These are the patterns our consultants are seeing most often in conversations with employers and candidates this year.
1. Global capability centres keep expanding
Capability centres are moving from support functions to product, engineering and analytics ownership. This raises demand for senior engineers, data specialists and leaders who can work with global teams.
2. Skills matter more than titles
Employers increasingly assess what candidates can do rather than the title they hold. Structured assessments and work samples are becoming more common, even at senior levels.
3. Tier-2 cities are part of the plan
Cities such as Coimbatore, Kochi, Jaipur and Indore are on more location shortlists, offering talent pools with lower attrition and competition.
4. Hybrid has settled, but varies by role
Most professional roles now follow a defined hybrid pattern. Fully remote roles still attract the widest pool of applicants.
5. Notice periods remain a constraint
Ninety-day notice periods remain common in larger companies, so hiring plans need to allow for them or budget for buyouts.
Every market is different, so speak to a consultant about what these trends mean for the roles you are hiring.
