In this episode we talk about the hidden flags recruiters miss, the lies candidates tell, and the tools AI gives us to finally get ahead. William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Mike Wolford live at the Fama booth during HR Tech to unpack real-life stories from the field and why the future of recruiting is all about data, not gut checks.
Key Takeaways
One contractor sent inappropriate emails in Russian, assuming no one would translate them — HR did
Overly detailed excuses in interviews often signal dishonesty or manipulation
Recruiters can spot bad actors by watching for unverifiable or overly polished claims
AI can help forecast patterns recruiters miss — like MRI tech catching cancer earlier than humans
Mike argues the real threat of AI is not violence, but preference — we’ll like bots more than people
Recruiters who rely on phone screens are falling behind — it’s time to automate the basics
Data-driven recruiting means knowing salary trends, response rates, and source effectiveness
AI should handle tasks like scheduling and screening so recruiters can focus on strategy
Strategic advisors win. Order takers and guessers get replaced
Success at HR Tech is about helping recruiters transition into data-first talent pros
This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.
You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here
Chapters
00:00 Live at Fama’s booth with Mike Wolford
01:00 The Russian email incident and HR’s translation surprise
02:00 Lies in interviews and spotting overcompensation
03:00 How AI helps recruiters see patterns before people can
04:00 Why AI will win our attention before it destroys anything
05:00 Recruiters must evolve into data-powered strategists
06:00 Scheduling, screening, and admin tasks belong to AI
07:00 What Mike hopes to get from HR Tech this year
Guest Info
Mike Wolford, Author of The AI Analyst
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewolford
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/WRKdefined
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