Episode Details

In episode 247, Coffey talks with Michelle Sims about building skills-first hiring pipelines and expanding apprenticeship models to address the early-career experience gap in the age of AI. 

They discuss redefining entry-level work as automation reshapes junior roles; bridging the experience gap through apprenticeships and workforce development programs; expanding access for non-degree and nontraditional talent into corporate careers; differences between internships and apprenticeships in structure, pay, and outcomes; integrating mentorship, wraparound support, and structured training into early career pathways; challenges of adopting skills-first hiring and replacing degree-based proxies; designing fair and effective hiring assessments including project-based evaluations; measuring apprenticeship success through retention, productivity, and skill progression; the role of AI in shifting demand toward mid-career talent with technical experience; building inclusive hiring pipelines that expand access to underrepresented groups; and public policy efforts to scale apprenticeships and workforce development nationwide. 

For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP247 

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About our Guest: 

Michelle Sims is the CEO of YUPRO Placement, a skills-first placement firm advancing economic mobility for talent traditionally overlooked by the hiring system. She partners with corporate leaders to replace outdated practices with performance-driven, retention-ready workforce solutions. 

A multi-year Staffing Industry Analyst Global Power 150 Women in Staffing honoree, Michelle serves on the American Staffing Association Women in Leadership Council and is a board member of the Harvard Kennedy School Women and Public Policy Program. Under her leadership, YUPRO Placement has earned industry-wide recognition for innovation, equity, and upskilling programs. 

Michelle is a regular Forbes contributor and a respected voice in workforce strategy, advocating for inclusive, skills-first hiring that meets today’s talent demands and builds tomorrow’s teams. 

Before joining YUPRO Placement, Michelle held senior executive roles across multiple industries and taught human resources and leadership development as an adjunct professor for 17 years. She holds a BBA from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Houston Christian University. 

Michelle Sims can be reached at: 

www.yupro.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellesims- 

About Mike Coffey: 

Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. 

In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. 

Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence invest