Talent teams see volume and call it abundance. Hiring managers feel powerless. Candidates are bruised into transactional behaviour. The result is a mirage - a hiring market that looks functional on the surface and breaks down at the point of placement.
In this episode, Jeremy unpacks why direct hiring is failing more often than internal teams admit, and what recruiters need to do about it. Volume has decoupled from quality. AI-enhanced CVs, AI-screened applications, and AI-written job specs are creating a feedback loop that hides real talent and surfaces look-alikes.
What you'll take away:
- The difference between an applicant and a candidate, and how to use it in client conversations
- Why hiring managers feel toothless even when they are senior
- The data that proves direct hiring is breaking down
- A reframe of agency value: candidate control and deal creation are now premium skills, not commodity admin
The numbers that matter:
- 57% of applicants abandon a process that feels like it's going nowhere
- 44% of candidates hold multiple offers in play
- 34% of Gen Z accept a job and don't turn up on day one
- 35% of accepted offers are reneged on (Gartner)
- 60% know the job is a bad fit at the point of acceptance
The finish line is the start date, not the signed contract. Human recruitment has now gone up to a premium - and this episode shows you how to prove it.
Full data report: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/szyzfyag54i6yo5tzhyde/2026-Hiring-Guide.pdf?rlkey=pts9xw2tesodqh097o5eljonl&st=hhjmlbzi&dl=0
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Your People Engine - The People Engine For The Recruitment Industry.
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Your People Engine - The People Engine For The Recruitment Industry.
Delivering context-rich learning and development initiatives for all levels of people in recruitment. Live sessions delivered every week and content that focuses on implementation through guided activities.
From new hires through to the top performers there’s an opportunity for everyone to grow and develop. The AI assistant curates relevant content on your behalf based on your questions.
That’s immediate access to what you want, when you want to develop performance.