Ep. 23 - Hiring in 2026 Might Be Even Tougher: Best Practices for the A/V Industry

Always on the Hunt is back for 2026, and Leo and Bayley kick things off with a clear message for A/V leaders: hiring isn’t getting easier, and in many cases, it’s about to get harder. After reflecting on a slow and uncertain 2025, marked by delayed hiring mainly due to tariff concerns, they explain why 2026 could be even tougher. With demand increasing and surveys showing most workers are choosing stability over change, candidate movement is slowing, especially among the passive talent companies actually want to hire. Drawing from Leo’s recent presentation at Total Tech Summit and real-world recruiting experience, Leo and Bayley review best practices for hiring in the A/V industry, highlighting why reactive hiring creates pain, how proactive planning changes outcomes, and what separates companies that consistently attract great people from those that struggle. This episode is both a reality check and a playbook. The takeaway is simple: if you plan to hire in 2026, you need a strategy, you need to start early, and you need to be proactive. The war on talent is real, and the companies that win are the ones prepared for it.   Connect with Leo on LinkedIn Connect with Bayley on LinkedIn   Are You on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com