Open To Work

For our 50th episode of the Open To Work Podcast, we’re doing something special. I’m joined by my wife — Mrs. Parker — for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to support someone through a job search. From the moment I was made redundant, through the highs, lows, and uncertainty, to finally landing a new role, she was there through it all. This episode shares her side of the story —...

In this episode of the Open To Work Podcast, career coach and former tech recruiter Farah Sharghi joins us to break down everything you need to know about navigating internal job moves—from preparing for internal interviews to dealing with the politics that often come with making a move inside your own company. If you’re eyeing a promotion, a lateral shift, or just want to grow without leaving you...

What actually happens during a background check? What can make or break a reference call? And could your social media presence soon be part of the process? Hamraj shares his legal insight and practical advice to help job seekers understand what’s being checked, why it matters, and how to prepare.🔍 Topics Covered:The difference between background checks and reference checksWhat employers are reall...

How do you become AI-ready in today’s fast-changing job market? In this episode, we speak with Martyn Redstone, founder of genAssess and an expert in AI for recruitment, about how both job seekers and companies can prepare for the future of work. Topics covered: • What does it really mean to be AI-ready? • The key difference between an AI-enabled candidate and an AI-ready employee • Practical AI s...

Stop Spamming. Start Connecting! Mike Peditto on Authentic NetworkingIn this week's episode, Matthew is joined by Mike Peditto, content creator, Talent Acquisition Director and job search advisor offering sound advice to those seeking to find the right job. The pair discuss the key topic of networking, focusing on what makes the process authentic and what you can do to improve your network. Si...

So, what does a recruiter actually do for candidates to help them find the right role for them? Today, Matthew is joined by none other than Steve Jacobs, fellow recruitment professional, managing director at AJ Exec, who has also worked at many household names including, McDonalds, Wayfair and Troi. The pair discuss how recruiters tackle the day to day influx of candidates, and give their two cent...

In this week’s episode, Matthew is joined by CEO of Mews, Matt Welle, as the pair discuss what candidates can do to stand out and excel when applying for roles at top companies. Matt shares his journey at Mews, highlighting key moments and experiences on what has impressed him from candidates he has interviewed, how the company tackles important issues such as diversity, gives advice on what you c...

How to actually use LinkedIn to get your next job! In today's episode, Matthew is joined by Gabi Preston-Phypers, top recruitment consultant who has worked with various big names such as Google Fibre, GSMA, and many more. The two discuss how job sourcing is changing for candidates, and what they can do to improve both their job searching successes, and supporting job sourcing to work with recr...

The great diversity debate, and how it impacts you as a job seeker. In this week's episode, Matthew and Aubrey Branche-Sarellano tackle the hot topic of recent weeks, exploring the impact of change in government in the US on diversity and the job seeker landscape. As a VP at Culture Amp, Aubrey is well versed in the difficult conversations surrounding modern work environments, and shares her i...

If you only watch one video to find your next job, watch this! In this week's episode, Matthew is joined by Farah Sharghi, who shares her experiences as a technical recruiter at several household names such as Google, Lyft and TikTok. The two share their know-how on how to best prepare for your next job interview, CV horror stories and how to make yourself more employable, both in the eyes of a re...

Do you think it's getting harder for trans people to find jobs? In this week's episode Matthew sits down with Talent Acquisition leader Bertie Jenner who talks through her experience on the job market, as a recruiting leader, and as a trans person. Sign up for our free weekly job search tips in our newsletter - https://opentoworktoolkit.substack.com/ Be sure to check out HireGuide's exclusive glos...

We've been assessing a foolproof framework for finding your next job! In today's episode, Matthew is joined by Alex Ayin, founder of Elite Team Tactics, with conversation focusing on high performers and what candidates can do to adopt the mentality required to operate at the highest level. The podcast features several key tips on how to focus your time and what you can do now to be better...

Companies don't hire candidates for skills, but we think they should! This week, Matthew is joined by Steve Lewis, the managing director of Hire Guide as our two experts discuss the current problems facing modern day company hiring techniques. AI continues to be a hot topic as the duo look at defining the right balance between structured interview approaches and proper company feedback. Sign up fo...

Structured, skills-based interviews lead to better interview decisions. This episode we really dig into the future of interviewing and why you're not getting your skills assessed properly.

This week Matthew is joined by Darren Bush, the Head of Talent Acquisition at Ericsson as they outline their predictions for the Job Market in 2025. AI came up (more than once), but importantly they outlined how AI can help and hurt your job search. Sign up for our free weekly job search tips in our newsletter - https://gethiredtoolkit.substack.com/ As ever thank you to our Sponsors: Alderson Jame...

In episode 37 Darren and Matt review the big changes that could impact Job Seekers in 2025

In this episode, Open to Work Podcast host Matthew Parker —LinkedIn Top Voice and founder of the Open to Work Community —is joined by Daniel Space (known as TheDanFromHR on TikTok), a seasoned HR Business Partner with over 20 years of experience in Big Tech and consulting. Together, they uncover the golden rules of job seeking and share actionable advice on what candidates should do differently to...

Eric Guidice is a seasoned recruiting leader with an impressive background. He has held key roles at Uber, Bird, and Clutter and is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Headcount365.

Morgan Williams is the Founder and CEO of Peak HR and serves on the Harvard Business Review advisory council. With over a decade of expertise in employee lifecycle development, corporate diversity, and people operations strategy, Morgan is recognized for her compassionate approach and strategic insight. She has successfully led large-scale initiatives across various industries, including downsizin...

Luke Victor is a seasoned talent leader and current Head of Talent at Cleo, bringing a robust background in technical recruitment. Known for his transparent approach and deep industry insight, Luke champions open conversations about compensation and career growth, empowering candidates and organizations to navigate the hiring process more effectively. Special thanks to our sponsors: Alderson James...

Matt Alder is the host of "The Recruiting Future" Podcast, one of the most influential Talent Acquisition podcasts globally, with over two million downloads across 600+ episodes. A published author and highly regarded Talent Acquisition expert, Matt brings over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through the rapidly evolving TA landscape. Special thanks to our sponsors: Alderson James: ht...

In this episode of Candidate Journeys, Matthew chats with Chris Redmond, Head of Recruitment at Abstraction Gaming, to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how to prepare and show up confidently throughout the interview process, from the recruiter screening to final interviews. Discover what it takes to make a lasting impression and explore exciting career opportunities at Abstraction Gaming by vis...

Kelly Dragovich, former Chief People Officer at Pendo, is a seasoned HR leader, advisor, and coach with extensive experience guiding mid-to senior-level professionals, particularly HR Leaders and Founder/CEOs. Kelly is a four-time Chief HR Officer and co-host of the HR Heretics podcast. Special thanks to our sponsors: Alderson James https://aldersonjames.com/ Metaview https://www.metaview.ai/

In this episode of Candidate Journeys, Matthew sits down with Melany Austin, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at GoDaddy, to give an insider’s view of the company’s hiring process. They dive into each stage of recruitment, from initial application to final interviews, sharing what candidates can expect along the way. Melany explains how GoDaddy's hiring process assesses both technical skills...

Matthew Parker is the founder of the Open to Work Community and host of the Open to Work podcast, as well as a LinkedIn Top Voice. With over 11 years of experience in talent acquisition, Matthew has led high-performing recruitment teams and shaped hiring strategies at companies like Procore and Zapp. In this episode, the interviewer becomes the interviewee as Matthew opens up about his job search...