Recorded live from the official HR Tech podcast studio, this limited series drops you straight into the conversations everyone at the conference actually wanted to hear. HR Tech—over 25 years strong and the annual migration point for every HR and TA pro on the planet—handed the WRKdefined Podcast Network the keys to a studio, and we spent three days pulling in our hosts to interview operators, executives, consultants, product leaders, and investors in rapid-fire episodes. No BS. Just sharp perspective, fresh takes, and the best brainpower from the world’s largest gathering of HR and talent leaders. If you want to know what people were thinking between the sessions, this is where you’ll find it. To learn more about HR Tech, visit www.hrtechnologyconference.com
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Recorded live from the official HR Tech podcast studio, this limited series drops you straight into the conversations everyone at the conference actually wanted to hear. HR Tech—over 25 years strong and the annual migration point for every HR and TA pro on the planet—handed the WRKdefined Podcast Network the keys to a studio, and we spent three days pulling in our hosts to interview operators, executives, consultants, product leaders, and investors in rapid-fire episodes. No BS. Just sharp perspective, fresh takes, and the best brainpower from the world’s largest gathering of HR and talent leaders. If you want to know what people were thinking between the sessions, this is where you’ll find it. To learn more about HR Tech, visit www.hrtechnologyconference.com
Revolutionizing Recruitment: The Passive Approach with Michael Wenning, Co-founder
HR Tech 2025
24 minutes
1 week ago
Revolutionizing Recruitment: The Passive Approach with Michael Wenning, Co-founder
This series was recorded live at HR Tech 2025 inside the HR Executive studios on the expo floor in partnership with the WRKdefined Podcast Network. Make sure you’re subscribed to the full series and visit HRExecutive.com for the news, analysis, and insights shaping the future of work.
In this episode we talk about job market friction, hiring bias, AI-driven matching, candidate experience, talent scarcity, and the launch of Passive. Everyone keeps saying it’s hard to find great people. At the same time, every job seeker is exhausted, confused, or straight up burned out by how the system works. The conversation breaks down what’s actually broken, why HR leaders need to rethink the entire hiring flow, and how new tools are stepping in to fix the pointless chaos that slows everyone down.
What We Cover
The broken job application loop
Why passive talent avoids the noise
How AI can fix resume fatigue
What HR gets wrong about culture and bias
Why companies complain about talent but still gatekeep
Where the Passive app fits into the hiring landscape
How job seekers can win in a messy market
Key Takeaways
Every company complains about finding good people
Candidates are tired of looking for companies worth their time
Applications feel random and discouraging
Passive talent needs better targeting
AI can help rewrite resumes for fit
Culture needs to be real, diverse, and inclusive
Passive aims to simplify the entire search process
Job hunting struggles hit every industry
HR needs to rethink how they attract talent
The hiring system is outdated and ready for a rebuild
Timestamps
00:00 The Job Market Dilemma
06:32 Innovative Solutions in Recruitment
12:50 The Launch of Passive App
18:57 Rethinking Hiring Practices
22:01 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations
Guest:
Michael Wenning, Co-founder, Passive
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-wenning/
Website: https://www.thepassive.app/
Host
Hosts: Katie Van Horn and Jackye Clayton, Co-hosts Inclusive AF Podcast
Robin Schooling, Co-host DriveThru HR
HR Tech 2025
Recorded live from the official HR Tech podcast studio, this limited series drops you straight into the conversations everyone at the conference actually wanted to hear. HR Tech—over 25 years strong and the annual migration point for every HR and TA pro on the planet—handed the WRKdefined Podcast Network the keys to a studio, and we spent three days pulling in our hosts to interview operators, executives, consultants, product leaders, and investors in rapid-fire episodes. No BS. Just sharp perspective, fresh takes, and the best brainpower from the world’s largest gathering of HR and talent leaders. If you want to know what people were thinking between the sessions, this is where you’ll find it. To learn more about HR Tech, visit www.hrtechnologyconference.com
