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Executive Recruiters Share the Biggest Hiring Trend Right Now

Our friend Terry Petzold, an executive tech recruiter and managing partner at Fox Search Group, recently posted on LinkedIn that one of the biggest trends they’re seeing in the IT hiring market right now is that hiring cycles are getting longer. Much longer.


What used to take two or three interviews is now taking five to seven, or more. What used to take two weeks is stretching into months before an offer is made.


Why?

Companies are being more cautious with hiring decisions. Budgets are tighter. Leadership teams want alignment.


Internal stakeholders want more visibility into every hire.

The challenge is that while companies slow down decision-making, top candidates are still evaluating multiple opportunities, and fatigue is becoming very real on both sides of the table.


They're seeing:

• More interview rounds

• More assessments and presentations

• More internal delays between stages

• More last-minute pauses before offer approval 


This Issue Stretches Beyond Just Tech:

Terry's insights echo what we're hearing from executive recruiters in other industries as well.

Just this week, Ken Schmitt, an executive recruiter in the PE space, presented a private webinar for past D&S clients and shared that he's seeing the same thing.


In an industry known for its fast pace, interview cycles are stretching into months, with more rounds of interviews, evaluations, and even testing before an offer is made. 


Turning Insight Into Action:

The good news is that offers are still being made, as several of our clients landed great jobs (and comp packages) in the last month alone. But the executives who navigate these long hiring cycles most successfully are those running a real search strategy to fill their pipelines with as many opportunities as possible. Waiting on an offer from a single opportunity is a huge risk right now.

 

The candidates who stand out and win offers are the ones who communicate their value and impact clearly, show up consistently across every stage, and maintain momentum even when timelines stretch.

 

Search fatigue is real, and it requires a plan. Maintaining your energy, narrative, and presence across a months-long process is a critical skill.

 

It can be the difference between landing the offer and losing it at the final stage.

 

Want one-on-one support to land your next role faster? Reach out to us to learn more about our Executive Advantage Track service.  

 Schedule a call with us to learn more about our Executive Advantage Method.


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About D&S Executive Career Management:

We specialize in accelerating career transitions for senior executives and board candidates to land faster without leaving money on the table. Using our proprietary Executive Edge Method™, we've supported thousands of executives in landing top jobs in competitive markets and securing prestigious board appointments. Schedule a call to learn more.

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