7 Trends and Insights for Executive Technical Recruiting in 2022

As we move past “The Great Resignation” and get used to “The Great Reshuffle,” I’m excited for what’s to come. The fabric of work is undergoing a radical transformation; how we work, where we work, and why we work is being upended.

Based on my 15 years of technical recruiting experience and pulse on the current market, I’ve compiled a list of my insights and predictions for 2022.

Without further ado…. Here are my trends, winners, and predictions as we roll into 2022:

• Valuation Overload: Inflated valuations forced candidates to truly depend on their own evaluation by looking closer at revenue, YOY growth, retention, the executive team, and other driving factors.
• Digital Nomads: While a few had a localized preference, 100% of our searches were national searches in 2021. Long gone are the days when the candidate’s location mattered. The trend is to optimize for getting the best leader, regardless of location.
• Compensation: Salaries increased in 2021 to meet the competitive nature of the market
• ABC: Like Glengarry Glen Ross said, “always be closing”. The market remains highly competitive, the most engaged founders and hiring managers in the interview process win.
• All The Feels: Mission and Culture win. People want purpose. Culture is… values in action. Candidates want to feel it to believe it.
• Speed: Companies that prioritized moving quickly during an interview process + candidate engagement = WINNING.
• Web 3: Executives are curious about new opportunities presenting themselves in web 3.0. The metaverse will play its role in carving new paths forward as decentralized communities shift to create value for people vs. corporations.

The fundamental paradox I see moving forward is people want more flexibility, yet crave human connection. What is the value of working in a physical office space together? How do we redefine successful collaboration? Can we continue to feel a connection and build empathy through avatars and ZOOM? How we navigate this radical transformation will be the future of the workplace and collaboration. What are your thoughts on returning to an office this year? I would love to hear from you!