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2026 Hiring Outlook for Recruiters

by Liz Carey

Image of blocks with numerals depicting calendar year changing from 2025 to 2026Are you prepared for a year of stability masquerading as uncertainty? For recruiters and talent acquisition leaders, the last few years have felt like a rollercoaster ride of unprecedented highs and lows. But as we look toward 2026, the data suggests a different kind of challenge: stagnation.

Early indicators for the 2026 labor market point not to a boom or a bust, but to a continuation of the current “low-hire, low-fire” environment. This unique holding pattern presents specific hurdles for recruitment professionals. How do you source talent when incumbents are afraid to leave? How do you convince clients to hire when GDP growth is modest? Read the rest of this entry »

What Do Recruitment Firms Need to Know About GEO?

by Veronica Blatt

Close-up of two hands holding a cell phone and using ChatGPTIf you’re in charge of your business website, have you noticed a decrease in site visits? We have. Chatting with our development team, I learned we are not alone. Other sites, including Wikipedia and Microsoft, are also seeing huge dropoffs in site visitors – and they are major players. What’s behind this radical shift in behavior? If you said AI, you’re on the right track. It’s Generative Engine Optimization, GEO. Most of us have spent time learning about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but the new piece of the puzzle—GEO—is just as important. Knowing the difference, and using both effectively, is how you hold onto your audience and keep your business growing.

What’s the difference between SEO and GEO, and why should you—someone running a recruitment firm—care about it? Read the rest of this entry »

An Introduction to Ethical AI in Hiring

by Veronica Blatt

A group of male and female professional colleagues having a discussionFrom sourcing candidates to screening resumes, AI tools promise to make your job faster and more efficient. But with this great power comes great responsibility. How do you ensure the technology you use is fair, transparent, and unbiased? This is where ethical AI and AI governance come into play.

For recruitment agencies, embracing AI is no longer a choice but a necessity. Yet, using it without clear guidelines is a significant risk. Let’s explore why this matters and how you can build a framework for success. Read the rest of this entry »

What happens when your split placement falls apart?

by Veronica Blatt

In a perfect world, every split placement ends with a happy candidate, a client who pays on time, and two recruitment partners sharing a fee. But what happens when a placement goes wrong?

Here are a few common scenarios where a split placement can fall apart:

  • The “no-start”: The candidate backs out before their first day.
  • Replacement guarantee: The candidate quits or is fired before the guarantee period ends, and a replacement is required.
  • Money-back guarantee: The candidate leaves before the guarantee period is over, and the fee must be returned to the client.
  • Guarantee extension: The candidate leaves after the guarantee period, but the job recruiter offers the client an extension as a goodwill gesture.

Let’s break down what happens in each of these situations. Read the rest of this entry »

Is the Labor Market Having a 1970s Flashback?

by Veronica Blatt

professional woman in dark blazer holding cup of coffee and loose papersToday’s guest blogger is Patrick Long, founder and managing partner of Provision People based in San Diego, CA. Provision People works in a variety of industries, namely: financial services, accounting, manufacturing, sales, technology, agriculture, defense, and a few other verticals too. Patrick is also an NPAworldwide Board Director with responsibility for the Western North America region. Read below for some thoughts on the current labor market.

Lately, the labor market feels…familiar. Slower hiring, stubborn wages, and a few too many mixed signals. Some economists are even whispering the word “stagflation.” Read the rest of this entry »

How to Improve Your Executive Search Process

by Liz Carey

several hands work on plans and post-it notes on a work deskThe executive search landscape is more competitive than ever. Attracting and placing top-tier leadership talent requires more than just a good database and a strong network. It demands a refined, strategic, and human-centric approach. If you’re asking, “How can we improve our executive search process?” you’re already on the right path. Continuous improvement is the hallmark of a successful recruitment firm.

This guide provides actionable strategies to elevate your executive search methods. We will explore how to integrate technology effectively, build lasting candidate relationships, and sharpen your outreach and evaluation techniques. By refining these key areas, you can deliver superior results for your clients and become a trusted partner to high-caliber executives. Read the rest of this entry »

Future-Proof Your Career: Skills for the Next 5 Years

by Kerry Crockett

Image of confident woman with long dark hair and glassesStaying ahead of the job market means continuously adapting and acquiring new skills. To future-proof your career, focus on developing competencies that will remain relevant and valuable in the coming years. 

Digital literacy stands out as an essential skill. With the ongoing advancement of technology and automation, familiarity with digital tools, software, and platforms is crucial. Proficiency in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity can significantly boost your career resilience.  Read the rest of this entry »

How Can Split Placements Benefit Recruiters?

by Veronica Blatt

image of a preschool-aged boy and girl sharing an ice cream cone.What is your plan for increasing revenue next year? It’s been a difficult year for many small recruitment firms. Trade policy has been all over the board. Jobs have been on hold. Layoffs are increasing, but candidates are still scarce. Tariffs are disrupting supply chains and manufacturing. Changes to visas make it harder to employ foreign workers. While we’re seeing some signs of improvements, it’s like to still be somewhat bumpy at least in the early part of next year as well. On the cusp of our 70th birthday year, NPAworldwide can confidently say that split placements remain a great option for recruitment firms to diversify their businesses and increase revenue. Read the rest of this entry »

Hiring in 2026: Balancing Cost, Capability, and Culture

by Veronica Blatt

Image of dark-haired man with glasses and gray sport coat, drinking coffee and reading a business reportToday’s guest blogger is Bill Benson with WilliamCharles Search Group located in Grand Rapids, MI and Pittsburgh, PA. WilliamCharles is an executive search and professional recruiting firm specialized in finding managerial and executive talent in finance, HR, operations, sales/marketing as well as president/CEO roles. They have a concentration of clients in Michigan, but they also work across the US. Bill is a former chair of the NPAworldwide board of directors. Bill’s post discusses strategic hiring plans for the next year.

As we approach 2026, hiring leaders are facing more complexity than ever before. Talent shortages persist in critical functions. Salary expectations remain high. Skill needs are evolving and cultural alignment, once viewed as a “nice to have,” is now a top priority.

For executives and HR leaders in mid-sized and family-owned businesses, hiring decisions are no longer just transactional; they are strategic inflection points. Read the rest of this entry »

Building Long-Term Relationships with Clients and Candidates

by Veronica Blatt

In the recruitment industry, success is not just about making placements. It’s about building lasting partnerships. For boutique agencies, the ability to foster long-term relationships with both clients and candidates is a powerful differentiator. Trust and loyalty are the cornerstones of this approach, transforming one-time transactions into sustained success. How can you cultivate these essential connections? Both trust and loyalty are increasing in importance as AI takes on a larger role. Read the rest of this entry »

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