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State of Executive Recruiting Today

January 30, 2026

Metaview, the AI recruiting platform used by more than 4,000 organizations including Miro, Sony, and ElevenLabs, has upgraded its AI sourcing agent to search your ATS as deeply as the web.

Recruiters and hiring managers now have one place to build a shortlist, without starting from scratch. It brings proven candidates back and surfaces new ones based on your exact criteria.

No setup. Free to try. Described as “magical” by Zara McBrien, Head of TA at Eneba.

This article outlines three ways HR teams can deal with AI in the workplace. One approach is resisting AI use where it weakens work quality or threatens fairness. Another is assisting by guiding AI adoption in areas that reduce routine burden on staff. Third, HR can set standards that balance efficiency with human oversight, protecting employee rights and trust. The piece stresses training, ethical governance, and clear AI policies to keep work fair and productive. It highlights the need for HR to lead with principles when AI tools enter core processes. Read more.

HR Insights: State of Executive Recruiting Today

Professional search firms play a central role in identifying and evaluating candidates for senior leadership roles. Mark Thompson of the Chief Executive Alliance and Byron Loflin of Nasdaq explain that executive recruiting goes far beyond résumés and interviews. Recruiters assess how well candidates articulate their leadership story, demonstrate readiness for board-level scrutiny, and perform in structured assessments and reference checks. They also stress the importance of building long-term relationships with search firms, not just engaging when a role is open. For aspiring C-suite leaders, understanding how recruiters evaluate credibility, judgment, and consistency is essential for standing out and sustaining leadership success. Read more.

HR Tips and Tricks

Tip: Encourage cross-department mentorship where HR teams coach managers on soft skills like conflict resolution or empathy. This builds stronger internal relationships and helps managers better support their teams.

Trick: Use internal alumni networks to re-engage former employees as contractors or advisors on short-term projects. This leverages their experience and keeps organizational knowledge in play without full-time roles.

HR Case Files: Kaiser Permanente Staff Strike Over Wages

This case covers a large labor strike where about 31,000 nurses and health care workers at Kaiser Permanente walked off the job in California and Hawaii. They demanded higher wages and better staffing conditions after contract talks stalled. The union cited stalled national bargaining and unfair labor practices as reasons for the walkout. Kaiser countered with a wage offer but disagreed on staffing and contract terms. Read more.

Key Takeaways:

  • Strike involved tens of thousands of healthcare professionals across states.

  • Union sought a higher wage increase than what Kaiser offered.

  • Dispute centers on pay, staffing levels, and contract negotiations.

HR Toolkit

Resources

USI is shifting to a model where each HR representative is paired with a specific division. This aims to improve communication, faster responses, and more personalized support for employees. The new structure is meant to help HR be more strategic and better support the employee lifecycle from hiring to ongoing engagement. Know more.

Events

Transform 2026 will be held in Las Vegas from March 23–25 and is focused on the future of work, people leadership, and innovation. The event brings together HR leaders, executives, and thinkers to discuss workplace strategy, AI’s role in HR, culture, inclusion, and performance. Speakers include many C-suite HR professionals and sessions span networking, workshops, and thought leadership discussions.

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