Industry Insights.
Perspectives, analysis, and guidance shaped by the work we do every day across teams, industries, and evolving talent needs.
The Non-Compete Ban Died Quietly. Here's What's Left
The FTC tried to ban non-competes nationwide in 2024. Courts struck that rule down, and in February 2026 the FTC formally removed it from the federal code. There is no national ban. What exists instead is fifty different answers depending on where an employee actually works. Here is what that patchwork means if you signed a non-compete, and what it means if your company writes them.
Reference Checks Can Make or Break the Final Offer. Is Your List Ready?
Reference checks happen in the final stage of nearly every senior-level hiring process, with roughly 87 percent of employers checking references before extending an offer and most contacting an average of three per candidate. The people a candidate lists carry real weight in that decision, and a weak or unprepared reference can stall an offer even after a strong interview process. Here is who to list, who to leave off, and how to prepare references before a recruiter ever calls.
Salary Transparency Is No Longer Optional. Is Your Job Posting Ready?
More than a dozen states now require salary ranges in job postings, 65 percent of U.S. employers already operate under some form of pay transparency mandate, and candidates are increasingly filtering out listings that do not include one. Here is what the law requires, what the data shows about candidate behavior, and what employers should know before their next posting goes live.
What Happens When Companies Give AI Too Much Control Over Hiring and Job Cuts
Over 100,000 U.S. jobs were cut in the name of AI efficiency in the first half of this year alone. The returns companies announced when they made those cuts largely have not materialized, and a growing number of organizations are quietly trying to rehire what they let go.
Why Your Next Best Hire Is Already Employed Somewhere Else
Most qualified professionals aren't actively job searching, especially at the senior and executive level. Job postings and applicant tracking systems mainly reach active job seekers, a smaller and more competitive pool. Here is why passive candidates outperform applicants, and what it actually takes to reach them.
Why Companies Cutting Entry-Level Roles May Regret It Later
Most companies treating entry-level hiring cuts as a cost-saving decision are not accounting for what those roles were actually building. The junior hire you pass on today is the senior leader you cannot find in 2030. Here is what the data shows and what the organizations getting this right are doing differently.
The 2026 Accounting Salary Landscape
How does accounting salary vary in 2026? This analysis breaks down national benchmarks, CPA salary premiums, geographic differences, and compensation ranges by experience level to help employers and professionals navigate today’s market.
The Best Interview Questions Most Candidates Miss
Most candidates treat the final minutes of an interview as a formality. The strongest professionals use them to clarify expectations, direction, and long-term opportunity. Here are the questions that elevate the conversation.
Solving the Job Bait and Switch Crisis with Better Hiring
Few things damage trust faster than accepting a role and realizing it is not what was discussed. Job bait and switch, from inflated titles to misleading salary ranges and shifting flexibility policies, is driving early attrition. Here’s where misalignment begins and how both candidates and employers can prevent it.
Civil Engineering’s Next Differentiator
The PE license establishes authority in civil engineering. What differentiates licensed engineers today is how that authority is applied. From land development versatility to Envision alignment, automation, and digital twin integration, here is where firms are seeing the next layer of distinction emerge.
The Talent Trends That Will Shape Hiring in 2026
In 2026, hiring mistakes will be harder to hide and more expensive to fix. Volume will lose its shine. Technology will stop being the strategy. And hiring itself will become evidence of how an organization actually operates. These are the talent trends already reshaping how serious companies approach growth.
Is the In-Person Interview Really Making a Comeback?
We moved our interviews online. We embraced efficiency. We learned to mute ourselves at the right time. Everything seemed settled. Then companies started asking something slightly unexpected: “Would you come in?” After years of virtual-first hiring, the timing raises a fair question: why are more teams starting to bring candidates back into the room again?
When Not Moving Up Means Moving Forward
More professionals are rethinking what real career progress looks like. In a changing economy, staying in the same role can be a strategic move rather than a setback. This blog explores why many mid-career employees are choosing stability, how intentional stillness can fuel growth, and what it takes to stay competitive even when you stay put.
7 AI-Proof Skills Every Professional Needs Now
AI isn’t coming for your job—but it is changing how you do it. To secure your career longevity in the AI era, you need to shift from being a task-doer to a strategy-driver. Discover the seven essential, AI-resistant skills—like data judgment and human-led influence—that will amplify your unique value and keep you indispensable in 2026.
The Influence Economy
Influence is the new currency of success. More than skill or experience, it determines who earns trust and drives change. The professionals who build credibility, connection, and visibility are shaping the future of work, and the organizations that recognize influence as a strategic advantage are the ones poised to grow fastest.
When Job Descriptions Confine Talent
Job descriptions are outdated. The most successful teams hire for skills, adaptability, and outcomes — not checklists. Skills-based hiring is redefining the future of work, and recruiters are leading the shift. Here’s how modern organizations are building impact-driven roles that evolve with business needs.
The Cost of Hiring Deception
Hiring scams are on the rise and becoming more sophisticated, eroding trust in the job application process. Discover how these evolving threats are reshaping the way job seekers engage with new opportunities.
7 Strategies to Negotiate Your Salary
Don't leave money on the table. Our salary negotiation guide covers market value, negotiation strategies, and how to discuss compensation packages for a better outcome.