Hybrid Open Roles, Year-End Job Hunts, and 2026 Trends

2026 is approaching quickly, and the decisions being made right now are shaping next year’s job market. Hiring is shifting, budgets are closing, and new data is revealing how employees and employers are preparing for 2026.

Understanding these trends will help you stay ready and ahead.

In this edition, we’re breaking down the essentials:

📌 Three hybrid, contract roles now open

🔍 Why the year-end job search window is more strategic than it seems

📊 Glassdoor’s biggest predictions for the 2026 workplace

On the job hunt? We’re hiring for three hybrid, contract positions and are looking to connect the right person to the right role. If any of these sound like a fit, click the link below to learn more and apply!

The Year-End Job Search Advantage

As the year winds down, it can feel like hiring has hit pause. Projects are wrapping up, budgets are closing, and inboxes are overflowing. However, the year-end job search can be one of the most strategic windows to stand out.

While other job seekers slow down, companies are still finalizing budgets, filling critical roles, and planning early 2025 hires. If you stay visible now, you can position yourself ahead of the January rush.

The year’s not over, and neither is your opportunity. Stay visible, stay ready, and keep going. Your next role might already be in motion.

2026 Is Coming: 5 Workplace Shifts To Be Ready For

2026 is just around the corner, and after a year defined by uncertainty, Glassdoor’s newest analysis is giving us an early look at what’s ahead. Their review of 2025 patterns points to a growing tension between employees and employers, driven by AI adoption, a softer job market, and shifting workplace expectations.

Here are the key trends shaping the 2026 workplace:

• Disconnect Between Employees & Leaders: Glassdoor reviews show a sharp rise in negative leadership language. Mentions of disconnect are up 24%, miscommunication is up 26%, and misalignment has surged 149%.
• The “Forever Layoff”: Small-scale layoffs (fewer than 50 people) are now the most common type of workforce reduction. They’ve grown from 38% in 2015 to 51% in 2025. Instead of large, infrequent cuts, companies are opting for gradual, ongoing reductions, fueling long-term anxiety and instability for employees.
• Continued, Slow-Moving RTO Push: Despite major return-to-office headlines in 2025, enforcement has been inconsistent. Glassdoor reviews feature another undercurrent at play: recognition. Many employees fear that staying remote will slow their progression or make their work invisible. These combined pressures point to a continued but slow march toward RTO in 2026
• AI Disruption is Low So Far: While anxiety around AI is high, workers in AI-exposed industries report only negligible declines in career satisfaction. The fear is real, but the impact, so far, is modest.
• Job Seekers Are Unlikely to Reject Job Offers: With the hiring rate at a decade low, candidates are being more cautious. Job seekers are now 12% less likely to turn down an offer compared to 2023. It’s a sign of a tighter, more risk-averse talent market heading into the new year.
• New Grad Wages Are Recovering: After years of lagging behind inflation, real wage growth for new grads is picking up. Glassdoor expects early-career professionals to gain back meaningful spending power in 2026.