About Me

I've spent 22 years in recruitment and survived, which qualifies as a small miracle. My route in was less than conventional: I taught unruly kids in London, ran a ski chairlift in Colorado, and taught scuba diving in the Far East and East Africa before agency recruitment claimed me. I moved from agency into in-house Talent Acquisition, ran teams, then in 2019, I launched The Talent Hunter to train recruiters full-time.

Since then, I've trained more than 8,000 recruiters across 100+ countries on how to source better, brand themselves properly, develop business, and use AI without losing the human part. My mission is straightforward: raise the global standard of recruitment so recruiters stop being seen as CV-forwarders and start being seen as trusted hiring partners.

What I Actually Do

These days most of that work runs through my recruitment training services, from AI fluency to sourcing to personal branding.

As mentioned, I run AI Fluency Workshops for Talent Acquisition teams and recruitment agencies who want to use AI properly, with judgement, not just enthusiasm. I also deliver advanced sourcing training, AI vendor consulting, and keynotes at international recruitment conferences. I've spoken on five continents (only Asia left, if you know a conference organiser, send them my way).

I'm a Subject Matter Enthusiast in practical AI for recruitment, which is my way of saying I'm not an academic and I'm allergic to hype. I've been training recruitment teams on generative AI since early 2023, and I still source talent myself, because everything I teach has to actually work on a live recruitment desk.

🔗 Let’s connect! I’d love to chat with fellow Talent Sourcers, Recruiters, TA Leaders, and HR Professionals. You can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, & Threads (@Van_Raath), and let’s talk all things recruitment (or swap travel stories over a lekker (vegetarian) braai!).

What Recruiters Say About Training With Me

"Vanessa completely changed how our team approaches AI in recruitment. Practical, honest, and immediately usable, no nonsense."

- Diane | Ir Olav Globetrotters | The Netherlands

"Vanessa is a great trainer, bundles of energy, knowledgeable and super passionate about Sourcing. I have been in recruitment & sourcing for 15+ years and still learnt a bunch of new tips and tricks which will add value to my day-to-day work."

- Tim | Anglo American | Australia

"I've done a lot of AI training. Vanessa's was the first one where the whole team left knowing exactly what to do on Monday morning."

- Amelia | RCSA | New Zealand

"Without a doubt, the Talent Sourcing Masterclass that Vanessa gave my team well exceeded our expectations. Vanessa has a powerful command and passion when it comes to finding talent. The training has really opened my eyes to under-utilised platforms and tools to find talent. We are actively engaged in implementing these new skills!"

- Andile | Nedbank | South Africa

"Vanessa is heartfelt, smart as a whip, humble, and extremely helpful. Her impact goes way beyond the sourcing training she gives. She fosters a true sense of community, a can-do attitude, and positive inclusion. Her keynote speech at the #SOSUV (sourcing summit virtual) on diversity had the entire conference in her spell. I learn from her and am honoured to recommend her - not only for her sourcing and TA competence, but also as a speaker, Emcee, and inclusion champion."

- Elizabeth Lembke | Transforming Talent | Germany

"It was such a delight being trained by Vanessa. Her casual approach and the fact that she's so personable made these early mornings (for me) and late nights (for her) a wonderful experience. I consider her to be an expert in her field, and she's generous when it comes to sharing her knowledge. Although we're on different continents, the sessions were insightful, relevant and immediately usable. I'd recommend her for sourcing and headhunting training across the globe."

- Candice Mitchell | Ignite Consulting | USA

The Personal Bit

I live on the Garden Route of South Africa with my husband and my cats. When I'm not training or on stage, I'm hiking Robberg or somewhere with a camera, photographing wildlife. Photography is my creative escape, and travel is how I stay curious.

I don't drink coffee; I drink tea. It's controversial.

Ready to Talk?

Whether it's AI Fluency training, a sourcing masterclass, or a keynote for your event, the first half-hour is always complimentary so we can check we're a fit.

First, curious how AI fluent you actually are?

My free 7-minute assessment measures what you do with AI, not what you intend to do. You'll get your AI Fluency Profile, a category breakdown, and a benchmark against recruiters worldwide.