The Power of People Building

Hosted by hackajob

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Dec 2025

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About the show

In this weekly podcast series, hosted by hackajob's VP of Talent Solutions, Sam Berthoud, we aim to break the status quo and encourage conversation on all things people and culture. On this podcast, we celebrate the individuals who are building the future. Providing a peek behind the curtain of some of the best-in-class TA teams that are creating high-performing tech organizations, this podcast explores the mindset, habits, and strategies of individuals who consistently strive to break technical boundaries and build the teams that do so!

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46 recent

December 19, 2025Episode 4128 min

Employer brand that works: How to measure real business value

What does employer brand impact actually look like in 2025?In this episode, Sam Berthoud is joined by Riley Stefano (Head of Global Employer Brand & Talent Marketing at Celonis) and Nicole Brancheau (Global Employer Brand Manager for Engagement & Reputation at Qualtrics) to break down how leading teams are measuring employer brand beyond vanity metrics.They cover: Why impressions and click-through rates no longer tell the full story How brand influence shows up in time to hire, offer acceptance, and retention What metrics actually resonate with the C-suite Why employer brand is becoming a measurable growth lever, not a side project Two data-driven leaders. One shared goal: proving the real business value of employer brand in a world where quality matters more than volume. Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: ⁠https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb⁠

November 27, 2025Episode 4030 min

The metrics that actually matter: Redefining TA’s value in 2026

Talent Acquisition has spent years reporting the same familiar metrics: time to fill, cost per hire, application volume. They’re easy to track, easy to present, and often… completely disconnected from business impact.In this live session, Melissa Thompson (Global Head of Talent Acquisition, Ford), Dan Caines (Head of Talent Acquisition, Babcock International Group) and Sam Berthoud (VP of Talent Solutions, hackajob) break down what actually matters in 2026.This conversation digs into how TA teams can move from vanity metrics to value metrics, build stronger partnerships with the business, and prove their real contribution to revenue, productivity and long-term success.What we cover:• Why traditional metrics fall short• How “Quality of Slate” gives recruiters true ownership• What foundations must be fixed before adopting AI or automation• How to speak the language of the business and win credibility• The shift from reactive hiring to predictive planning• The metrics that will define TA success in 2026• Why “time to impact” will matter more than “time to fill” Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

November 21, 2025Episode 3937 min

The illusion of thinking: How AI in recruitment risks flattening what makes hiring human

Sam Berthoud sits down with Matt Buckland and Hung Lee to get honest about what AI is actually changing in recruitment and where the real risks and opportunities sit today. They explore: Why automating a broken process doesn’t make it better How AI pushes hiring toward the “average” and why that’s dangerous The rise of a two-tier candidate experience What AI should support (and what it shouldn’t) Why TA teams must keep the value of the efficiency they create If you’re in TA, People, or building teams, this is the AI conversation worth having. Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

November 18, 2025Episode 3837 min

Quality over quantity: Attract the right candidates in the age of AI

Quality over quantity. It’s the challenge almost every hiring team is facing in 2025. Application numbers have exploded, AI makes it easier than ever to apply to everything, and regulated industries face tighter restrictions than most. So how do you attract the right candidates, without drowning in noise?In this episode, Sam Berthoud (VP of Talent Solutions, hackajob) sits down with:• Celinda Appleby, Director, Visa• Zak Ahmed, Talent Attraction Manager, LeonardoTogether, they break down the realities of hiring in regulated industries, what strong employer brand messaging actually looks like, and how teams can show up where talent actually spends their time. From EVP research to niche channels, referrals, networks, storytelling and metrics that matter, this episode is packed with practical insights you can use today. Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

November 11, 2025Episode 3731 min

From noise to signal: How conversational AI is transforming hiring

Recruitment always comes down to two moments: getting the brief right and selling the role effectively. In this conversation, we explore how conversational AI and voice technology are transforming both. Becky Lee-Roche (ElevenLabs), Victoria Davies, and Sam Berthoud (hackajob) discuss how AI agents are reshaping hiring — from reducing time-to-align with hiring managers to improving candidate prep and connection. Topics covered: • How voice reduces noise at the top of the funnel• Improving candidate trust and recruiter efficiency• Adoption across tech and non-tech roles• What’s next for AI-enabled hiring Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

October 3, 2025Episode 3633 min

The rise of agentic AI | Why hiring teams are choosing a new way to recruit

Recruiters are dealing with more applications, smaller teams, and less time to focus on people. Traditional tools can’t keep up — so what’s next?Enter agentic AI.In this episode, we break down what agentic AI really means for hiring, how it’s already changing the game for forward-thinking teams like Version 1, and what to watch out for beyond the hype.You’ll hear:⚡ Why agentic AI matters now and the changes it brings to hiring👥 A customer perspective from Version 1 on making the shift🔎 How to cut through the noise when evaluating AI tools✅ Why hackajob’s approach is different: built for compliance, explainability and flexibility🚀 Early lessons from teams already saving time and hiring smarterFeaturing:Mark Chaffey, CEO @ hackajobSam Berthoud, VP of Talent Solutions @ hackajobJonathan Cornell, Head of Talent Acquisition @ Version 1Join us for an honest conversation on the future of hiring — and how agentic AI could become the co-worker you didn’t know you needed.Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

September 30, 2025Episode 3531 min

The rise of fake talent: Why verification matters more than ever

Recruiters today aren’t just screening candidates — they’re screening AI. From ChatGPT-written CVs to voice-modded interviews, AI-generated applications are changing the hiring landscape. And in remote or hybrid processes, it’s harder than ever to know who’s really behind the profile. In this episode, Sam Berthoud sits down with TA leader Denise T. and Frankie Rooney to unpack the new trust gap in tech hiring — and what talent teams can do about it. You’ll learn: ⚡ Why the tech hiring market is facing a trust crisis 🪪 The rise of fake profiles, deepfakes and “AI personas” 🧠 How leading teams are rethinking due diligence and verification 🚀 The impact on speed, quality, and stakeholder confidence — especially for high-risk roles We also share how hackajob is tackling this challenge with Verified Candidates: a new feature that brings peace of mind to remote tech hiring with fast, secure identity checks — right inside your workflow.

September 18, 2025Episode 3437 min

Beyond Job Descriptions: AI, Performance-Based & High-Touch Hiring

Traditional job descriptions aren’t working. So how do you hire better, faster, and smarter in 2025? In this session, Sam Berthoud is joined by Lou Adler—author of Performance-Based Hiring —to break down what actually works in today’s market. You’ll learn: 📌 Why job descriptions fail (and what to use instead) 🔍 How to define real performance objectives 🤖 Where AI can scale hiring without losing the human touch 🧠 Tools, prompts & systems you can start using today 🚀 How to run a full hiring sprint—from scoping to onboarding Plus, Lou demos how AI helps create job descriptions in seconds, build interview guides, assess talent, and support onboarding—while keeping recruiter judgment at the centre. Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

September 11, 2025Episode 3335 min

Sourcing in Natural Language - Powered by Voice

We’re entering a new sourcing era — one where you don’t need perfect prompts, boolean logic or endless filtering. 🎤 Just speak naturally, and let hackajob intelligence do the rest. That’s #VibeRecruiting. In this session, Sam Berthoud, Frankie Rooney and Christopher Howlin give you an exclusive look at the latest evolution of hackajob intelligence — and how it’s already helping hiring teams work smarter, faster, and more intuitively. What you’ll see in this video: 👉 A live walkthrough of hackajob’s latest product release in action 🎬 👉 How natural language and 🗣️ voice-first workflows make finding talent faster 👉 Why explainability + inference = 12X better conversion than applications 📊 👉 How to make better hiring decisions with real-time insights 👉 Real-world use-cases and results from early adopters 👀Get a first-hand look at what we’ve been building for free: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb

September 4, 2025Episode 3232 min

Evolving from TA to Total Workforce Strategy

🧠 "Jobs will change. Roles will change. The way we get work done is changing." – Martin ThomasIn this session, we dive into the practical evolution from Talent Acquisition to Total Workforce Strategy.Here’s what we cover:📊 Strategic Workforce Planning First – Why setting long-term workforce goals is the foundation.🌍 Total Workforce ≠ Total Talent – Understanding the full spectrum of skills, automation, internal mobility, and contingent labor.🤖 The “Bot” Factor – How AI and agents are breaking down roles into tasks and what leaders need to do about it.🎯 The New Role of TA – Why Talent Acquisition must become a driver of workforce capability, not just employee headcount.Are you looking to hire the best tech talent out there? See how hackajob can help by booking a free, personalised demo: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thepopb