Keeping Recruiting Human: Jay Olson on Empathy, Automation, and What Still Matters
Oct 29, 2025
AI is changing recruiting.
But empathy is what keeps it human.
That’s what I explored with Jay Olson, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Medtronic, on this episode of the ERE Recruiting Innovation Podcast Series.
Jay’s been in recruiting since the original dot-com boom, and he’s now helping teams navigate the next transformation, balancing intelligent automation with the emotional intelligence that great hiring still requires.
In this episode, we covered:
-Why recruiters must map where emotion should stay in the process
-The danger of automating moments that demand a human presence
-How feedback and empathy create stronger candidate relationships
-Why "culture fit" should evolve into culture value add
-How curiosity, failure, and human connection still define top recruiters
Jay’s perspective is clear: tech should make recruiting more human, not less.
Because every system, every workflow, and every hire still ends with one thing:
A real person making a life decision.
Listen now:
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
See Jay Olson live at the ERE Recruiting Innovation Summit
Join us Nov 4–5 in San Diego (in-person + virtual).
Use code DigiRec for 10% off your ticket: Register here
Ready for a Smarter Approach?
If you’re a consultative recruiter and want a clearer system for winning better work — without wasting time on the wrong roles — book a 30-minute LinkedIn Roadmap Call.
We’ll walk through your strategy and show you the exact approach we’d use in your seat.
Free LinkedIn Outreach & Content Course for Recruiters
