The hiring market is active, but it has shifted. Businesses are being more deliberate, team structures are leaner, and expectations are higher. For candidates, that means the process may take longer, but when a company moves, they are serious about it.

‍

The professionals gaining traction right now are not the ones applying to everything. Rather, they are the ones who are clear on what they offer and strategic about where they apply.

‍

Here's what you need to know about Q2:

‍

Market Insights

The Bar Has Shifted. So Has the Opportunity.

‍

Companies are looking for administrative and executive support professionals who can do more with less. Autonomy, adaptability, and technical fluency are the baseline.

‍

Temporary and temp-to-hire roles are also on the rise as companies build agile teams. For job seekers, these openings are worth careful consideration. Temporary work often leads to full-time opportunities at companies that were not actively posting, as many organizations use these roles to assess fit before committing to a permanent hire. It can also be a strategic way to gain experience across industries or functions, especially for those considering a career pivot.

‍

What this means for your search: Be open to temporary work. In this market, temporary roles are how a lot of full-time placements start. Companies are using them to evaluate fit before making a full-time hire, which can work in your favor. And when you do apply, if you have worn multiple hats or supported across functions, make that visible.

‍

One of the Fastest-Moving Areas of Hiring Right Now

‍

Brands are investing heavily in live experiences, and hiring in the experiential industry is reflecting that. Roles tied to events, activations, and on-the-ground execution are in demand and moving quickly.

‍

Career Group Events is proud to be hiring for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026, spanning 16 cities across three countries. We are actively hiring job seekers across retail, operations, and event staffing right now. If you’re looking to be part of it, apply now to be considered.

‍

What this means for your search: If hospitality or events is your niche, this is the moment to be active. Roles are moving quickly and event producers are building talent pipelines far in advance of major activations. Apply to an open role with Career Group Events to be considered for upcoming opportunities as they arise.

‍

Precision Is the New Pace

Hiring in creative and marketing is steady but selective. Budgets are leaner as companies redirect spend toward AI tools and technology, which means fewer roles are opening and each one carries more scope. The candidates getting hired are those who can move between strategy and execution, manage projects end to end, and demonstrate real fluency with AI tools, not just awareness of them.

‍

Experiential is also driving demand, with brands building cross-functional teams that blend creative thinking with production and data fluency. Project and production management skills are increasingly valuable here as activations grow in complexity and scale.

‍

What this means for your search: Be ready to sell your value in the context of efficiency and impact. If you have used AI tools to streamline your work, say so specifically. If you have managed budgets, timelines, or cross-functional teams, lead with that. In a market where every hire has to justify its cost, the clearest path to an offer is showing exactly what you bring to the bottom line.

‍

Design, Product, and DTC Are Leading the Way

‍

Fashion hiring is active, and the roles with the most momentum reflect a broader structural shift in how brands are building their businesses. Emerging and digitally native companies are investing in design, product development, merchandising, and sourcing as they move away from the traditional wholesale and department store model toward owned direct-to-consumer channels. For candidates with experience across these functions, demand is real and consistent across markets.

‍

On the retail side, client-facing and store leadership roles continue to open, particularly within luxury. And as brands deepen their investment in owned digital channels, candidates with ecommerce, digital merchandising, or DTC experience are increasingly sought after across both established names and growing brands.

‍

‍

‍What this means for your search: Understand the business model of every company you pursue. A DTC brand and a wholesale-driven organization will evaluate your experience differently and have distinct expectations for how you contribute. Tailoring how you present your background to reflect that context is not a small detail. It is often what separates a strong application from the right one.

‍

Career Development

How AI Is Impacting Your Job Search

‍

When you apply through a job board or company portal, your resume is parsed by an ATS system that categorizes you based on keywords, skills, and work history. Today's AI-powered ATS tools go beyond a simple keyword match and can assess your qualifications more holistically, but that makes intentional tailoring more important, not less. The more clearly your experience speaks to the specific opportunity in front of you, the stronger your profile reads against the role. Lead with impact and outcomes rather than responsibilities, make sure your LinkedIn profile is current and aligned with your industry, and keep formatting clean and straightforward. Complex layouts and graphics can interfere with how your information is parsed.

‍

Read our full guide to see how AI can help you identify what’s missing, and help you turn your experience into a stronger, more compelling story.

‍

Salary Expectations in a More Measured Market

‍

Companies are being more strategic with compensation right now, in part because many are allocating significant budget toward technology, AI tools, and infrastructure. Before any negotiation, do your research. Look at comparable roles on LinkedIn and pay close attention to industry and years of experience when assessing ranges, as broad averages rarely reflect the nuance of your specific background or market.

‍

Know your value, articulate your impact, and evaluate the full package. Benefits, flexibility, and growth trajectory are all part of what a role is worth. And if the initial offer comes in leaner than expected, consider negotiating for a shorter performance review window as a path to getting to your target compensation sooner.

‍

For a deeper look at how to evaluate what an offer is really worth, read our full guide.  

Recruiting Office Hours: Your Questions, Answered by Real Recruiters

Wondering what it is really like to work with a recruiter? Whether clients are actually hiring? What should you stop doing immediately in your job search? CGC recruiters Julia Levy and Catherine Drinker answer the questions candidates are asking every day, with the kind of candid, practical insight you do not always get elsewhere.

‍

Read the article and watch the full conversation for recruiter-backed advice you can actually use.

Our Referral Program

‍Refer a Peer, Colleague, or Business and Earn Rewards

Know someone who would benefit from working with us, or a company that could use our services?

We want to hear about it.

‍

$500 for the first direct hire position we fill at each new client you refer. $200 for every client you refer who uses our temporary staffing services.

‍

Terms and conditions apply.

‍

Q2 Opportunities to Explore

New opportunities are opening across industries this quarter, with companies hiring thoughtfully and moving quickly for the right talent. Explore our latest openings here. Apply today to be considered.