Hiring in 2026: the volume of roles is there. Now it’s about commitment and momentum.

We’re seeing plenty of briefs land (including some really juicy senior ones)! Even with the economy doing its best to keep everyone slightly cautious, there’s a frothiness to the market we haven’t felt in a while. Amidst the noise, the organisations hiring best are the ones who are clear on what they need, and communicate it well with a decisive approach.

It’s commercial now, and pace is the point

Everything’s more commercial. That’s not a bad thing.

Hiring has properly moved into “show me the value” territory. The appetite might be there, but budgets are tighter, scrutiny is higher, and every role needs a reason to exist beyond “nice to have”. Honestly, we don’t hate that. It forces sharper priorities and better briefs, but it does mean we’re doing a bit more digging at brief take, to make sure there’s genuine intent to hire, and to hire at pace.

And pace is the point.

Decisions are slower… but the best teams are speeding themselves up.

We’re seeing more stakeholders, more stages, more internal alignment. That’s the reality of risk being higher. But there’s a clear pattern: the businesses that win talent are the ones that protect momentum. They don’t let a process drift. They don’t leave people hanging. They treat candidate experience like customer experience, because it is.

Candidate experience is the differentiator

Candidate experience is a big focus for us this year too. With more communication touchpoints than ever, it’s getting harder to make sure everyone always knows where they stand. So we’re investing in tech to help us keep it consistent but still imperfectly human!

If you’re hiring, the simplest advantage you can give yourself is communication. Do it well and the whole process runs cleaner. Do it badly and you’ll lose people you genuinely wanted.

5 ways clients hire better just by communicating better:

1. Name one owner. A person accountable for updates and decisions.
   

2. Communicate and agree with us your expectations up front. Process, stages, timeline, decision date.

3. Update even when there’s no update. Ghosting is very 2025.

4. Give real feedback, fast. A yes/no plus the why. No mystery.

5. Close the loop every time. Nobody should be left wondering where they stand.
   
   

The roles (and people) that are winning

Roles that are booming are the ones solving real problems: growth, conversion, retention, effectiveness, confidence. It’s need-to-have not nice-to-have territory.

Performance is really having its moment. Creative Strategists in particular are in demand because businesses want people who can connect the dots between channels, insight, creative and commercial outcomes. Proper creative with an ROI brain.

Especially in significant growth areas, candidates have more options than people think, and they’re making fast judgments about what a company feels like from the process alone. If it’s confident and clear, they’re really engaged. If it’s vague and wobbly, they drift. We’ve found ourselves talking EVP with clients more than ever over the past six months. Get under the bonnet of yours and ask the hard question: is it genuinely competitive? Because “aspirational brand” on its own doesn’t land the way it used to.

Freelancers with a track record are quietly winning too. We’re seeing clients place significant value on trusted freelancers and known quantities, especially when they want momentum without over-hiring. If you’ve got good relationships and repeat bookings, you’re in a strong position in 2026. Keep your network warm and don’t underestimate how much “safe hands” matters right now.

If you're someone thinking about making a move this year, these are the types of things we'd encourage you to consider:

• Lead with what you deliver, not just what you do.
  

• Make your CV/LinkedIn instantly obvious: role, niche, impact.

• Try to establish timelines early and hold yourself and everyone else accountable where possible.

• Follow up, confidently, but try to avoid chasing.

• Be AI-fluent enough to sound current. You can learn so much - for free. Invest time in this.

• Keep your network warm, not just when you need them.
  
  

We can’t talk about 2026 without mentioning it. AI is a thread running through everything. It isn’t a talking point anymore, it’s just part of the day to day.

Clients are asking for AI-fluent skillsets. Job specs are evolving in real time. Teams are reshaping. Our approach is simple: use tech and automation to save time, so we can offer a more consistent, human experience. Less admin. More proper advice. More pace when it matters.

The market isn’t effortless, but it is absolutely moving. We’re seeing great briefs, brilliant candidates, and lots of businesses hiring properly, with real intent. And that’s where we focus: partnerships with clients who value clarity, pace and communication, and candidates who want to do work they’re proud of.

Wishing you a brilliant, productive, calm 2026!