How to Find a Job in 2026

Episode 321 - The job market in 2025 has been flat, competitive, and emotionally draining for many professionals. In this episode, recruiter Geoff Slade and I unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes and what job seekers can do to stand out, especially when everyone’s application starts to look the same. 

If 2025 felt harsher than you expected, you were not imagining it. As a career coach, I’ve watched experienced professionals, including senior leaders, get caught in longer hiring cycles, more competition, and a colder tone in recruitment communication. In this episode of The Job Hunting Podcast, I sat down with Geoff Slade, Chairman of the Slade Group, for our end-of-year reflection and forward-looking conversation. 

Geoff has a rare vantage point. His group operates across multiple recruitment brands and covers everything from entry-level roles through to senior executive appointments. He’s also been in the recruitment industry for decades, which gives him pattern recognition that most job seekers never get access to. 

In this blog post, I’m summarising and unpacking key points from our conversation, with a focus on what corporate professionals and executives can do right now. We discussed the flat job market, the rise of interim roles, the reality of negotiating salary and flexibility, and how AI is changing the way applications look and feel. Most importantly, we talked about how to market yourself so you stop blending in. 

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Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Overview of 2025 Job Market Dynamics
• 05:07 Ruthlessness in Recruitment Communication
• 07:49 Impact of Layoffs on Job Seekers
• 10:17 Demand for Interim and Temporary Roles
• 12:59 Negotiating Flexibility in a Tough Market
• 15:32 The Future of Hybrid Work
• 18:12 Tectonic Shifts in Employment Trends
• 21:04 Negotiating Salary in a Challenging Environment
• 23:54 Navigating Job Offers and Salary Negotiations
• 26:56 The Impact of AI on Job Applications
• 29:43 Building Confidence in Job Applications
• 35:09 Strategies for Job Seekers in a Competitive Market
• 40:02 Proactive Job Searching Techniques
• 42:53 The Importance of Action and Accountability

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode with Talent Acquisition Manager Leanne Brannigan
• Contact me if you need help leading hybrid work environments
• Interview with Anita Ziemer, Executive Director, Slade Group