In this episode of The Recruiting Book Club, host Carmen Hudson welcomes Jonathan Kidder - senior technical recruiter at Amazon and prolific author of 24 recruiting books, including AI Talent Sourcing and A Guide to Diversity Talent Sourcing. Known in the industry as the “Wizard
Sourcer,” Jonathan blends hands-on sourcing expertise with a practical,
data-driven approach to modern talent acquisition.
Jonathan shares his journey into recruiting, from an internship at Allegis Global Solutions to his current role at Amazon, where he supports high-level technical hiring in one of the largest TA functions in North America. He reflects on the evolution of recruiting - from “post and pray” methods to today’s AI-powered sourcing tools - and how data, time management, and cross-functional collaboration are central to success in high-volume, high-bar environments like Amazon.
Key themes discussed include:
Recruiting at Scale: How to navigate and succeed in a complex environment like Amazon, where internal competition for top talent is fierce and speed is essential.
AI in Sourcing: Jonathan explains how tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Harpa, and PartyRock are transforming the recruiter’s workflow - from talent mapping to message generation - and what the future may hold for sourcing automation.
Candidate & Hiring Manager Preparation: The importance of prepping both sides of the interview process, and how structured communication helps raise the hiring bar.
Authoring Recruiting Knowledge: Jonathan unpacks his motivation for writing recruiting books, the niche demand they serve, and why self-publishing through Amazon KDP offered the most practical route to distribution.
This episode is a must-listen for recruiters navigating today’s rapidly shifting tech landscape, especially those looking to leverage AI tools while still delivering high-touch candidate experiences.
Follow Carmen Hudson on LinkedIn
or visit www.carmenhudson.com
Connect with Jonathan Kidder on LinkedIn
Get your copy of AI Talent Sourcing by Jonathan Kidder - your step-by-step playbook for using generative AI to streamline sourcing, craft better prompts, and gain a competitive edge in modern recruiting.
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