Recruiting is No Joke · 2025-11-05 · 29 min
In this live episode of Recruiting is No Joke, recorded at RecFest 2025 inside the Purple Acorn Tent, Joel Lalgee sits down with two powerhouse recruiting leaders, Caroline Kiesler, Director of HR at Workwear Outfitters, and Kearstin McGinnis, Recruitment Leader at TekSynap, to explore what it really takes to stay relevant in today’s rapidly evolving talent landscape. Caroline shares her inspiring journey from staffing recruiter to HR executive and breaks down how recruiters can transition into broader people roles by understanding compensation philosophy, succession planning, and leadership development. She challenges recruiters to stop chasing time-to-fill metrics and start building strategic credibility with hiring managers by leading with insights, not just job requisitions. Then, Kearstin dives into how AI is reshaping the recruiting process inside government contracting and why keeping the human touch matters more than ever. From nurturing long-term candidate relationships to adapting outreach for Gen Z talent, she offers real-world advice on personalization, conference networking, and building meaningful connections in a noisy digital world.
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