I love technology and data. I probably spend more time reading or listening to content on the two topics than most. Last year during my conversation with Matt Alder, host of the popular The Recruiting Future Podcast, we spent some time discussing my vision for a Recruiting Utopia. Here are some of the highlights:
- AI assistant to help source and evaluate candidates
- A more rhythmic process to recruiting leveraging Sprint Recruiting
- More automation for recruiters to spend more time on value-added activities
- An intense focus on Talent Analytics to create candidate personas and more efficient recruiting strategies.
- An intentional push to recruit effective leaders, NOT effective managers.
I thought it might be helpful to share some reading for all things data and technology for recruiters!
Give me Data!

This year’s radical shifts have required recruiting leaders to focus more on data than previous years. The changing landscape has made us more aware of our need to make data-informed decisions. There are a number of tools available for recruiters to leverage data in every step of the process. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Visier’s Ultimate Talent Dashboard – If you need a simple yet powerful dashboard with all of the important analytical data at your fingertips, Visier’s product may be a good start. I share my thoughts and some screenshots in this post along with some ideas for implementing a more data-informed recruiting strategy.
- Create more efficient and attractive job descriptions with Data– Emsi’s free tool allows recruiters to unlock the power of job descriptions with their tool Emsi Skills. In the post, I walk through the tool along with some examples of how I’ve used it to create more impactful job descriptions. And if you’re one of those who think job descriptions are dead, read more about my thoughts on how job descriptions will evolve in the coming months. “Job Descriptions Aren’t Dead”
- View Real-Time job postings– COVID19 forced a lot of us to reevaluate how we use data in the job posting process. My friends at Emsi shared their dashboard to show job postings in real-time as a response to COVID-19. It’s a fantastic tool that has a number of benefits outside of COVID19 response strategies.
- Stop relying on your ATS for data– I’ve found most recruiters only use ATS data for their recruiting strategy. This year has proven just how short-sighted this strategy can be. Here are 3 Top Reasons WHY Relying on your Applicant Tracking System to Develop a Hiring Plan is a Mistake. This will definitely be something to consider as we all continue preparing for 2021.
- Reevaluate your Recruiting Metrics– The key to talent acquisition metrics is measuring what counts. I know it sounds redundant to say but there are a lot of recruiters and talent acquisition teams measuring the wrong metrics. Here are some ideas for your 2021 metric dashboard. Bonus: Recruiting by the Numbers– Panel discussion on the top metrics to focus on in the new Talent Acquisition Landscape found on the following channels: Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Radio
- Recruiting Automation Podcast-I discuss how BBVA USA has adapted its candidate interactions to nurture and welcome candidates through today’s unprecedented candidate journey. I also discuss how we use data to pinpoint and address inclusivity challenges in the hiring process, and share how BBVA USA has gone above and beyond in it’s own D&I culture, both on global and local levels.
Recruiting AI and Machine Learning

Each new year brings the topic of Recruiting or Talent Strategy to the forefront of business news. My discussions with other Directors of Talent Acquisition have shifted from strategies to tools to help us meet the needs of our businesses. The impact AI and machine learning can have in recruiting is very exciting. Here are some highlights from my discussions this year:
- 2 Ways Machine Learning can transform recruiting– Whether it’s more efficient sourcing or an enhanced candidate experience, machine learning will continue to force recruiters and recruiting platforms to evolve. Here are just 2 ways I see it impacting our industry in 2021.
- Leverage Wade & Wendy’s AI to transform recruiting– I have become slightly obsessed with how AI will transform recruiting, especially over the next 18 months. As I read how numerous industries leverage both AI and machine learning to create efficiencies, I eagerly await the pending boom of technology that will transform the recruiting industry. There are so many inefficiencies in every recruiting process that could be overcome by the power of the right AI tool.
- How AI can increase recruiter productivity– One of my fascinations lately is how we can leverage AI in Recruiting to increase productivity. I was fortunate enough to connect with Mark D’Angelo with Ideal.com recently to talk about their product. This is not an endorsement of Ideal.com but rather a sneak peek at the awesome opportunities we have ahead if we begin using AI in Recruiting to increase productivity.
- AI & Video Interviewing Platforms– The selection process in recruiting can be draining, especially in high volume recruiting environments. I always struggle with the amount of time spent reviewing resumes, scheduling initial interviews and screening multitudes of candidates who seem to be a fit for the role. The idea of video interviewing platforms taking lead on this process has always intrigued me so I was excited to spend some time with Matt Baxter from Wedge to view their platform.
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About me
and Sprint Recruiting

Trent Cotton is a highly accomplished leader and strategist with extensive experience in organizational development, talent management, and business operations. With a strong background in HR leadership, he has a proven track record of designing and implementing innovative HR programs that drive employee engagement, retention, and business performance.
As an experienced executive, Trent has worked with some of the world’s leading companies, where he has led and supported HR initiatives across a broad range of functions, including talent acquisition, workforce planning, diversity and inclusion, performance management, and employee relations. He is also highly skilled in HR technology implementation, data analytics, and HR process improvement, helping organizations to optimize their HR operations and drive business results.
If you follow his blog http://www.sprintrecruiting.com or have read his book, Sprint Recruiting, you would experience his raw communication style, his ability to build and lead high-performing teams, and his strategic mindset. He is passionate about creating workplaces where employees can thrive and grow, and he is committed to helping organizations leverage the power of their people to achieve their business objectives.
In addition to his professional experience, Trent is actively involved in his community and has served on several boards and committees supporting education, workforce development, and diversity initiatives.
In his free time, Trent has written two books: “The 7 Deadly Sins of HR” and most recently, “Sprint Recruiting”. He will be releasing “The High Performing Recruiting Team” in the fall of 2023 and “FutHRist” in 2024.
He’s an active participant in the HR Industry and is asked to participate in roundtables or provide keynotes for many organizations. His blog Sprintrecruiting.com reaches thousands of readers and provides unique insights on a range of recruiting topics.
Connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter for more.
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