AI, Jobs & the Future of Work: What’s Really Changing?
In this episode of The Talent Fix, Barry Prost speaks with Andrew Hines, Lecturer in Computer Science at University College Dublin, about the real impact of AI on jobs and what skills will continue to matter most.We explore:What generative AI can and can’t do in the workplaceWhy “AI shepherds” are emerging as a crucial roleThe biggest misconceptions about AI in hiringThe skills future graduates (and current leaders) can’t afford to ignoreWhether humans will remain “in the loop” or be pushed outAndrew also shares insights from his work in speech AI, discusses the AI arms race in recruitment, and explains why critical thinking still trumps prompt engineering.Whether you’re a hiring leader, HR pro, or just wondering how to stay relevant in the AI era, this episode delivers the clarity you need.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome 00:49 – What Jobs Will AI Actually Replace? 02:00 – What Gen AI Can and Can’t Do 04:30 – Deterministic vs Stochastic AI 06:00 – AI’s Limits in Structured Environments 08:10 – Why Voice & Translation AI Still Fall Short 10:30 – What Are “AI Shepherds” and Why We Need Them 12:30 – The Case for Keeping a Human in the Loop 14:20 – AI Bias and Cultural Blind Spots 16:00 – Empathy, Context, and Hiring in an AI World 17:40 – The Skills That Still Matter 20:50 – Why AI Literacy Is Critical for All Careers 23:00 – The AI Arms Race in Recruitment 25:45 – Final Thoughts: Balance, Ethics, and OpportunityRead more on AI in Recruitment: https://rentarecruiter.com/ai-recruitment-leading-with-ethics-and-accountability/
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What Is a Skills Intelligence Strategy? (And Why Your Business Needs One)
In this episode of The Talent Fix, Barry Prost talks to Vanessa Wainwright, Founder & CEO of Abodoo, about how Skills Intelligence is transforming the way we work, learn, and hire. Discover why a Skills Passport, task-based jobs, and a common skills language are key to the future of work — and how organisations can implement a winning Skills Intelligence Strategy today.As the skills landscape changes rapidly — with 56% of businesses saying their core skills changed in the last 2 years, and 59% expecting more change by 2027 (Skillnet) — understanding what skills you will need and how to acquire them is becoming critical for both employers and employees.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome & Introduction01:01 – The story behind the name “Abodoo”01:41 – Why a skills-first hiring approach matters03:13 – Creating individualised skills pathways for every employee04:25 – The chaos of skills taxonomies & how Abodoo solves it06:51 – The outdated CV problem & rise of Skills AI07:45 – 55,000+ skills & keeping up with change08:13 – Tools like Skills Lens & Core Skills First System09:10 – The Skills Passport: What it is and how it works09:46 – Most in-demand skills of the next 5 years11:14 – Lifelong learning & empowering employees12:52 – Calculating the true cost of your skills gap14:19 – Mapping skills and personalising learning pathways15:51 – Skills marketplaces & internal mobility16:56 – Why jobs are evolving into tasks17:57 – Task-based hiring: What’s next18:39 – The importance of educating business leaders20:11 – Future role of Chief Skills Officer22:43 – Visualising your real-time skills assets23:31 – Measuring skills levels & transferable skills24:57 – Building fulfilling, flexible careers26:13 – How to sign up for Abodoo’s Skills First WorkshopSign up for the Skills First Masterclass: https://abodoo.com 💡 Subscribe for more conversations on the future of hiring, learning, and talent strategy.
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Are CVs Dead? Why Skills-Based Hiring Is Changing Recruitment (with Dr. John McMackin, DCU Business School) Episode 21.
In this episode of The Talent Fix, Barry Prost speaks with Dr. John McMackin, Associate Professor at DCU Business School, to explore why traditional CVs are becoming obsolete — and how a skills-first approach can futureproof your hiring strategy.From skills taxonomies to internal mobility barriers, we unpack the research and offer practical advice for HR and TA leaders navigating this evolving landscape.00:00 - Introduction & Guest Welcome00:54 - Skills vs Experience in Hiring02:20 - Why Skills Predict Performance Better Than Qualifications04:55 - Challenges of Adopting a Skills-First Approach06:45 - Importance of Shared Skills Language (Taxonomy)09:00 - Resistance to Skills Transparency & Internal Mobility12:00 - Starting with Pilot Projects in Skills-Based Hiring13:30 - How to Assess Skills Beyond the CV15:40 - The Role of Self-Assessment & Performance Management17:00 - Rethinking Job Descriptions & Qualifications19:45 - Addressing Bias in Hiring Decisions21:00 - Skills Passports: Empowering Employee Development22:50 - Where to Access the Full Research23:30 - Closing Remarks & OutroAbout Rent a RecruiterRent a Recruiter is a B2B embedded recruitment agency helping high-growth and enterprise companies scale their talent acquisition with flexible, cost-effective hiring solutions. Our embedded recruiters work as an extension of your internal team, helping you find top talent faster, smarter, and with less risk.We specialise in scalable recruitment across sectors and empower businesses with a skills-first mindset to match the right people to the right roles.Want to learn more or book a consultation?Visit https://rentarecruiter.com/ or connect with us on LinkedIn.
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Mastering Workforce Upskilling: Insights from Industry Experts. Episode 20
Mastering Workforce Upskilling with special guests, Breeda O’Toole from IDA Ireland and Carmel Keane of Fort Wayne Metals. Join us as we dive into the critical topic of workforce upskilling alongside two esteemed guests: Breeda O’Toole from IDA Ireland and Carmel Keane of Fort Wayne Metals. This podcast explores strategies, trends, and practical examples for embedding continuous learning into organisational cultures.Key Themes from the Podcast:1. Trends Shaping Workforce Upskilling2. Overcoming Challenges to Embrace Continuous Learning3. Practical Case Study: Fort Wayne Metals4. Strategies for Building a Future-Ready Workforce
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Future Stars: Identifying Success in Potential Hires. Episode 19
In this episode we talk to Charlotte Melkert, co-founder of Equalture, which is revolutionising the recruitment landscape. With an eye for fairness and a passion for disrupting the status quo, she's challenging the traditional reliance on CVs and transforming how we think about talent acquisition.Charlotte shares her views on which competencies (flexibility and learning ability) & traits (conscientiousness & proactivity) are the greatest predictors of a candidates success in the role. Charlotte gives some brilliant practical tips for how HR Managers can easily start to shift towards a competency based approach for hiring. For example 1) compare / contrast traits & competencies of your high performing teams vs your low performing teams; 2) Ask your Hiring Manager, what are the traits/competencies of the high performing individuals in your team? 3) Ask your Hiring Managers the 'Golden Question': if this person left the company tomorrow - what skills / competencies would you lose? Finally, Charlotte shares her view of the future of Talent Acquisition becoming a key strategic pillar of every organisation.
About The Talent Fix: Future of Hiring and Recruitment Innovation
Hiring makes or breaks growth - yet it’s one of the hardest things to get right. We cut through the noise with practical insights, fresh HR strategies, and expert takes on scaling fast, reducing costs, protecting culture, and building employer brands in a competitive talent market.
Each episode brings industry experts, business leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of hiring and recruitment innovation.
If you’re looking for practical insights, smarter strategies, and fresh ideas to fix your toughest talent challenges, this podcast is for you.
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