HR Trends and Technology: An Interview with Hitesh Suresh

The recruitment landscape is rapidly evolving. Technology is the main driving force behind this transformation, with virtual interviews, online applications, digital job boards, applicant tracking systems, and collaboration platforms redefining how we hire and job hunt.

To explore these transformations, we sat down with Hitesh Suresh, Head of APAC and Board Member at Careerminds. With vast experience in HR and career coaching, Hitesh is at the forefront of the industry’s recent changes. He shared his expertise and insights from his career, discussing everything from entrepreneurship to the role of generative AI in reshaping HR.

Hitesh Suresh – My parents are from India, but I was born and raised in Singapore. I was immensely fortunate to be the child of immigrants and to learn from their incredible work ethic and solid values.

After graduating, I started working at a hedge fund, spending long hours with some brilliant and driven individuals. Many of the fund’s investors were entrepreneurs, not people from finance, which inspired me to follow their path.

My first venture was a solar panel circuitry manufacturer that landed major clients. One of them was Europe’s largest solar panel manufacturer. At some point, I sold my shares in the company and pivoted to tech. The internet was booming then: Facebook and Twitter had just become public, so I felt I needed to take a part in it.

I launched a CV writing business that expanded into recruitment, outplacement, and career coaching. We became the largest company of our kind in Asia-Pacific, and Careerminds’ parent company eventually acquired us.

Since the acquisition my role has broadened to include software development, focusing on generative AI to deliver exceptional client value. It’s an exciting time as we integrate technology to enhance outcomes and drive success for our clients and employees.

Hitesh – Our work is deeply personalized and this is our main differentiator. Each jobseeker has their own story, so we tailor every career plan to align with their aspirations and strengths. It’s challenging yet rewarding to help individuals land fulfilling roles.

You know, work is such a central part of life. Choosing where to work is a crucial decision, second only to choosing our spouse, I guess! That’s why our team at Careerminds strives to help jobseekers secure roles that complement their skills and improve their quality of life. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously.

Hitesh – One memorable client we recently had was a CFO at a big company who resigned due to ethical concerns, and she needed career guidance. She wanted to get back to work but had never searched for a job before and felt lost. 

At that point, the business was scaling quickly and I wasn’t handling many coaching calls. However, our coaches were fully booked, so I stepped in to work with her personally.

We gave her career coaching sessions, revamped her CV, and optimized her LinkedIn profile. The transformation was incredible. She received multiple offers, including one callback within 30 minutes of applying, and headhunters filled her LinkedIn inbox with messages. In the end, she secured a great role and resumed her fantastic career. Today, three years into our relationship, she referred over 10 clients to us and we’re very good friends. She’s one of the most intelligent and talented clients I’ve ever had.

Hitesh – Generative AI, for sure. Initially, our APAC business faced challenges as AI tools became mainstream, but we’ve since embraced this shift. Our custom AI tools now help clients to achieve better results while reducing costs.

AI has also enabled our consultants to focus on personalized service by automating repetitive tasks. This change has significantly improved our service quality and efficiency. AI was a game-changer for us, and I think companies that ignore it will be at serious risk.

Hitesh – For jobseekers, the ease of applying online has created fierce competition, making it harder to stand out. This requires submitting more applications to get noticed and secure interviews.

On the recruiter side, the number of applications is overwhelming – and many are unsuitable. Fortunately, emerging AI tools are improving their ability to filter candidates efficiently.

Clearly, organizations must adapt to AI-driven changes by redesigning roles to focus on human-centric skills. Success lies in helping employees to excel at tasks machines can’t replicate. AI is reshaping HR and the challenges and opportunities it brings demand quick adaptation.

Hitesh – HR is a people-centered profession. The best leaders genuinely care about people’s well-being and growth, ensuring they stay energized, engaged, and challenged.

Empathy and dedication make all the difference in our field, so if you’re genuinely passionate about helping people succeed, you’re set for a fabulous career as an HR leader!

Rafael Spuldar

Rafael is a content writer, editor, and strategist with over 20 years of experience working with digital media, marketing agencies, and Tech companies. He started his career as a journalist: his past jobs included some of the world's most renowned media organizations, such as the BBC and Thomson Reuters. After shifting into content marketing, he specialized in B2B content, mainly in the Tech and SaaS industries. In this field, Rafael could leverage his previously acquired skills (as an interviewer, fact-checker, and copy editor) to create compelling, valuable, and performing content pieces for various companies. Rafael is into cinema, music, literature, food, wine, and sports (mainly soccer, tennis, and NBA).