Craig Fisher, Founder of TalentNet
Craig Fisher—founder of TalentNet, author of Hiring Humans, and a trusted advisor in HR technology—shared his journey and forward-looking insights into the recruiting landscape. Craig’s extensive experience, from hosting TalentNet events to advising Fortune 500 companies, offered a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and human relationships in talent acquisition.
Craig Fisher underscored combining authentic human connections with the latest technology to create a more efficient and meaningful hiring process. Craig aptly stated, “Automation enhances what we do, but the relationships remain central.” To learn more about Craig Fisher’s work, Craig’s new book, and TalentNet Live, visit Hiring-Humans.com.
TalentNet: A Community for Recruiting Leaders
Craig Fisher began by recounting the origins of TalentNet Live, a leading recruitment conference that started as a simple Twitter hashtag chat in 2009. Designed to connect recruiters in a cost-effective, community-driven way, TalentNet has grown into a bi-annual event in Texas, attracting top industry professionals. TalentNet emphasizes unscripted, real-time discussions and has been hosted at iconic venues like PepsiCo, Toyota, and Whole Foods.
Balancing AI and Human Touch in Recruiting
A central theme of the discussion was the balance between automation and maintaining authentic human relationships. As the author of Hiring Humans, Craig emphasized that while AI and automation can enhance processes, they cannot replace the critical role of human interaction in hiring. Key insights included:
- AI is best used for data summarization, trend analysis, and optimizing routine tasks like scheduling and screening.
- Tools like Honeit enable recruiters to capture and share rich data from interviews, empowering hiring teams to make informed decisions based on structured insights.
- Automation should augment—not eliminate—human relationships, particularly for external recruiters who thrive on long-term connections.
Hybrid Work and the Future of Talent Acquisition
Craig offered a forward-looking perspective on hybrid work and economic shifts. He argued that hybrid work is here to stay and that decisions about remote or in-office policies should be made at the team or project level rather than through blanket mandates. Other emerging trends include:
- Internal mobility: Leveraging data to optimize talent retention and career growth.
- Geographic shifts: Companies are relocating to talent hubs like Texas, drawn by lower costs and a growing pool of skilled professionals.
Actionable Advice for Recruiters and Employers
Craig shared practical advice for organizations looking to modernize their recruiting processes:
- Start with lightweight automation, such as scheduling tools, to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks.
- Use AI to enhance candidate engagement by identifying enthusiasm and responsiveness during the hiring process.
- Tap into the rich data provided by tools like Honeit to inform long-term recruitment and retention strategies.
The Role of Honeit in Modern Recruiting
Craig highlighted how Honeit transforms recruiting by providing structured interview intelligence, enabling recruiters to capture insights through:
- AI-powered summaries and interview highlights, making candidate evaluations more objective and comprehensive.
- Tools that offer recruiters visibility into their performance, ensuring a data-driven approach to improving hiring outcomes.
- Craig mentioned exploring potential synergies between Honeit and other recruiting technologies, demonstrating its growing impact in the HR tech space.
Get Started
For recruiters seeking to elevate their screening and interview processes, book a demo or start a free trial to explore how Honeit can transform your approach with AI-powered interview intelligence.
