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A few weeks before recording this episode, Jeremy Snell made a bold prediction: Talent Acquisition as we know it won’t exist in 18 months.
Live from IHR Manchester, Nitin Sharma is joined by Sean Kennedy, co-host of Talking Talent and RecTalk contributor, to unpack one of the most controversial topics currently facing the recruitment and HR industry.
Will AI replace Talent Acquisition teams? Is the traditional TA function becoming obsolete? Or are we simply witnessing the next evolution of the profession?
Drawing on Sean’s experience across agency recruitment, embedded hiring and talent acquisition leadership, the pair explore what the future could look like for TA professionals, how hiring teams are changing, and why the role may become far more strategic than many organisations currently allow.
Topics discussed include:
• Jeremy Snell’s prediction that Talent Acquisition won’t exist in 18 months
• How AI is changing sourcing, assessment and recruitment workflows
• Why Talent Acquisition must evolve beyond simply filling vacancies
• The growing importance of employer branding and candidate experience
• The differences between UK and North American hiring models
• Why agencies are viewed differently in the US compared to the UK
• The relationship between Talent Acquisition, HR and People Operations
• Whether TA professionals should be worried about disruption
• Why stakeholder management is often harder than recruitment itself
• The future skills today’s Talent Acquisition professionals need to develop
Key Takeaways:
Sean argues that Talent Acquisition isn’t disappearing — it’s evolving. As AI automates more administrative and repetitive recruitment tasks, the value of TA professionals will increasingly come from stakeholder management, workforce planning, talent strategy, employer branding, candidate experience and business partnership. The job title may change, but the need for great talent professionals isn’t going away anytime soon.
Who This Episode Is For:
• Talent Acquisition professionals
• Internal recruiters
• HR Business Partners
• Heads of People
• Recruitment leaders
• Agency recruiters considering a move in-house
• Recruitment technology providers
• Anyone interested in the future of hiring and AI
About Sean Kennedy:
Sean Kennedy is the co-host of Talking Talent, a RecTalk podcast dedicated to exploring the realities of modern Talent Acquisition, recruitment leadership and the future of hiring. With experience spanning agency recruitment, embedded hiring and internal TA functions, Sean brings a practical and candid perspective to the industry’s biggest challenges.
What do you think?
Will Talent Acquisition still exist in 18 months, or is the industry heading for its biggest transformation yet?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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