Hey HR Pros,

This week’s edition cuts through the noise to spotlight what’s actually shaping HR right now.

McKinsey’s new global AI survey shows which companies are turning tech into real transformation—not just buzz. AIHR reminds us that HR pros need to interview like strategists, not spectators. And HBR reframes menopause not as a workplace setback—but as a leadership accelerator.

From tech fluency to self-advocacy, these stories prove one thing: power in HR comes from seeing what others miss.

📰 Upcoming in This Issue

• 🎯 Mastering the HR Interview: 45 Questions You’ll Actually Face

• 🤖 The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation by McKinsey

• 🌺 New Research on How Women in Leadership Navigated Menopause

• ⚡️ Payroll Decisions: How HR Teams Compare Paycor and Patriot Payroll

✨ Helpful HR Tools

• 🎁 Top HR tools & offers curated for The HR Takeaways readers that make your work life easier

📣 Trending HR News

• 600 Paramount employees quit after RTO mandate, and it cost the company $185 million (Fortune)

• Staffing firms report a rough Q3 as US hiring slips (HR Brew)

• Nearly a third of companies plan to replace HR with AI (HRD America)

• Ex-Google director says he faced race bias because he’s White (Yahoo)

🎯 Mastering the HR Interview: 45 Questions You’ll Actually Face

Being great at interviews is no longer just a candidate thing—HR pros need to bring their A-game too.

This article breaks down 45 questions across every stage of the HR interview funnel—from tech fluency and conflict resolution to culture fit and strategic vision.

The takeaway? The STAR method isn’t just a tip, it’s your new secret weapon.

Plus, with AI now part of the expected HR toolkit, don’t be surprised if you’re asked about bias mitigation and data fluency in the same breath.

Get ready to showcase more than soft skills—it’s time to prove strategic depth.

Key Takeaways:

• 🧠 HR roles demand range: From ADA compliance to performance design, expect questions that test legal chops and leadership influence.

• 📊 Data is your differentiator: Candidates who tie answers to quantifiable business outcomes (e.g., ROI, turnover) stand out fast.

• 🤖 AI isn’t optional anymore: Expect questions about AI fluency, ethical bias checks, and digital transformation readiness in HR tech.

• 🗣️ STAR makes you shine: Structuring answers around Situation, Task, Action, and Result is no longer optional—it’s expected.

👉 Read the full 4,416-word article by AIHR here

🤖 The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation by McKinsey

AI use is everywhere—but true transformation? Still a work in progress.

McKinsey’s latest global survey reveals that while 88% of companies are dabbling in AI, only a third have cracked the code on scaling it enterprise-wide.

Enter the “high performers”—a tiny 6% of companies treating AI not as a tech add-on, but a business reinvention engine.

These AI elites aren’t just chasing efficiency. They’re redesigning workflows, unlocking revenue, and embedding agents across functions—while their competitors are stuck in pilot purgatory.

The real AI advantage? It’s not adoption—it’s ambition.

Key Takeaways:

• 🚀 Scaling still eludes most: 62% are experimenting with AI agents, but only 23% are scaling them in any function.

• 📈 High performers act bigger: 3.6x more likely to tie AI to innovation—not just cost cuts—and report higher EBIT impact.

• 🧠 Workflow redesign is key: Companies seeing ROI have overhauled how work gets done—AI is embedded, not layered on top.

• 💼 Workforce shifts are coming: 32% of leaders expect AI to shrink headcount next year, but hiring for AI talent is up.

👉 Read the full 3,089-word article here

⚡️ Payroll Decisions: How HR Teams Compare Paycor and Patriot Payroll

Payroll mistakes are more than an inconvenience—they erode employee trust and can trigger costly compliance issues. That’s why HR teams weigh their options carefully. Today, we will compare 2 payroll platforms: Paycor and Patriot Payroll.

• Paycor Payroll 🇺🇸
  Built for larger or more complex organizations, Paycor offers automated payroll runs, integrated HR features, and strong compliance tools. It simplifies tax filing and reporting across states, while giving employees self-service access through a mobile app.

• Patriot Payroll 🇺🇸
  Favored by smaller businesses, Patriot is affordable, easy to set up, and intuitive to use. It allows unlimited payroll runs, includes free direct deposit, and with the Full Service option, handles all federal, state, and local tax filings on your behalf.

Key Takeaways:

Both platforms address payroll pain points, but in different ways—Paycor for depth and scale, and Patriot for simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

🌺 New Research on How Women in Leadership Navigated Menopause

What if menopause wasn’t a disruption to leadership—but a catalyst for it?

In this groundbreaking study by Harvard Business Review, 64 women in senior roles—from generals to mayors—shared how they didn’t just survive menopause at work…they leveled up.

Symptoms triggered a personal quest, support systems emerged, and many leaders found new clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Their experiences didn’t hold them back—they reshaped how they lead and inspired real workplace change.

Key Takeaways:

• 🔥 Symptoms sparked self-advocacy: Leaders used research, referrals, and sheer grit to fight stigma and reclaim health autonomy.

• 📊 87% reported no disruption: Despite stereotypes, most women said menopause didn’t interfere with their leadership performance.

• 🧍‍♀️ Support networks built strength: From Facebook groups to military teams, sharing openly created powerful workplace bonds.

• 🌱 Experience sparked workplace change: Leaders launched menopause programs, mentored others, and redesigned policies for future generations.

👉 Read the full 2,623-word article by HBR here

The bottomline

If this week had a theme, it’s this: overlooked doesn’t mean unimportant.

Whether it’s untapped talent, under-asked interview questions, or unspoken leadership journeys—what we choose to notice shapes what we choose to change.

Stay curious. Look twice. Lead differently. See you next week ✨