334: Hiring AV Talent in 2026: What’s Changed?

This week on episode 334 of the The AV Life Podcast, our hosts cover a wide-ranging discussion from practical hydration tips at InfoComm in Las Vegas to today's hiring challenges in AV, AI impacts, and career growth.The team kicks off with InfoComm preparation tips, emphasizing hydration, conference planning, certification preparation, and excitement around industry networking events. Murphy Daley’s Project Management Minute focuses on organization systems, emphasizing that successful AV project management depends on structured information management. A major discussion centers around hiring within higher education AV and IT departments. Hosts share experiences reviewing applicants, interview strategies, culture fit considerations, and concerns about candidate preparedness.The conversation expands into workforce readiness, education gaps, life skills, parenting responsibilities, and how younger generations enter the workforce. AI also emerges as a major theme, with debate around automation, layoffs, and how AV professionals should embrace AI as a tool rather than fear it as a replacement. The episode closes with advice for job seekers: prepare, research organizations, ask thoughtful questions, and prioritize finding the right culture fit.Topics Discussed:InfoComm 2026 preparation and conference planningHydration and conference survival tips for Las VegasAI-generated marketing and event promotion examplesHETMA Education Summit and certification preparationProject management organization strategiesHiring challenges in higher education AV and ITCandidate interview preparation and culture fitWorkforce readiness and life skills developmentGenerational differences entering the workforceAI’s impact on jobs and business decisionsHuman skills versus technical skills in hiringJob application processes and applicant experienceThe AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.Connect with Tim:LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeartConnect with The AV Life:Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337