Recruiting is No Joke

Did you know that emotional intelligence (EQ) can be a better predictor of job success than traditional hard skills? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Napoleon "Napo" Rumteen, founder and CEO of Interactive EQ, to talk about how emotional intelligence and soft skills are reshaping how we assess talent. If you've ever wondered why some candidates ace intervie...

AI is rewriting resumes. Candidates are deepfaking interviews. Job postings go live—and within hours? Thousands of applications flood in. So how does anyone actually hire the right person anymore? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee  sits down with someone who’s not just talking about the chaos—she’s living it. Meet Erin Turnmeyer, VP of People Operations at Civis Analytics, jugg...

When you’re applying to jobs in 2025, the world feels a little upside down. AI is everywhere. Remote work is under debate. And recruiters? They’re being asked to do more with less—again. So, how do we make sense of it all? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Logan Marsh, Head of Talent Acquisition at Calendly, to unpack the realities of hiring in a rapidly evolving...

Let’s be honest: recruiting is rarely simple—and in high-turnover, high-volume environments, it’s downright relentless. But what if we stopped overcomplicating it and focused on what really matters: clear expectations, streamlined systems, and actually respecting people’s time? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Matt Lowney, Managing Director of Talent Acquisition...

How many times have you opened that dreaded email—“We’ve decided to move forward with someone else”? Was it even written by a real person? An AI bot, maybe? Rejection stings, but silence stings more. So here’s the real question: do candidates deserve better? And are hiring teams truly prepared to give it? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee is joined by Trisha Degg, Head of Talen...

What’s really happening behind the scenes when you hit “apply” on a job posting? Does candidate experience actually impact business results, or is it just a feel-good metric? Today’s episode will make you rethink how hiring really works, whether you’re a recruiter or a job seeker. Joel Lalgee sits down with Cailean Bailey, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Design Pickle, a creative tech platfor...

Ever wondered how recruiters actually land interviews in today’s brutal market? Or what truly makes someone stand out when applying? This episode with Glenn Lindley is packed with raw, honest advice for recruiters and job seekers navigating a hiring world full of ghosted applications, AI-driven fraud, and overwhelming competition. Glenn shares why your network is your real résumé, why authenticity...

What does it really take to build a remote-first culture that actually works — not just one that’s an afterthought? How can AI become your secret weapon without losing the human touch in HR and recruiting? And what does “real candidate experience” even mean today? This week, Joel Lalgee sits down with Sarika Lamont, VP of People and Culture at Vidyard, for an absolute masterclass in recruiting, pe...

What if the key to unlocking the future of recruitment lies not in cutting-edge technology, but in the timeless power of human connection? Could AI, with all its promise, actually be widening the gap between recruiters and the candidates they seek? And in a world where side hustles are on the rise and trust is harder to earn, how can recruiters and job seekers alike navigate the ever-shifting land...

Can bootcamps really transform your tech career? You’ve seen the bold claims—“Land a six-figure tech job in just 12 weeks!” Sounds like a dream, but is it too good to be true? With bootcamps becoming a popular shortcut into tech, it’s time to ask: do they really work, or are they just another overhyped trend?   In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee chats with Daniel Odegaard,...

In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Ginette Harvey, a seasoned talent acquisition expert with nearly two decades in the industry. Ginette shares her journey from unexpectedly falling into recruitment to leading a multi-million dollar business, launching her own diversity consultancy, and now building a global blockchain talent acquisition company. The conversa...

Have you ever applied for the perfect job, only to realize it never really existed? What if the job market isn’t just competitive—but haunted? Across job boards and career sites, ghost jobs linger—positions that were never meant to be filled or were quietly abandoned by companies. But job seekers aren’t the only ones being deceived. Fake candidate profiles are also flooding the market, leaving rec...

Have you ever wondered if the increasing reliance on AI in hiring is slowly eroding the very human touch that makes recruitment so personal? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Jessica Begley, COO of Very, to explore key topics such as recruitment trends, employee engagement, and the role of AI in the workforce. Jessica shares her journey from Chief People Officer...

A job seeker submits their application. They wait. And wait. But there’s no call, no email—just silence. What they don’t know is that their fate was sealed in milliseconds, judged by AI-driven algorithms they’ll never see, for reasons they’ll never understand. Are we witnessing a revolution that will elevate recruitment to new heights? Or are we on the verge of losing the human touch in hiring for...

Recent Gallup findings show employee engagement is at its lowest in a decade, even worse than during the pandemic. In this thought-provoking episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Josh Drean, co-author of "Employment is Dead: How Disruptive Technologies are Revolutionizing the Way We Work." Together, they dive deep into the seismic shifts reshaping the modern workplace,...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to land a job in GovTech or defense tech? In this season-opening episode of Recruiting is No Joke host Joel Lalgee sits down with Tommy Weinert, recruitment lead and founder of Mount Indie, a dynamic agency specializing in government and defense tech recruiting. Tommy shares his unique journey into the world of clearance jobs, focusing on recruiting top-tier en...

Is the return-to-office trend finally losing steam? In this week’s episode, Joel Lalgee tackles a growing corporate misstep as companies like Dell struggle with flawed return-to-office policies that penalize parents and strain employee well-being. You’ll also hear a rare, heartwarming layoff story—yes, you read that right! Joel highlights how empathy can turn even the toughest moments into opportu...

Are you a job seeker trying to find your way in today’s tricky job market? Let’s be real—networking can feel like the magic key to unlocking career opportunities, right? But with so many people competing for the same roles, what challenges are you bumping into? And how has remote work changed the game for us all? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee dives into the ever-changi...

Ready to dive deep into recruitment strategies and tech innovations that are shaping talent acquisition? In this special episode recorded live at RecFest USA, Joel Lalgee sits down with Amy Cropper from TriCentis, Asud Anderson from Equinix, and Brian Fink from McAfee. You’ll hear unfiltered insights on how these leaders are using AI to revolutionize sourcing, build global talent pipelines, and ad...

Did you know that your employer brand could be the game-changer in attracting top talent today? In the latest episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee dives into the exciting world of employer branding with insights from industry pros like Maria Katris (Built In), Tannum Sullivan(Golden Hippo), and Celinda Appleby (Visa). Broadcasting live from Breakfast USA in Nashville, Joel and his gu...

Are we truly witnessing job growth, or is it just another statistical illusion? The U.S. August jobs report claims 142,000 new positions and a dip in unemployment to 4.2%, but can we really trust these figures? Is the much-anticipated September surge on the horizon, or simply wishful thinking? And why are recruiter job postings climbing when so many Australians are taking on multiple jobs just to...

Have you ever wondered how a seemingly thriving workplace could conceal a tragedy, or if your job security is at risk due to layoffs and deceptive scams? What if a radical shift like a four-day workweek could transform our work lives, or if massive strikes signal a desperate need for change in how we treat our workforce? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, Joel Lalgee explores pivotal storie...

Did you know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has overestimated job numbers by nearly a million since March? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee discusses the job market, recruitment practices, and job seekers' challenges. He begins by thanking listeners for their support following the podcast's rebranding, which boosted downloads. Joel then critiques the Bureau of...

Have you ever wondered how recruiters tackle the tough world of government contracting? Imagine the pressure of matching candidates to roles that require top security clearances, all while dealing with a job market that's anything but straightforward. In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Benjamin Mena, the founder of Select  Source Solutions and host of the Eli...

Are you still clinging to the belief that a polished resume is your golden ticket to landing that dream job? It’s time to rethink. In today’s whirlwind of recruitment trends, LinkedIn updates, TikTok tips, and social media frenzy, your online presence is just as crucial as your resume. With giants like Salesforce, Walmart, and Zoom pushing people back to the office, and mouse jigglers surfacing am...