Beyond the CV, Identifying Real Marketing Talent in an AI Driven World

Hiring marketing talent has always been hard, but right now it feels like a whole new level of chaos.
In this episode of CMO Therapy, Lucy is joined by Conor Coughlan, CMO at Armis, to unpack the slightly painful reality of finding genuinely brilliant marketers in an AI-driven world. Because let’s be honest, everyone looks polished on paper now. CVs are sharper, applications are slicker and AI can make almost anyone sound like they know exactly what they’re doing.
Conor shares what he’s seeing first-hand while rebuilding a SaaS marketing team, including the sheer volume of applications, the rise of AI-polished CVs, and why traditional screening methods are starting to break. He also gets into the practical stuff: how to write clearer job descriptions, why reference checks still matter, how to test for real capability and why grit, curiosity and attitude can be just as important as experience.
As Conor puts it, AI tools are amazing, “but my God, they can put lipstick on a pig.”
If you’re hiring, growing a team, or trying not to make an expensive mistake, this one is absolutely worth a listen.lucyvheavens@gmail.com. Press tab to insert.Music clip by Filo Starquez, Divergence