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B2B Vault: The Biz-to-Biz Podcast – AI, Hiring, and the Broken Job Market with Joseph Stettler

Sponsored by Nationwide Payment Systems

Welcome to B2B Vault – The Biz-to-Biz Podcast

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of B2B Vault, the Biz-to-Biz podcast, sponsored by Nationwide Payment Systems. I’m your host, Allen Kopelman, also known as the “Merchant Maverick of South Florida.” At Nationwide Payment Systems, we help businesses—big and small—get merchant accounts and keep them running smoothly.

Today, we’re joined by a fascinating guest: Joseph Stettler, a veteran recruiter, keynote speaker, and author of 10 international bestsellers. Joseph has helped over 12,000 people land jobs and now he’s tackling one of HR’s biggest challenges: how to fix a broken hiring system using AI and behavioral science

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Why the Hiring Process Is Broken

Joseph didn’t start recruiting. In fact, he’s switched careers nine times and held 18+ different jobs. That kind of experience has made him a bit of an HR maverick. And he’s got a strong opinion: the current hiring system is deeply flawed, especially when it comes to AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS).

The Problem? ATS platforms evaluate resumes inconsistently. Some penalize you for having only 8 years of experience when the job asks for 10. Others eliminate you entirely for missing a keyword—even if you’re qualified. According to some reports, as many as 75% of resumes may be filtered out by ATS before a human even sees them. As a result, thousands of skilled professionals are being filtered out before a human even sees their resume.

A Smarter AI Solution for Hiring

Joseph is building a new kind of AI platform that doesn’t just look at technical skills. It evaluates behavioral fitness, cultural compatibility, and leadership potential—factors that are just as important as job-specific qualifications.

The goal: help businesses reduce turnover by 70%, boost engagement by 50%, and hire people who actually want to be leaders, not just those who’ve been there the longest.

Turnover Is Costing Companies Billions

Here’s a stat that should scare every business owner: employee turnover costs $1.4 trillion annually in North America. One unfilled position can cost between $100,000 and $180,000 per month in lost productivity.

Joseph’s system is designed to turn those losses into gains by matching people not only by skill—but by personality and long-term growth potential.

Why Resumes Still Miss the Mark

One of the biggest takeaways? Most resumes are full of fluff.

We’ve all been taught to write things like:

• “Strong communication skills”

• “Hardworking and reliable”

• “Managed teams and projects”

But applicant tracking systems (ATS) don’t care about fluff—they’re looking for job-specific technical terms like “general ledger,” “financial statements,” or “CRM implementation.” And measurable results, not vague adjectives.

“Don’t just say you answered phones,” Joseph says. “Say you answered 60 calls a day across 12 lines. That’s measurable.”

Tips for Small Businesses Hiring Today

Small businesses have an especially hard time hiring. Job boards like Indeed flood you with 350–5,000 applications for one role—but most companies only look at the first 100.

Joseph recommends:

• Refresh your job posts daily by saving them again after minor edits to stay visible.

• Ask better, behavioral questions in interviews (e.g., “What’s the most creative email you’ve written?”).

• Look for enthusiasm and adaptability, not just static experience.

Remote Work & Virtual Assistants: The New Norm?

Joseph believes virtual workforces are here to stay—but only if companies set clear expectations.

He warns that cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting standards. If you hire a virtual assistant, test their work with real-world challenges before committing them.

“Ask them to build a mini email campaign or draft a customer support script. Then ask them to explain why they wrote it the way they did.”

Job Seekers: Take Control of Your Search

Too many job seekers are passive. Joseph’s top advice: stop waiting and start connecting.

Here are his 5 Job Search Strategy Tips:

• 10% on job boards like Indeed or CareerBuilder (for basic visibility).

• 25% on LinkedIn, actively engaging with company pages and industry leaders.

• 25% through recruiters, staffing firms, and specialized agencies.

• 25% through paid networking events (not free ones, which may have lower quality connections).

• 15% targeting specific companies directly where you want to work.

Want to stand out? Start a mini podcast and interview people at companies you admire. Ask them what they look for in hires—and then tailor your resume accordingly.

Culture Isn’t Pizza Fridays

Joseph makes a compelling point about corporate culture: it’s not about yoga rooms or costume contests unless the leadership participates genuinely. People want to work where they feel seen, heard, and valued, not where executives pay lip service to culture and then disappear.

“Corporate culture is what people whisper when leadership isn’t in the room.”

Connect with Joseph Stettler

Joseph is active across all social media platforms, especially LinkedIn. You can follow him to learn more about his upcoming AI hiring solution and career coaching insights.

We’ll link to his profile in the episode description!

Thanks for following the Podcast!

Today’s episode of B2B Vault was packed with real-world insight for both job seekers and employers. Whether you’re hiring your next administrative assistant or trying to land your dream job, it’s time to evolve—because the workforce, the technology, and the expectations have all changed.

Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and LinkedIn. And remember…

Carpe Diem—Seize the Day.

Thanks again to Joseph Stettler for joining us. See you next time on B2B Vault: The Biz-to-Biz Podcast, sponsored by Nationwide Payment Systems.

Listen to the Full Episode

B2B Vault Podcast – Sponsored by Nationwide Payment Systems

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