Leading Talent Acquisition today is a balancing act on several levels. You’re constantly navigating talent shortages, rising expectations from the business, endless KPI discussions, new tools, employer branding, candidate experience, team dynamics, and political stakeholder management. Anyone who believes TA leadership is mainly about filling open roles as quickly as possible is missing the point. Recruiting has become one of the most strategic functions in the company. Recru

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

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

Fear is part of the Game. Really? A while ago, I wrote about the fears that hiring managers bring into recruitment — the doubts that slow decisions and cloud judgment. But let’s be honest: it’s not just hiring managers who bring fears to the table. We recruiters carry our own baggage, too. Recruiters are often the first face candidates see — the moderators, translators, brand ambassadors, process managers, and sometimes, the human lightning rods between hiring managers, HR, a

Many companies face a paradox: while layoffs and hiring freezes are common, the pressure to fill critical roles quickly is still growing. This is evident in Germany’s automotive sector, where jobs are cut as companies shift to e-mobility and efficiency. In Switzerland, large banks are reducing headcount after mergers and cost-cutting. Yet, the skill shortage persists. When markets rebound, companies lack experienced professionals familiar with their organization and culture.

Why no internal move? Many organizations today are under enormous pressure for transformation. Cost reduction, automation, digitization, and geopolitical uncertainty are forcing companies into ongoing restructuring, hiring freezes, and targeted workforce reductions. What may look like regression at first glance can actually become an opportunity – if organizations make their internal talent visible and mobile. It's now about redistributing competencies, redeploying skills, an

Invest in your Skills, Employer Branders After exploring how recruiters can upskill for the new era of skill-based hiring, it’s time to shift the focus to their close allies: Employer Branding professionals. Employer Branding is no longer a “marketing experiment.” It’s a strategic weapon in the talent competition. The game has changed: glossy campaigns are out — authenticity, data literacy, content fluency, and digital confidence are in. In short, Employer Branding is now mor

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

Smart Recruiters skill up. Skill-based recruiting is rising—and it’s about recruiters now, too. Fall is an ideal time to invest in development, as the pace slows down and learning aligns with your schedule. Recruiting is changing fast. AI systems, data tools, remote hiring, and diversity demand new skills. Experience alone isn’t enough. Stop learning and risk losing relevance. Which skills matter now—and how can you certify them affordably? Here’s an overview of key recruiter

Illusion: The risk-free recruiting Recruiting isn’t an “HR topic” anymore. Every manager who hires is, in effect, a recruiter — whether...

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

As a recruiter, you typically conduct interviews, moderate assessment centers, and evaluate job candidates through tests. It’s easy to...

For decades, a career meant completing an apprenticeship or degree, joining a company, advancing for years, and eventually retiring. That...

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When discussing gender inequality in the labor market, pay gaps often dominate the conversation. However, a new, quieter divide is...

If your feed makes it seem like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, or Grok can land you a job overnight, here’s the grounded truth: these...