodger sit down with Martin Herbst, CEO of JobAdder, to unpack the real impact of AI on recruiter productivity, candidate selection, and client relationships.

With more than 20 years of experience scaling SaaS marketplaces, Martin shares how smart agencies are cutting admin by up to 50 percent, using AI inside their CRM workflows, and building stronger talent communities without losing the human connection.

You will learn where recruiters are wasting time, how to avoid shiny tech distractions, and why the future of recruitment is not about replacing people but freeing them to focus on what matters most.

Perfect for recruitment agency owners who want practical, no-nonsense insight into using AI to grow faster and recruit smarter.

Questions:

• When you zoom out and look at the industry where it’s up to now as a whole, how would you describe the current state of play of AI adoption in recruitment? What are recruiters actually doing with AI today versus what’s still largely theoretical? 2:55-3:15

• If we're thinking about the practical gains with AI at the moment without kind of losing the human connection, but what should we be thinking about from a practical perspective right here, right now? What are you seeing across your customer base? What are people doing? What sort of habits are they engaging? How are they engaging with the way that you've got JobAdder moving through? 11:41-12:00

• We're starting to see things like fake CVs and these sorts of things. How big a problem are they going to be? Are there going to be things that counter them before they get too out of control? 14:54-15:03

• What about when it comes to data too? There's a profuse amount of data available now and it's relatively inexpensive to harness. Do you feel like there's an opportunity for people to be using that more so and better as well? 21:20-21:33

• You've mentioned Adder intelligence. I'd love to get a glimpse behind the scenes a little bit around how the team's approaching or how they approach designing it and the ongoing modifications and enhancements. And I guess what core principles that you use to ensure that it's useful, trustworthy, and it's got that genuine improvement on what we need it to do for our day to day, to move that human back into the human stuff as we were just talking around, rather than the admin things. 22:28-22:54

• What do you think the next couple of years, the crystal ball of six months is a long time at the moment, but the next couple of years will look like for recruiters. And what should we be gearing up for? 28:50-28:58

• What about on the client side? How many are going to be losing clients because they can just do it themselves with more tools? 30:05-30:12

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr 

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate 

https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is reshaping recruitment faster than most agencies can keep up. In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Andrew and Belinda are joined by global HR influencer and recruiting tech expert Tim Sackett to cut through the noise and explain what is actually working right now.

They dive into AI screening, interview technology, candidate experience, bias reduction, hiring data, and the growing risk of candidate fraud. Tim shares practical insights on how agencies and TA leaders can use AI to improve quality of hire, speed up processes, protect their systems, and create better experiences for candidates and hiring managers alike.

If you want to understand where recruitment tech is heading, how to avoid costly mistakes, and where to invest your time and money next, this is a must-listen.

Questions:

As AI screening sits today, to your mind what’s working well, where are companies seeing the biggest impact and on the flip side where are we coming unstuck? 1:33-1:42

When it comes to interview technology as it is today and where you see the biggest disruptors that are coming for us putting that lens on, how do you think agencies should be approaching what's happening in our market? Where should we be investing as professionals to make sure we're staying up and maybe getting ahead of the game as well? 8:03-8:22

At what point do we put that human layer on it? For example, I've got a team and I've got eight blokes and I just want a bit of female energy and mix it up a little bit. But the AI is a kind of screening for not that. Do you feel like this process comes in at the end, or when do we start adding that in? 12:27-12:45

This whole concept of candidate fraud and fake resumes and fake interviews. Where are we going with all of this? 14:59-15:26

What are you recommending that people start to think about doing to both educate themselves and mitigate the risk? 18:16-18:23

Just thinking if we fast forward, say 3 to 5 years, if we were to look at that window of time, what do you think the interviewing process might look like? 21:50-22:12

When it comes to data, what do we need to be thinking about? What should we be measuring? What are your thoughts around the importance of it in the process? 33:14-33:21

A lot of thought leaders like yourself are talking about the importance of being across that conversation, trying things out with little baby steps where you can, I guess on top of understanding the problem that you're trying to achieve and improve upon. But before you try any new tech, is there anything else you'd say about helping people look in the right direction or to make better tech decisions? 40:34-40:56

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr 

Recruitment Garage

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

recMate 

Check out more from Tim on these platforms

Timsackett.com 

HR Famous podcast

Recruitment is shifting faster than most Recruitment Founders can keep up and Dexter Cousins joins us from Tier One People to dig deeper on what that means for our future. With almost 30 years in FinTech recruitment, Dexter breaks down the real impact of AI as he sees it, the human skills that will never be replaced, and the brutal truths most recruiters don’t want to admit.

We dig into client-centricity, personal brand power, where the market is heading, and how to use AI intelligently without losing your edge.

Listen in if you want to stay relevant, build relationships that last, and understand what the future means for you.

Questions:

What are some of the fun ways you’ve been using tech and AI? 07:14-07:18

How long do you think it is before a silver bullet appears for the recruitment space? 25:37-25:41

What technologies are you keeping an eye on that may not be just right yet to allow you to spend a little bit more time in the field having coffees with the right people? 48:31-48:40

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate

https://www.recmate.com.au/

Check out more from Dexter on FinTech Chatter:https://tieronepeople.com/fintech-chatter-podcast/

In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rodger chat with Adam Posner, founder of NHP Talent Group and host of The Pozcast, to explore how recruiters can harness AI as a tool, not a crutch. Adam dives into the future of recruitment, the gold rush of new tech, and how to balance automation with the human touch that truly connects candidates and clients.

Learn how to use AI to scale smarter, build stronger relationships, and future-proof your agency.

🎧 Tune in for practical takeaways, candid industry insights, and real talk on what’s next for recruiters who embrace tech the right way.

Questions:

You’ve got a foot in a few camps Adam and such a wide breadth of both commercial and life experience, what do you believe is going to be the next big challenge for recruitment founders? How is AI and Tech going to further its impact? 3:01 - 3:24

How advanced is the implementation of Robot or AI recruiters in your part of the world Adam? 12:46 - 13:10

What are your thoughts on OpenAI’s recent announcement of their jobs platform launch? 15:10 - 15:13

Do you think these smaller founders running their own recruitment agencies will eventually get stomped on, or is there still a place for smaller tech? 20:14 - 20:29

Adam to share a little bit about his podcast journey — what inspired him to start Pozcast, how he is growing it, and give any tips 25:30 - 25:55

It is really clear Adam that you’re a natural connector, genuinely interested in the welfare of others and building an engaged community is important to you. How can founders follow your lead here as they attempt to build meaningful relationships with their wider audience? 33:44 - 34:36

I know you are a cancer survivor Adam and I’d love to hear how you managed through that time with so much responsibility… a young family, work etc. And how you are feeling now. I see more often than I’d like stories about founders becoming unwell, so if somebody watching this is facing health issues what advice would you offer? 49:44 - 50:32

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate

https://www.recmate.com.au/

You can find Adam on the following platforms and shows:

www.nhptalentgroup.com

www.thePOZcast.com YouTube: youtube.com/c/ThePOZcast

The Purple Acorn HR Morning Show - https://open.spotify.com/show/7dFFBuqNWVNIIKPEsa3YC2?si=d97493b5277d4753

After nearly two years and 30+ expert interviews, hosts Andrew Rodger and Belinda Kerr sit down to unpack their biggest insights from The Tech Savvy Recruiter so far.

From the rise of AI agents and automation tools transforming recruitment workflows, to candid chats about staying curious, avoiding overwhelm, and future-proofing your agency. This episode is your fast-track catch-up on the biggest shifts in tech, tools, and trends shaping the industry.

Tune in for:

• Real-world takeaways from the show’s most inspiring guests

• How recruiters can use AI today (without the burnout)

• Why curiosity beats perfection in a fast-changing tech world

Perfect for: recruiters, staffing leaders, and tech-curious founders ready to turn innovation into a competitive edge.

1. Introduction: Highlights on AI and Tech

2. Kick off to some of their favorite episodes with Tech and Founders. What AR and BK gained most out of these series that they have been running (4:02-4:06)

3. Talk about automation (5:00-7:42)

4. Favorite guests and why (7:46-33:32)

5. What tools do you think are sort of coming into common play now that went, say 12 months ago, what is it that people you’re finding are using and engaging a lot more? (33:41-33:50)

6. Any parting words, comments, thoughts (38:46-38:49)

   
   

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr 

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate 

https://www.recmate.com.au/

AI is shaking up recruitment fast, and the biggest barrier isn’t the tech, it’s our mindset. In this episode, international recruitment director and AI consultant Kat Kingshott joins Belinda Kerr and Andrew Rogers to unpack how agency owners can ditch fear, embrace innovation, and build confidence in using AI tools.

Kat shares how to navigate change, avoid “tech overwhelm,” and create a team culture that’s curious and adaptable. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or leading a growing team, you’ll learn practical ways to make AI your ally, not your enemy.

Key topics:

- Mindset shifts that make tech adoption easier

- Overcoming recruiter fear and burnout

- Building AI literacy in your team

- Balancing human connection with automation

- Real-world tips for using ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity

Perfect for recruitment founders and leaders who want to future-proof their business without losing the human touch.

Questions:

When you talk about the mindset shift needed to adopt new tech, what will help founders make the leap to being more open and potentially less worried here? 2:04-2:14

Do you think recruiters are starting to second guess their importance or relevance in the whole recruitment ecosystem right now? 4:51-4:59

Do you have any other vibes how vendors could make it a little bit easier for us to make that change better? 11:15-11:21

I know Kat you help recruitment businesses audit their tech stack. What are the key things you are looking for in doing this? 18:43-18:52

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate

https://www.recmate.com.au/

Recruiters, tired of wasting hours scheduling interviews? In this episode of The Tech Savvy Recruiter, we sit down with

Brian Gabay, founder of Arrange, the scheduling tool built for recruiters, by a recruiter. Brian shares how frustration in his New York staffing agency pushed him to create a smarter way to coordinate interviews, cut out admin, and give recruiters their time back.

From non-technical founder challenges to scaling a SaaS product, this episode is packed with insights for agency owners, staffing leaders, and talent pros who want to work smarter, not harder.

Learn how to:

- Eliminate interview scheduling headaches

- Harness automation to save hours every week

- Adopt tech without getting overwhelmed

Hit play now and see how automation can transform your recruitment business.

Questions:Can you take us back to the moment when the frustration of booking meetings prompted you to build Arrange? And what was the specific pain point that triggered that? 1:54-2:04

You launched Arrange earlier this year. A brave move in a crowded market with no dev experience. How did you sort of pull that all together from ideation of that? I guess friction point through to building a tech solution. I'd love to know more. 4:31-4:46

What surprised you most about stepping into the tech founder role? 9:34-9:39

Were there any surprises there for you that you thought, this is kind of a little bit different to what I might have expected. 15:27-15:38

What challenges did you see with those clients making that change? And maybe how can other firms avoid that change process gap? In making a seamless pathway from adoption, implementation and then actually getting return on investment for tech. 17:51-18:04

We know that many founders are feeling overwhelmed by the explosion of AI. What advice would you give to those feeling this way right now? 20:16-20:43

If you had to pick just one process inside an agency that every founder should automate first, what would it be? Clearly after adding a scheduling tool:) 26:25-26:36

In a couple of sentences what is Arrange designed to do and how are you seeing it help founders? 28:20-28:25

Recruiters, imagine scheduling interviews without the endless back-and-forth. 💡 With Arrange, it’s possible. Sign up now and make interview scheduling effortless: https://app.arrangeai.io/signup?via=belinda

Connect with Belinda and Andrew:

LinkedIn Belinda Kerr

linkedin.com/in/belindakerr

Recruitment Garage

https://recruitmentgarage.com/

LinkedIn Andrew Rodger

linkedin.com/in/andrewrodger

recMate https://www.recmate.com.au/