The recruiting industry is evolving at breakneck speed. In this episode, Joel and Marcus unpack the seismic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, recruiting, and leadership.
Joel shares why HR leaders are more optimistic than recruiters about AI adoption, especially when it comes to offloading admin work and focusing on people-first strategy. Marcus explains why staffing firms must move from “tools thinking” to “systems thinking” and why discoverability, not just search, will define the next decade of business growth.
They dive into why ignoring AI could leave recruiters behind, how Generative Engine Optimization (AEO) will replace SEO, and why brand plus distribution equals trust in the new economy. The conversation also touches on Marcus’s LIST framework for teaching his kids (and business leaders) how to thrive in the AI era: Learn, Impact, Systems, Think.
Finally, they explore bold predictions like why software may soon be free and what that means for recruiting, staffing, and the future of work.
In this episode:
(02:59) Why HR leaders are optimistic about AI vs. recruiter fears
(04:14) AI as opportunity and challenge: from efficiency to change management
(07:30) Discoverability vs. search: how candidates and clients are really found
(10:15) From SEO to AEO: Generative Engine Optimization explained
(13:46) The flood of AI resumes and why storytelling still matters
(17:36) Trust at scale: why brand plus distribution win
(22:11) Marcus’s LIST framework for AI guardrails: Learn, Impact, Systems, Think
(24:33) Solving human problems with AI: zero admin and human connection
(29:08) Originality vs. algorithms: why having a bold point of view matters
About Marcus Sawyerr
Marcus Sawyerr is the Founder & CEO of EQ.app, a company reshaping recruitment by eliminating administrative overhead through AI. With 19 years of experience in staffing and recruiting technology, including serving as Global President of Innovation at Adecco, Marcus brings a rare blend of grassroots sales expertise, executive leadership, and product vision.EQ.app is built around a clear mission: Zero-Admin™. Marcus’s goal is to empower forward-thinking recruiting organizations with intelligent infrastructure that unlocks access to opportunity and drives real outcomes.
About Joel Lalgee
Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships.
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