Following the money and mastering the hard stuff

Spotlight is our series on the people shaping the future of hiring and talent. We ask them how they work, what they believe, and where AI actually helps.

This time we spoke with Joel Cheesman, who has been covering, critiquing, and investing in recruiting technology for over two decades.

He is best known as co-host of The Chad & Cheese Podcast, which he has been running since 2017 and which has become one of the most influential voices in HR tech. Joel has a knack for spotting promising startups early and serves as a strategic advisor and investor for companies, Alex among them. He won Best Blogger from TAtech in 2017, and has spent his career at the intersection of recruiting, technology, and marketing.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in hiring or talent?

Follow the money. Master the hard stuff. Be equally good at sales and psychology. Stay curious.

What's the most rewarding part of the work you do today?

Today represents a seismic shift in the way recruiting is done. The future is simultaneously promising and scary. If you love the rollercoaster, the reward will follow.

What's one thing you hope never changes about how we hire people?

Human-to-human connection.

Who is your role model in the talent space?

He tragically passed away last year, but UPS's Matt Lavery was an inspiration to me, let alone everyone who knew him, and will forever live in my memory as the North Star of TA.

What skill has mattered more than you expected in this line of work?

Empathy. The ability to see the world from the eyes of another is paramount.

What is a hiring belief you hold that most people would challenge?

Hire fast, fire fast.

How can AI make recruiters better, not just faster?

Eliminate the resume 'black hole' and make 'ghosting' a thing of the past.

What would "humane AI" in hiring look like to you?

Transparency at every step of the process.