RecTalk

About RecTalk

Welcome to RecTalk, the UK's biggest recruitment industry podcast on YouTube and a Top 15% Video Podcast on Spotify! Hear from trailblazers in the recruitment industry who want to have their say on all things recruitment - unbiased, unfiltered, unscripted.

Publisher

Nitin Sharma, founder of rectools.io

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Jan 2023

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

351 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   TALKING TALENT - Ending Candidate Ghosting: How AI Is Changing Talent Acquisition | Pete Van Neste, Pinpoint

   Can AI make recruitment more human? 🤔 In this episode of Talking Talent meets RecTalk, recorded live at IHR Live London 2026, Sean Kennedy and Nitin Sharma are joined by Pete Van Neste, Chief Revenue Officer at Pinpoint, to discuss one of the biggest questions facing talent acquisition teams today: how can we use AI and automation without losing the human touch? With recruitment teams under pressure to do more with less, AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation. But while some organisations are racing to adopt new technology, others are concerned about candidate experience, personalisation and what automation means for the future of recruitment. Pete shares what he’s hearing from talent teams, how recruitment technology is evolving, and why automation could be the key to building more human, candidate-centric hiring processes. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • AI and automation in recruitment: Why some teams are embracing the technology while others are still figuring out where to start. • Ending candidate ghosting: How proactive updates, automated reminders and response-time SLAs can help ensure candidates aren’t left wondering what’s happening. • Making candidate experience more human: Why automation should support recruiters, not replace meaningful conversations. • Personalised candidate communication: How AI can help recruiters provide more relevant updates, thoughtful rejection feedback and tailored interview conversations. • The power of recruitment data: Using candidate wait times, interview notes, transcripts and scorecards to identify bottlenecks and improve hiring processes. • AI-powered recruitment workflows: How proactive alerts and automation can help recruiters and hiring managers stay on track. • The future of AI agents: Pete’s prediction for recruitment processes increasingly managed by AI agents, with humans involved at the moments that matter. • Smarter hiring decisions: How AI can help teams improve their processes, reduce duplicated assessments and learn from previous hiring outcomes. • Hiring for skills and potential: Why finding the right person means balancing the skills needed today with the ability to learn, grow and scale with the business. 💡 ONE KEY TAKEAWAY Automation shouldn’t mean less human connection. Done well, it gives recruiters more time to focus on the conversations that matter, while ensuring every candidate receives timely communication, clearer expectations and a better experience. 👥 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR This episode is for talent acquisition leaders, in-house recruiters, HR professionals, recruitment technology providers, employer branding teams and hiring managers who want to understand how AI can improve recruitment without compromising the candidate experience. Whether you’re already experimenting with AI or still working out where it fits into your hiring strategy, this conversation offers practical ideas for making automation work for people. In-house recruitment professionals came together to discuss the challenges, ideas and innovations shaping the future of talent acquisition. This episode is part of the Talking Talent x RecTalk conversations from the event. If you enjoyed the conversation, like, share and subscribe for more discussions with the people and businesses shaping recruitment. GUEST — Pete Van Neste: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-van-neste/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-van-neste/) Learn more about Pinpoint: https://www.pinpointhq.com/ (https://www.pinpointhq.com/) HOSTS Sean Kennedy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanthetaguy/) Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/) Recorded live at IHR Live London 2026: https://www.inhouserecruitment.co.uk/ (https://www.inhouserecruitment.co.uk/) Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ (https://www.rectools.io/) Find out more about RecTalk: https://rectalk.co.uk/ (https://rectalk.co.uk/) #RecTalk #TalkingTalent #Recruitment #TalentAcquisition #HR #RecruitmentTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #AIinRecruitment #CandidateExperience #Automation #Pinpoint #IHRLive2026

2. 

   23 Oct 2026

   International Recruitment Expansion: What UK Recruiters Get Wrong About the US Market

   In this special episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma hosts a TEAM International panel discussion (in partnership with TEAM Network) at Totaljobs HQ in London, exploring one of the biggest opportunities for recruitment businesses today: international expansion. Thinking about taking your recruitment business into the US, Australia, Canada or beyond? Before you invest in new technology, launch a new website or start targeting overseas clients, there are some important lessons to learn from people who work with recruitment businesses every day. Joining Nitin are four recruitment technology experts: 🔹 Emily White – Lead Account Manager at SourceWhale 🔹 Gordon Webb – Sales Director at Shazamme 🔹 Rohit Kapoor – Co-founder of Paiger 🔹 Nick Browne – Co-founder of Devyce 🌍 WHAT THEY DISCUSS • International expansion: Why the US market isn't simply an extension of the UK, and why a successful domestic recruitment business can't assume it will succeed overseas. • Choosing your target market: Why focusing on a specific state, city, niche and initial list of 100 target companies can be more effective than trying to tackle an entire country. • Localisation and credibility: Why changing your domain name and getting a local phone number isn't enough. Your website, terminology, salary information, workflows, testimonials and client experience all need to reflect the market you're entering. • Learning from mistakes: How poor localisation, excessive technology, weak market research and underestimating local competitors can undermine international expansion. • AI, automation and recruitment data: How recording conversations, capturing candidate preferences and analysing outreach can help recruiters make smarter decisions and build more effective campaigns. • The recruitment tech stack in 2026: From AI-powered meeting assistants and large language models to CRM integrations, automation and all-in-one recruitment platforms, they explore where recruiters should invest their time and money. • The future of recruitment technology: Why the industry could be moving towards fewer, more integrated tools rather than an increasingly complicated collection of disconnected systems. • The human element: Why technology can improve efficiency, but relationships, conversations, credibility and understanding your clients' businesses remain essential. • Entering the US market responsibly: Why international recruiters need to understand established local practices, respect existing supplier relationships and avoid assuming that the market will work the same way as it does at home. 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE PANEL Emily White: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-white-sw/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-white-sw/) Gordon Webb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonwebb1/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonwebb1/) Rohit Kapoor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kapoor-/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kapoor-/) Nick Browne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-browne-a8a829147/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-browne-a8a829147/) TEAM Network – Learn more about the recruitment community and its events: https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/ (https://www.theteamnetwork.co.uk/) Totaljobs  – Explore recruitment solutions: https://www.totaljobs.com/recruiters/ (https://www.totaljobs.com/recruiters/) HOST — Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/) Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ (https://www.rectools.io/) GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERS SourceWhale: https://www.sourcewhale.com/?utm_source=Rectools&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=podcast_TRN_paid_2026h2&utm_content=shownotes (https://www.sourcewhale.com/?utm_source=Rectools&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=podcast_TRN_paid_2026h2&utm_content=shownotes) Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/rectalk (https://www.ascen.com/rectalk) CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/ (https://corecruit.com/) Agile Partnering: https://www.agilepartnering.com/ (https://www.agilepartnering.com/) Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ (https://rectalk.co.uk/) #RecTalk #Recruitment #RecruitmentBusiness #InternationalExpansion #RecruitmentTechnology #RecruitmentTech #AIinRecruitment #RecruitmentAutomation #USRecruitment #RecruitmentAgency #TEAMInternational #Totaljobs

3. 

   21 Oct 2026

   AI Is Useless Without Your Data | Tom at Bullhorn HQ

   What’s the point of investing in AI if your recruitment data is a mess? In this episode of RecTalk, Nitin Sharma is once again at Bullhorn HQ in London, to sit down with Tom, Engagement Manager of Customer Success at Bullhorn, to discuss one of the most overlooked challenges in recruitment: getting your data right. With over seven years at Bullhorn and a background in recruitment himself, Tom shares why recruitment businesses need to stop chasing the latest AI tools and start focusing on the foundations that make those tools useful: consistent data, effective CRM adoption and better ways of working. Because whether you're running a recruitment agency or managing a team of consultants, your database is only as valuable as the information you put into it. 🔥 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE: 📊 Why data quality matters more than data quantity Having thousands of candidate records means very little if the information is inconsistent, incomplete or inaccurate. Tom explains why standardising the data consultants capture is more valuable than asking them to record everything. 🤖 Why AI is useless without good recruitment data AI might be transforming the industry, but it can't deliver meaningful results without reliable information to work with. Before investing in more tools, recruitment businesses need to get their data foundations right. ⚙️ Getting more out of your recruitment CRM Are you really using your existing tech stack to its full potential? Tom discusses why recruitment leaders should focus on optimising the systems they're already paying for before adding more technology. 📝 AI note-takers: helpful assistant or lazy habit? AI-powered note-taking can save time and improve focus, but are recruiters losing the personal touch? We explore how AI can capture useful information while still requiring consultants to review, validate and act on it. 🎯 Making your CRM your single source of truth With new recruitment tools appearing all the time, how do you prevent your consultants from spreading information across multiple platforms? Tom explains why a centralised, well-maintained CRM remains essential. 💎 The hidden value in your recruitment database Names, job titles and email addresses can be bought or sourced elsewhere. The real value lies in the information you build through relationships: motivations, salary expectations, notice periods, career aspirations and client relationships. 🤝 Why the human side of recruitment still matters As AI and automation become more prevalent, genuine conversations, trust and relationship-building could become even more important. We discuss why human interaction remains a key differentiator for recruitment businesses. 📈 Changing customer expectations Tom shares how Bullhorn customers are increasingly looking to optimise the systems they already have, improve adoption and identify gaps in their workflows as their awareness of technology grows. 📍 FILMED AT BULLHORN HQ, LONDON A huge thank you to the Bullhorn team for hosting us. GUEST — Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-s-586b7117b/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-s-586b7117b/) Find out more about Bullhorn: http://www.rectools.io/product/bullhorn/ (http://www.rectools.io/product/bullhorn/) HOST — Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/) Discover recruitment tools and services: https://www.rectools.io/ (https://www.rectools.io/) GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERS SourceWhale: https://www.sourcewhale.com/?utm_source=Rectools&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=podcast_TRN_paid_2026h2&utm_content=shownotes (https://www.sourcewhale.com/?utm_source=Rectools&utm_medium=Youtube&utm_campaign=podcast_TRN_paid_2026h2&utm_content=shownotes) Ascen: https://www.ascen.com/rectalk (https://www.ascen.com/rectalk) CoRecruit: https://corecruit.com/ (https://corecruit.com/) Agile Partnering: https://www.agilepartnering.com/ (https://www.agilepartnering.com/) Listen to RecTalk on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/ (https://rectalk.co.uk/) #RecTalk #Recruitment #Bullhorn #RecruitmentTechnology #RecruitmentSoftware #ArtificialIntelligence #RecruitmentAI #DataQuality #CRM #CustomerSuccess #Staffing #RecruitmentIndustry #RecruitmentLeadership

Who has been a guest on RecTalk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Carl Jones
• Lysha Holmes
• Kan Mallawathantri
• Nick Beecroft
• Ajmal Mushtaq

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

661,788

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

88

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

32

Contact RecTalk

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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• 

  The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

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• 

  Recruiting Alchemy with Andy Simpson

• 

  The Resilient Recruiter

Questions about RecTalk