Artificial intelligence has moved beyond experimentation in recruiting. Tools like CV parsing, matching algorithms, chatbots, and automated scheduling are now standard. The logical next step is the AI-conducted interview. More vendors now use algorithm-analyzed video interviews to assess candidates' language, word choice, speaking pace, facial expressions, and eye contact. The central question, however, is not whether this technology can  be used, but whether it should be exp

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act)  has been in force since 1 August 2024. That part is widely known. What is far less understood: recruiting is one of the most heavily regulated domains under the regulation. Most AI-driven hiring tools fall into the “high-risk”  category. As of August 2026 , extensive compliance obligations apply to any organisation using them. If you have not started preparing yet, you are effectively betting on time. So what exactly must Talent

Many organizations operate their recruiting based on ambitious targets: shorter time-to-hire, more applications, and lower costs. These goals are meaningful — but they are not a strategy. Goals define what  should be achieved. A TA strategy explains how  to get there and why  this approach leads to success. In today’s competitive labor market and global race for skills, operational efficiency alone is no longer enough. Talent Acquisition must chart a long-term path that ensur

This week marked one of my personal highlights of the year: the mother of all HR barcamps — HRBC in Berlin. I’ve been attending since the very first one back in 2012, which was still hosted in Sarah Wiener’s restaurant. And every year, the event quickly reveals whether HR is in a comfort or an orientation phase. This time it was clearly the latter. And honestly, it was more interesting than it has been in years. Crises sometimes have their upside. Even the session pitches sho

Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT & Co. are increasingly being tested in recruiting. Upload a résumé, analyze a LinkedIn profile, assess personality and intelligence – and the “smart pre-selection” is done. Sounds efficient. But is it? A recent study by Tobias Marc Härtel in the Journal of Business and Psychology  examined exactly that. Microsoft Copilot analyzed 406 LinkedIn profiles. The individuals behind those profiles had previously completed validated psychological assessments

The current lawsuits against Workday  and Eightfold  mark a sharp escalation in the debate around AI in HR. And rightly so. Even though only two well-known providers of innovative recruiting solutions are involved, the implications affect every organisation that uses algorithmic systems in recruiting, especially those that have relied too heavily on technology and now bear the responsibility for it. The mere fact that the lawsuits have been admitted sends a clear and importan

For many years, my own position was clear – and it will sound familiar to many recruiting teams across the DACH region: a strong focus on the big players in the job board market. Above all, LinkedIn, complemented by Indeed, StepStone, jobs.ch, karriere.at , or other regional “big players.” The logic behind this approach was clean, rational, and easy to justify. Maximum reach. Simple processes. Clear economies of scale. One contract, one report, predictable volumes. Done. The

The digital landscape is evolving faster than many recruiting teams can keep up with. For more than a decade, everything revolved around Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But today we are standing at the threshold of a new concept: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) . GEO refers to the optimization of content for AI-driven answer engines such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, or Microsoft Copilot. These tools are rapidly becoming the primary information source fo

In 2026, your career site will determine whether candidates can find you—both directly and through AI engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. Traditional career pages resemble “job boards in corporate branding,” but modern sites must make skills visible, be structured for generative AI, and act as an analytics cockpit. Leading industry publications and market analyses agree: the future belongs to employers who unite skill-based hiring, GEO, and data-driven optimization i

TL;DR Niya.ai  turns WhatsApp into a personal career coach  — great for résumé tuning, interview prep, and skill development. The job-search function needs polish, but as a free, multilingual tool that meets you where you already chat, it’s one of the most accessible AI career assistants. The long version Recently, I stumbled upon Niya.ai , a service that promises career coaching and job-search support — entirely through WhatsApp . Sounds bold: can serious career advice reall

A little while ago, I wrote about the potential of internal talent marketplaces during crises. Today, I want to dive deeper into how AI is accelerating this concept and what opportunities it creates. The world of work is changing at breakneck speed. Talent shortages, new technologies, and flexible working models are putting organizations under enormous pressure. But within this complexity lies a huge opportunity: investing in developing your existing workforce rather than rel

Skills must be validated In recruiting circles, terms such as “ skill-based hiring,” “skills-first recruiting,”  or “competency-based selection”  are gaining popularity. Many organizations see this as the key to fairer hiring, better matches, and broader access to talent. But what’s really behind it — and where are the hidden pitfalls? What Is Skill-Based Recruiting? Skill-based recruiting shifts the focus from “what you are”  — your degree, title, or job history — to “what y

If you’ve noticed a significant drop in your LinkedIn reach over the past few months, you’re far from alone. Many users, companies, and marketers report the same trend: despite a consistent strategy, solid content, and an active community, impressions, comments, and interactions have dropped sharply. So what’s behind these shifts in your LinkedIn metrics? A closer look shows LinkedIn itself is evolving—both technically and  strategically. The algorithm (the software that deci

I recently read The Alignment Advantage Report by Checkr , which surveyed 3,000 HR professionals and 3,000 job candidates about how AI is used and perceived in recruiting. The report offers direct comparisons of expectations and values from both groups, identifying where perceptions align and diverge. These differences reveal actionable insights for recruiting teams using AI now or in the future. The Study Base: 6,000 Perspectives on AI in Recruiting The report explores, amon

Learning is a management skill. Leveling up your TA team isn’t enough—the focus shifts to those who guide and develop them: Talent Acquisition leaders . The role of TA has undergone a radical change. Yesterday’s focus: operations (processes, KPIs, time-to-hire). Today’s mandate: strategy, technology fluency, data intelligence, and people leadership. Leading TA means acting as a strategist, change manager, analyst, and brand ambassador. With AI, automation, and skill gaps chan

Choosing an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a key HR decision. An ATS does more than track applications; it shapes candidate experience, recruiter efficiency, and data integration. Many ATS rollouts fail due to poor preparation, vague requirements, and overlooked integration issues. A structured approach fixes that. 1. Preparatory Activities: Building the Foundation Start by organizing your internal processes before contacting vendors. Current state analysis: Which systems

I recently saw a viral "Job Ad from Hell" on LinkedIn—hilarious for all the wrong reasons. It’s a prime example of clumsy AI use in recruiting, and a reminder that DEI standards still vary greatly by region. JobAd from hell. Rather than focusing on poor examples, I wanted to explore what happens when AI is given a genuinely useful task. To explore this, I prompted my favorite assistant to analyze what the “perfect” job ad would look like for each generation, considering value

Since I keep getting asked about it, here’s a quick deep dive into the world of ATS technology. Before anyone panics, most companies...

AI in recruiting stopped being science fiction a while ago. CV screening, chatbots, matching tools – all here already. However, what’s...

In August 2025, SAP acquired SmartRecruiters, marking a significant disruption in the HR tech market. For many DACH companies, the ATS...