Blogs
Practical intelligence for TA leaders.
We help companies scale faster by fixing the gaps between people, processes, and systems through our industry writing and research frameworks.
Articles
Latest thinking.
Recruiting Operations
Why Most Recruiting Organizations Fail
Great recruiting teams don't win with a fancy tech stack or employer brand — they win by doing the fundamentals right, every day. Here's why execution, not strategy, is the real differentiator, and how to build accountability into your recruiting function.
Jason Pistulka
January 29, 2026
AI & Automation
How to AI Proof Your Recruiting Career
AI already handles sourcing, scheduling, and screening — so what's left for recruiters? This piece lays out 10 concrete moves to shift from task-executor to indispensable talent advisor.
Jason Pistulka
August 25, 2025
AI & Automation
Is Your AI Interviewer Artificial Intelligence… or ATS Stupidity?
Many "AI interviewers" are just asking knockout questions your ATS has handled for a decade. Here's how to tell real AI value from expensive ATS mismanagement — and what's at stake if you get it wrong.
Jason Pistulka
September 6, 2025
HR Technology
What does McDonald’s think of Paradox.ai’s security?
A "123456" admin password on McDonald's custom hiring portal exposed millions of applications — and exposed a bigger problem: SOC 2 compliance often doesn't cover the custom software vendors build just for you.
Jason Pistulka
December 6, 2025
AI & Automation
Human-First Design in Talent Acquisition Tech: It’s Not “AI or No AI.” It’s Clarity or Confusion
The real divide in hiring tech isn't AI vs. no AI — it's transparency vs. black-box decisions. Here's why showing candidates how they're evaluated builds trust, reduces legal risk, and makes automation feel more human, not less.
Jason Pistulka
January 23, 2026
Recruiting Operations
The Importance of Accurate “Time to Fill” Metrics in Recruitment
Time to Fill is one of recruiting's most trusted metrics — and one of the easiest to game. Here's how practices like evergreen requisitions and req cancellations quietly distort the data, and what to do instead.
Jason Pistulka
January 28, 2026
Business Strategy
Now Is the Time to Be Greedy About Talent
While most companies are freezing roles, a rare window has opened: highly qualified, strategic-level talent is available on contract or part-time terms. Here's why acting now — and how — could give your business a lasting edge.
Jason Pistulka
September 10, 2025
Technology Strategy
Is AI the New Spellcheck?
A working AI product isn't a competitive edge anymore—it's the baseline. Here's why the real differentiators now are execution, implementation, and customer success, and why the future may belong to small, lean AI businesses rather than the giants.
Jason Pistulka
September 6, 2025
Recruiting Operations
Building Your Battle Plan Against Rising Indeed Costs
Indeed isn't sending you candidates—it's intercepting ones already searching for you on Google. Here's a five-part plan to fix your Google for Jobs visibility, convert more candidates directly, and cut your dependency on rising Indeed costs.
Jason Pistulka
June 15, 2026
Compliance
Is Your AI Interviewer Actually Intelligent or Just Expensive ATS Laziness?
A working AI interviewer that never discriminates can still carry six-figure legal exposure. Here's why most "AI interviewers" are really ATS avoidance, and a state-by-state breakdown of the compliance requirements employers are missing.
Jason Pistulka
June 11, 2026
AI & Automation
You Cannot Trust a Single AI Model for Detailed Research.
Four AI models — Claude, Chat GPT, Gemini, and Grok — researched the same legal compliance article. Every single one got something wrong. Here's a transparent, model-by-model breakdown of what that reveals about using AI for high-stakes professional work.
Jason Pistulka
June 11, 2026
Technology Strategy
Software Acquisition Integration Risks Every Investor Misses
Bundled software suites promise seamless integration — but if the underlying architecture relies on point-to-point APIs instead of a unified messaging layer, that promise rarely holds. Here's what investors and enterprises should scrutinize before acquiring or bundling HCM technology.
Jason Pistulka
January 30, 2026
HR Technology
Selecting an ATS, ERP vs ATS Specialist Providers
Buying your ATS from your ERP provider seems convenient — until customization, custom code, and ongoing maintenance costs stack up. Here's how to weigh ERP-based ATS platforms against specialist providers before you commit.
Jason Pistulka
January 30, 2026
Technology Strategy
Recruiting Software Got Easier to Build. Your Renewal Price Should Reflect It.
AI-assisted development has quietly changed what recruiting software should cost to build and buy. Here's why your renewal price shouldn't default to last year's number — and how to reprice the capability before you negotiate.
Jason Pistulka
August 21, 2026
Published & cited
Where this thinking runs elsewhere.
Our experts are frequently invited to contribute to leading industry publications and research reports, sharing insights on the intersection of HR technology and talent strategy.
Fixing the TA Innovation Paradox
Why companies buy advanced technology but continue to use outdated processes, and how to break the cycle of failed implementations.
The Data Integrity Trap in Recruiting
How bad data at the source invalidates your predictive analytics and what leadership must do to fix the fundamental input problem.
Podcasts & webinars
Conversations worth listening to.
Sense Webinar
Scaling with Empathy in the AI Era
Featuring Torin Ellis. Exploring the balance between automation efficiency and maintaining a human-centric recruitment culture.
45 Minutes · Video
SparkStart Series
The Employer Brand Authenticity Gap
With Maury Hanigan. How to bridge the distance between marketing promises and the actual employee experience.
32 Minutes · Audio