What Hiring Managers Really Want:
Insights from LinkedIn Polls

Hiring today is more complex than ever.

Between shifting candidate expectations, ever-changing workplace norms, and the rise of AI, hiring managers are under pressure to make smarter, faster decisions.

On LinkedIn, we recently conducted a series of polls with hiring managers to understand better what’s actually driving hiring success so far in 2026. The results reveal a clear story: relationships still matter, timing is tightening, and while AI is changing the game, fundamentals remain strong.

1. Referrals Landed at the Top

When asked where their most successful hires have come from, hiring managers pointed to referrals.

1. Referrals: 60%
2. Online Job Boards 40%

Despite the growth of job boards and digital platforms, trusted networks continue to outperform. Referrals bring built-in credibility.

This means it is important for companies to actively cultivate referral programs and employee networks.

2. Compensation Is About More Than Just Budget

Salary decisions are not being driven by a single factor. Instead, hiring managers are balancing multiple considerations:

1. Experience: 33%
2. Role Requirements: 33%
3. Internal Pay Equity: 33%
4. Predetermined Pay Grades: 0%

Interestingly, rigid pay structures and market trends are having less of an impact. Instead, hiring managers are focusing more on evaluating the candidate, the role, and internal alignment all at the same time.

This shows that flexibility in compensation strategy is becoming a competitive advantage.

3. Hiring Urgency Is Concentrated in Q2

Hiring managers are preparing to hire.

1. Q2: 80%
2. Q3: 0%
3. Q4: 0%
4. Not hiring in 2026: 20%

This heavy concentration in Q2 suggests that organizations are front-loading hiring efforts, likely to stay ahead of market competition and meet business goals early on in the year.

This will be a benefit to candidates entering the market now, as the opportunities are expected to be abundant.

4. AI Hasn’t Replaced the Resume, But It Has Changed Trust

With AI tools making it easier than ever to craft polished resumes, we asked hiring managers how they evaluate candidates today.

1. Resume review as first step: 75%
2. On-demand interviews: 25%
3. Video/phone screen first: 0%
4. Don’t trust resumes: 0%

While concerns about AI-generated resumes are growing, most hiring managers still rely on resumes as the initial filter. However, on-demand interviews are becoming more common as a way to evaluate candidates.

This proves that resumes still matter, but do not hold as much weight as they have in the past. It is expected that hiring processes will evolve toward earlier-stage assessments and screening tools.

What does this mean?

These polls give insight into the reality of the changes in the job market. It confirms that the fundamentals remain consistent – relationships, timing, and thoughtful evaluation continue to drive successful hiring outcomes.

At Kalos Consulting, we help organizations align these fundamentals with modern hiring strategies, so you’re not just filling roles, you’re building teams that last.

Want to learn how your hiring strategy compares? Let’s connect.