The market is moving—your strategy should too

Hiring in 2026 is less about “who’s growing fastest” and more about who’s hiring selectively and sustainably. Even in slower cycles, companies still invest in roles tied to revenue, risk reduction, customer retention, and core infrastructure. The good news: you can position yourself for those roles with a few deliberate moves.

What we’re seeing across industries

1) Big Tech: fewer roles, sharper bars

Many big companies are hiring, but with tighter headcount controls and more scrutiny on scope, impact, and collaboration.

• Roles often cluster around AI productization, security, cloud optimization, and platform reliability
• Interviews may feel more “real-world”: system design, stakeholder management, operational excellence

2) Startups: efficient growth over growth-at-all-costs

Startups that are hiring want people who can own outcomes end-to-end.

• Expect emphasis on ambiguity, speed, and customer obsession
• Strong preference for candidates who can show measurable impact (activation, retention, CAC/LTV, cycle time reductions)

3) Finance & regulated sectors: steady demand for trust + automation

Financial services and other regulated industries continue to invest in risk, compliance, security, and modernization.

• Great lane for candidates who can speak both business + controls
• Bonus if you can translate: “Here’s how this change improved governance and reduced operational risk.”

Practical ways to future-proof your candidacy (next 2 weeks)

Refresh your story (not just your resume)

Your resume lists what you did; your interview story must show why it mattered.

• Write 3 “impact narratives” using Problem → Actions → Metrics → Tradeoffs
• Prepare one story each for: ambiguity, conflict, failure/learning, and scaling

Make your skills trend-aligned

You don’t need to chase every buzzword—choose one adjacent skill that compounds.

• Tech: cloud cost optimization, security fundamentals, applied AI workflows
• Non-tech: data literacy, automation tools, KPI design, stakeholder management

Target companies with signals (not hype)

Before applying, look for:

• Recent revenue signals (earnings notes, pricing changes, customer wins)
• Leadership hires in your function (often precede team growth)
• Job posts with consistent requirements (indicates a real, funded opening)

Interview like a partner, not a candidate

In tight markets, teams want someone who can make good decisions with imperfect information.

• Ask: “What does success look like at 30/60/90 days?”
• Clarify constraints: budget, dependencies, risk tolerance
• Summarize your fit: “Based on what you shared, I’d focus on X and measure Y.”

Quick self-check

If you had to prove your value in one sentence, could you?

“I help [team] achieve [goal] by [strength], measured by [metric].”

What industry (or company type) are you targeting in 2026—and what’s the one skill or signal you think matters most right now?