The Hiring Reset: Where the Real Media & Ad Tech Jobs Are in 2026

The hiring market in media and advertising isn’t collapsing. It’s resetting.

In this episode, BIA’s Rick Ducey sits down with Robert Hawthorne, President of Hawthorne Search, to unpack today’s two-track job market: consolidation and headcount discipline in legacy media versus continued expansion across SaaS, data, and ad tech.

They explore where real job growth is happening, how compensation plans are shifting, why Q1 and early fall are prime hiring windows, and what both employers and candidates are getting wrong about today’s process.

You’ll hear why leading organizations are defining roles around 90-day and 6-to-12-month business outcomes instead of resume checklists and how that shift is changing the way talent competes and teams are built.

If you are hiring, planning a move, or trying to understand where the market is truly heading in 2026, this conversation provides a clear, practical roadmap.

To watch the video of the podcast, click here. To connect with Robert Hawthorne, reach him at  Robert@hawthornesearch.com