THE MIXED GRILL - Busy Idiots, AI Myths & Why Human Connection Still Wins in Recruitment
Welcome back to The Mixed Grill, where Nitin Sharma and Bobby Banerjee pull up a chair, grab a metaphorical curry, and talk candidly about the good, the bad, and the ugly in recruitment. In this relaxed, no-filter episode, the conversation flows from the chaos of being “busy” in early 2024 to some big, honest takes on AI, recruiter reputation, candidate experience, and why human connection still matters more than ever. Topics covered include: * Is the recruitment industry full of “busy idiots” and burnout risks * Why recruiters still get a bad reputation (and whether it’s even worth fixing) * Unpopular opinions about recruitment and who really damages the industry * The reality of AI in recruitment – what it will replace and what it absolutely shouldn’t * Why mass AI outreach is destroying trust and credibility * How AI should be used to improve candidate experience (status updates, feedback, empathy) * The hypocrisy of knowing where your pizza is, but not your job application * Authenticity vs automation – and why 80% of people still pay for human connection * Generational differences, community-building, and what recruiters can learn from Gen Z * Why in-person events, Curry Clubs, and real conversations still win * The long-term impact of the pandemic on how we connect, work, and build relationships As always, the tone is informal, thoughtful, occasionally opinionated, and full of real talk you won’t find in polished LinkedIn posts. Who this episode is for: * Recruiters feeling overwhelmed by “busyness” and noise in the market * Recruitment leaders trying to figure out where AI actually fits * Anyone frustrated by poor candidate experience and broken processes * RecTech founders building tools (this one’s especially for you 👀) * Community builders, event organisers, and relationship-led recruiters * People who believe recruitment should still be human-first 🔗 Connect with the hosts Bobby Banerjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbybanerjee/ Nitin Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-rectools/ Get your fill of curry, banter, and brilliant recruitment minds at The Recruitment Curry Club: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-recruitment-curry-club/ Look out for more episodes of The Mixed Grill dropping on Thursday. Listen on another platform: https://rectalk.co.uk/
