The People MBA

The Kids Are Alright: The REAL Truth About Gen Z Work Culture in 2025

In this fast-paced episode of The People MBA, hosts James and Bryan tackle the essential elements of a successful Gen Z talent acquisition strategy. They break down key differences in how this generation approaches work, communication preferences, and what they expect from employers. From the importance of social impact to micro-learning opportunities, discover actionable insights and practical tips to make your organization more attractive to Gen Z talent. Download the comprehensive checklist mentioned in this episode to evaluate your current approach and identify areas for improvement. Sponsored by Plum. From first impressions to final offers, the candidate experience shapes how top talent perceives your company. Plum's latest eBook, "From Hi to Hired: Elevating the Candidate Experience," has practical insights to help you perfect this crucial process. Discover strategies that make each step seamless and engaging, ensuring your candidates feel valued every step of the way. Download your copy today and transform your recruitment approach to engage your candidates effortlessly. Download your copy here: https://www.plum.io/candidate-experience-ebook [https://www.plum.io/candidate-experience-ebook]

Culture Isn't Fluffy: How Employer Brand Shapes Organizational Capability

In this thought-provoking episode of the People MBA, James and Bryan tackle the often misunderstood relationship between employer brand and company culture. Moving beyond "fluffy bunny" platitudes that plague most discussions about culture, they explore how employer brand can serve as a strategic blueprint for creating the organizational capabilities businesses need to succeed. The hosts introduce a powerful framework: just as consumer brand drives customer "willingness to pay," employer brand drives employee "willingness to serve." This perspective elevates employer brand from a mere recruitment tool to a C-suite strategic priority. They argue that rather than starting with what talent wants, effective employer brand strategy begins with what the business needs, then crafts a compelling narrative to attract people who will thrive in that environment. With only 61% of global brands having any semblance of an employer brand strategy (and just 37% of small businesses), there's massive untapped potential for organizations willing to approach culture with strategic intent. This episode provides practical insights for connecting employer brand to measurable business outcomes and reshaping how we think about culture as a driver of organizational capability. +++++ Brought to you by The Muse: Can Candidates See Who You Really Are? Make your recruitment tactics more effective with The Muse and Fairygodboss' full-funnel suite of employer branding and recruitment marketing products. We make it easy to craft transparent, compelling content that showcases what makes your company unique, helping you attract the right-fit talent to join your team. Learn how The Muse helps companies hire better. https://hubs.ly/Q035NwDs0 +++++ Learn more at PeopleMBA.com

Ready-To-Use AI Tools for Recruiting That Actually Work in 2025!

Let’s be honest. AI is everywhere—and most of it feels like fairy dust and frustration. But not here. In this episode, we (James & Bryan) get real about the AI tools that actually help TA leaders. Think time-saving, brain-expanding, productivity-boosting magic… and no, we’re not selling you another recruiting platform. We cover: * Why ChatGPT’s $200 plan isn’t worth it * What Claude does better than ChatGPT * How to clone your voice (without freaking people out) * The AI meeting buddy you didn’t know you needed * And the one tool that might save your next hiring manager conversation 🎁 Plus: Download our list of 50+ useful, weird, and wonderful AI tools for recruiters at http://peopleMBA.com 💬 Got a favorite AI tool? Drop it in the comments! ++++++ Don't Change for Your ATS. Make Your ATS Change for You. Why conform to someone else's rigid software? Teamtailor's AI-powered platform adapts to your unique hiring process [https://www.teamtailor.com/en-us/resources/ai-recruiting-software/?utm_source=outreach&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NA_US_AMBASSADOR_The-People-MBA_April-2025]—not the other way around. Customize workflows, create branded career sites, and automate candidate journeys exactly how you want them. Join 10,000+ companies who've stopped compromising and started hiring better and faster with Teamtailor. Your process. Your brand. Your way to hire.

Get CX-y: Candidate Experience Still Matters

Are You Experienced? The Candidate Experience Episode You Can't Miss In this eye-opening episode of People MBA, Brian and James dive deep into the often misunderstood world of candidate experience. They challenge conventional wisdom by exposing that what recruiters call "candidate experience," candidates simply see as "brand experience" - and the stakes couldn't be higher. With companies receiving over a million applications annually and ghosting becoming the norm (despite what recruiters claim!), this episode reveals why your candidate touchpoints can make or break your business reputation. Through real-world examples and practical frameworks, you'll discover why even your employee referrals might be suffering because of poor candidate experiences. The hosts introduce their innovative "Feel, Think, Ease, Memory" model for mapping the candidate journey and share specific moments of magic that transform ordinary recruiting into unforgettable brand experiences. From Virgin's use of Usain Bolt to prepare candidates for interviews to simple changes that can boost application conversion by 40%, this episode delivers actionable insights for companies of any size. Whether you're reimagining your entire recruitment process or just looking to make small but significant improvements, this episode provides the roadmap to create intentional, on-brand experiences that turn candidates into brand ambassadors - even when you don't hire them. Download the accompanying guide at http://PeopleMBA.com [https://PeopleMBA.com] and elevate your candidate experience from ordinary to extraordinary. +++++ From first impressions to final offers, the candidate experience shapes how top talent perceives your company. Plum's latest eBook, "From Hi to Hired: Elevating the Candidate Experience," has practical insights to help you perfect this crucial process. Discover strategies that make each step seamless and engaging, ensuring your candidates feel valued every step of the way. Download your copy today and transform your recruitment approach to engage your candidates effortlessly. Download your copy here: https://www.plum.io/candidate-experience-ebook [https://www.plum.io/candidate-experience-ebook]

So Good They Can't Ignore You: LinkedIn for Recruiting

The LinkedIn Mastery Episode: Strategies to Elevate Your Team In this milestone 10th episode of The People MBA, Brian and James tackle how talent leaders can strategically leverage LinkedIn beyond just posting jobs. Forget algorithmic hacks and posting schedules - this episode dives into how to use LinkedIn to generate real influence within your company and showcase your team's strategic value. Learn why employee stories outperform corporate content, how to build partnerships with marketing instead of fighting for control, and practical ways to demonstrate ROI that leadership can't ignore. Key takeaways include: - Why quality content that serves multiple business objectives beats checkbox posting - How to use LinkedIn analytics to prove your strategic value - Creating content that highlights the people behind your products - Building an employee advocacy program that serves both recruitment and corporate goals - Practical strategies for gaining LinkedIn influence even when marketing "owns" the channel Plus, download their free 20+ page guide packed with actionable LinkedIn strategies at PeopleMBA.com. Brought to you by Happy Dance Career Sites and Employer Brand Labs. ++++ Instantly rewrite poor job descriptions Are you tired of subpar job descriptions undermining your brand? Job Description Genie is here to change that. https://jdgenie.happydance.love/ Give your recruiting an unfair advantage Do your recruiters have the competitive intel they need to compete and win against... *that* company? Get your free battle card here: https://www.employerbrandlabs.com/recruiting-battlecards