On rethinking recruitment: from transactions to real impact

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Episode summary

In this episode of Problemet, Kristoffer talks with Per Tjernberg, founder of Pipelabs, about the major challenges in recruitment. Per critiques common inefficiencies, such as the overuse of assessments and impersonal candidate outreach, advocating for a more human-centred approach that prioritizes candidates' motivations and needs. He also shares how Pipelabs focuses on data-driven decision-making, process optimization, and shifting from activity-based to outcome-driven metrics. The conversation highlights why recruitment must be seen as a strategic, business-critical function rather than just an administrative process.‍

Episode transcript

Themes Discussed
  1. The Future of Talent Acquisition: How recruitment must evolve from being a transactional process to a strategic function.
  2. AI & Automation in Hiring: What role should technology play in recruitment, and where are its current limitations?
  3. Challenges in Measuring Recruitment Success: Why focusing on activity-based metrics leads to inefficiency and poor decision-making.
  4. Recruitment as a Business Function: Why TA must prove its value beyond just filling positions.
  5. The Importance of Structured Recruitment: How clear frameworks, data-driven decisions, and long-term planning improve hiring success.
Key Takeaways
  • Recruitment is a business-critical function: It should not be seen as just an administrative process.
  • Activity-based KPIs don’t tell the whole story: The focus should be on output and quality, not just volume.
  • Activity-based KPIs don’t tell the whole story: The focus should be on output and quality, not just volume.
    Structured data is key to long-term success: A well-maintained ATS and taxonomy create efficiency and better hiring outcomes.
  • AI has its limits: While automation can support recruitment, human insight and relationships remain essential.
  • The industry is changing: Companies may rethink traditional TA roles if they fail to demonstrate real business value.
Shownotes
  • [00:00] – Introduction: Kristoffer introduces the episode and today’s guest, Per Tjernberg.
  • [02:30] – Per’s background: His early career, personality traits, and why he’s known for his sharp opinions.
  • [08:40] – Founding Pipelabs: Why Per and his co-founder Daniel started the company.
  • [13:20] – The recruitment industry's major challenges and inefficiencies.
  • [18:45] – Transactional vs. relational recruitment – why most companies approach hiring the wrong way.
  • [24:15] – How technology has changed recruitment, and where AI falls short.
  • [30:10] – The problem with measuring recruitment success based on activity instead of output.
  • [36:55] – The importance of structured recruitment and building a strong ATS strategy.
  • [44:30] – Why traditional recruitment roles might disappear if they don’t evolve.
  • [55:10] – The future of recruitment: Will companies continue to invest in talent acquisition?
  • [1:10:50] – Final thoughts: What needs to change in the industry, and what Per predicts for the future.