Talent Insights

The entry-level job market is bad!

Crowd: "How bad is it?"

It's so bad that journalism majors are having an easier time finding work than computer science grads.

(That part isn't a joke. 6.1% unemployment vs. 4.4%.)

Despite a strong overall job market, recent grads are getting squeezed. "Entry-level" roles now require experience, companies have slashed college recruiting programs, and AI is replacing a lot of junior work entirely.

But why is this happening? And what can new grads do about it?

Jeff Smith and James Hornick unpack all that in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 112, "The Crumbling Entry-Level Job Market"

In this quarterly update, Emily and Ryan hosted Hirewell CEO, Matt Massuci, where they dove into company-wide and practice-specific hiring trends from the start of 2025. While January and February lagged behind expectations—down 10% year-over-year—March brought a 25% surge, signaling renewed momentum. Executive search and interim hiring are on the rise, even as Solutions work has slowed. Despite external factors like Liberation Day causing brief delays, the last six weeks were the strongest of the year, especially the past two. Practice leads weigh in with mixed performance: CF and GTM are seeing higher deal volumes but softer billing, Industrial is driving growth through high-level searches, and Tech, while down, appears to be stabilizing. Net-net: 2025 began slower than 2024, but all signs point to a strong rebound.

In this episode of 'The Balancing Act,' host Sarah Sheridan interviews Suzanne Jakstavish, an HR executive with over five years of experience and a mother to a 15-year-old son with autism. Suzanne shares her unique career journey, the impact of her parents' professions, and how her experiences have shaped her leadership style. The conversation delves into the challenges and joys of raising her son, the lessons he has taught her about leadership, and the importance of work-life integration. Suzanne also discusses the evolving support for working parents, the importance of flexibility in the workplace, and offers valuable advice for integrating career and family life. Join us for an inspiring and insightful discussion on managing both career and family dynamics.

Candidate Experience sucks right now. That's it. That's the show.

If you think back to 2021, when the job market was on fire, it was top of mind for everyone. Not just LinkedIn think pieces, but companies poured lots of time and effort into white-glove interview interview processes.

Now that the market cooled off, so did the effort. But there's a disconnect: attracting talent isn't any easier right now. In fact, it's harder when you inadvertently cut corners.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick explain why ignoring candidate experience is costing companies big in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 111, "Candidate Experience Has Never Been Worse"

Date and Time: Wednesday, May 14th at 11 am CT

Add to your calendar here.

View LIVE via:

LinkedIn Live (follow James Hornick for the notification)

Hirewell's YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter accounts.

Replays will be available via Hirewell Talent Insights.

🎧 Rethinking HR: Strategy, Growth & the Post-Corporate Shift

We sat down with Malvika Jethmalani—3x CHRO turned founder of Atvis Group—to talk about what great HR really looks like in 2025.

From performance management and manager effectiveness to people-first AI transformations, Malvika shares what companies are getting wrong—and how to fix it.

She also dives into the perks (and real challenges) of leaving corporate life to start her own advisory firm.

Whether you're leading HR or just partnering closely with it, this one's packed with practical wisdom.

It's been nearly 2.5 years since ChatGPT was released. Since then, our LinkedIn feeds have been littered with panic-porn telling us if we don't use LLMs that make us sound like robots, we'll be left behind.

Whelp. They were half right. Wrong use, but perhaps the correct end result.

We are–slowly but surely–starting to see the real effects of AI in hiring. Both for the recruiting function, and everyone's careers.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick call out why "prompt engineering" won't save your job—but knowing what you're doing might—in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 110, "How AI Will Make Or Break Recruiting"

The 2025 job market has everyone scratching their heads. One minute, we're seeing strong job numbers. The next? Layoffs. Some companies are scaling fast, others are stuck in hiring freezes. It's a mixed bag—and it's creating uncertainty across the board.

In this episode, Ryan & Emily break it all down:

🔹 The rise of temp-to-perm and extended interview processes 🔹 How hesitation is impacting hiring 🔹Advice for both employers and candidates navigating the confusion

"The market isn't broken—it's just cautious."

That nuance is key. And how you respond to it—whether you're hiring or job searching—makes all the difference.

Rolodex.

But that's exactly what legacy firms want you to think.

They sell prestige. They sell access. They sell fear. And some companies buy it—because no one wants to screw up a high-profile hire.

Here's the truth: access is the easy part. Executives respond more than anyone. The real challenge? Fit. Immersion. Results after the hire. And most firms skip that part entirely.

Jeff Smith and James Hornick rip the curtain off the smoke-and-mirrors world of exec search—and explain why most firms are failing their clients (badly) in The 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 109, "What Everyone Gets Wrong About Executive Search."

In this episode of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan chats with Margot Nash, co-founder and CEO of MindMetrix. Margot opens up about her unconventional career path—from selling makeup at Estée Lauder to leading product teams at tech startups, and ultimately launching her own company in the mental health space. She shares the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with raising two young kids, the surprising lessons she's learned as a first-time CEO, and how she and her husband manage the daily juggle of work, family, and self-care.

If you've ever thought about leaving corporate to start your own venture or just need some real talk on balancing ambition with parenthood, this episode is for you!

In this episode of Beyond the Offer, hosts Rosanna Snediker and Bill Gates welcome Katie Stapor, VP and Director of Talent at FCB Chicago. Katie shares her journey at FCB, where she started in 2011 and earned seven promotions. She reflects on her unexpected path into HR, the power of relationships, and the ever-evolving workplace. The conversation covers adapting to business demands, innovative internship recruitment, transitioning from recruiting to HR, and the value of in-person training and mentorship. Katie also offers career advice for new graduates and insights into the shifting job market.