In this episode of Recruiting Is No Joke, Joel Lalgee sits down with Jeremy Lyons, co-founder of Rec Ops Collective and one of the most influential voices in the Rec Ops world. Together they unpack the nuances of recruiting operations (rec ops), the impact of AI and automation, and the importance of demonstrating business value in talent acquisition.

Jeremy shares how his unconventional path into recruiting began long before his first official job. Influenced by his mother’s career in executive recruiting and shaped by early experiences in cheerleading and ballet, he learned the art of selling a vision and rallying people around a mission. That foundation guides everything he does today.

Joel and Jeremy dig into the explosion of AI tools, the flood of point solutions, and why the real power lies not in mastering every platform but in understanding the principles behind them. They discuss the pressure on recruiters to quantify their business impact, the shift in ATS architecture toward data-driven design, and why Jeremy keeps his widely read newsletter free of sponsorship to protect its neutrality and credibility.

Jeremy also reflects on reinvention, personal growth, and the importance of letting go of old personas. He talks about navigating uncertainty, the emotional weight of recruiting, and why genuine relationships will always matter more than automation.

This episode is both practical and deeply human. If you work in Rec Ops, talent acquisition, or leadership, it is a powerful reminder that the future of recruiting depends as much on curiosity, adaptability, and connection as it does on any emerging technology.

In this episode:

• [00:01] Introduction and guest welcome

• [00:59] Jeremy’s background and Rec Ops Collective origin

• [02:25] AI tools in recruiting and market uncertainty

• [03:59] Rec Ops Collective newsletter: purpose and growth

• [09:29] Content sponsorship and neutrality

• [13:10] Business impact and recruiting as a business function

• [16:27] Measuring impact and resume advice

• [19:01] Evolution of ATS and in-house vs. agency tools

• [21:03] Creativity and tech in talent teams

• [22:12] Jeremy’s entry into recruiting and early influences

• [24:32] Recruiting as relationship building

• [26:44] Family influence and corporate values

• [29:47] Human relationships vs. tech in recruiting

• [32:11] AI tools, job hopping, and career evolution

• [41:11] Rebranding yourself and embracing change

• [43:07] Uncertainty and the future of work

• [44:45] Closing and where to find Jeremy

About Jeremy Lyons

Co-founder of RecOps Collective, creator of the weekly RecOps Roundup newsletter, and a respected leader in recruiting operations, automation, process design, and TA systems strategy. Jeremy has worked across companies from 10 employees to 100,000+, helping teams scale, optimize, and rethink the architecture of recruiting. He is known for his neutral, insight-first approach to industry analysis and his commitment to making RecOps accessible and understood.

About Joel Lalgee

Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships.

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