Show Notes
Hi everyone, What happens when recruiting becomes AI talking to AI? That is the question at the center of my newest Lead the Machine episode with Jessica Peskin, CEO of Global Recruiters of Denver. It is one of the most practical and timely conversations I’ve had on the show because it tackles a growing problem hiding in plain sight: companies are adding more AI to hiring, but that does not automatically mean they are getting better at identifying talent. In many cases, the opposite is happening. Candidates are using AI to write resumes. Employers are using AI to write job descriptions. Then automated systems are evaluating both sides and deciding who gets seen. The process may look efficient, but it often strips out the very thing that matters most in hiring: human judgment. Jessica brings a rare lens to this issue. She is a recruiter and two-time founder and experienced operator who has worked across real estate, insurtech, and insurance growth organizations. She has seen firsthand how businesses scale, how leaders hire, and how often the best people do not fit neatly into a keyword match. One of the most compelling ideas in this episode is the importance of the gray area. That is the space where transferable skills, resilience, judgment, and growth potential live. It is also the space many systems are designed to filter out. We talk about:🧠 How companies are over-automating one of the most human decisions they make📄 How candidates flatten their own story into polished but generic resumes🚫 The story of a hiring leader who applied for his own open role and was rejected by the system🎙️ Why leaders need to become better interviewers, not just better users of hiring tools Jessica also shares one of the most surprising pieces of advice from the episode: tell your story honestly, including failure. In a hiring market filled with sameness, that kind of authenticity can be the signal that sets someone apart. The bigger message is one I come back to often: AI can help organize, streamline, and scale. But it should not replace discernment and human connection where it matters most. If you are building a team, looking for your next role, or thinking about the future of work, this conversation will resonate. Thanks for reading and listening. Kirstin Marr
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