Poll: Should companies go back to 100% in-person interviews?

Interview processes have evolved.

Since 2020, many organizations have shifted to Zoom/Teams for early-stage interviews. Today, most companies still run initial and mid-stage conversations virtually, with only final rounds happening in person (if at all).

The reasons are clear:

• Faster scheduling
• Less travel
• Broader geographic reach
• Easier coordination across stakeholders

In many ways, this has made the interview process more efficient…but there’s another side emerging. We’re seeing interview processes become longer, more demanding, and, at times, misaligned with the realities of senior talent. Candidates are being asked to interview on weekends, complete multi-round interviews, and deliver project-based evaluations that require meaningful time investment.

For experienced leaders, the process itself has become a signal, showing how a company hires, operates, prioritizes, makes decisions and respects executive time. So, the question isn’t just where interviews happen, it’s how the overall experience reflects on the organization.

We’d also love to hear from you on these topics:

In what ways has your company addressed the interview/hiring process to improve candidate experience?

Blog: Job Hugging and the New Economics of Leadership Talent

A quiet but consequential shift is underway in the executive talent market, and it’s called job hugging. Job hugging is when experienced, high-performing leaders are choosing to remain in a role even when intellectually curious, selectively open, or quietly dissatisfied.

Simply put, job hugging is a rational response to risk.

In an environment defined by continuous disruptions including, economic uncertainty, visible workforce reductions, geopolitical instability, and the accelerating influence of AI., the perceived downside of a move now often outweighs the potential upside. Read more about how this shift is reshaping how leadership talent must be identified, engaged, and secured.

Blog: Reflections on Transform 2026

Last month, Alice Benson and Bob McCarthy attended Transform 2026 in Las Vegas, a dynamic global gathering of leaders focused on the future of work. This year’s theme, The Human + AI Equation: Forging the Next Era of Work, drew nearly 4,500 attendees from more than 35 countries and reflected a clear shift in the conversation: from exploration to execution. Click below to read some of their reflections on what they saw and heard!

C-Suite Conversation: Angela Justice

This month, we're revisiting our insightful conversation with Angela Justice about what really drives employee engagement in today’s uncertain world. As an executive coach and biopharma veteran, she shared why transparency matters more than certainty, how leaders break through performance ceilings by shifting identity, and why leaving an organization well may be one of the most underutilized leadership strategies. 

As HR and People leaders navigate unprecedented challenges, it's more important than ever to encourage practical conversation to find solutions. Click below to watch the entire interview.

Recent Search Work

Recent Placements

VP, Total Rewards

Healthcare

Sr. Director Compensation

Life Sciences

HR Director

Manufacturing

Head of Talent Acquisition

Hospitality

Sr. Director HRBP

Life Sciences



Chief People Officer

Travel/Aviation

Sr. Director, HR Operations

Life Sciences

Please note: we do not post all of our searches, and these are a representative list of some recent search work. Please follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on opportunities.

HRLF HR Excellence Awards

We're excited to announce that nominations are now OPEN for the 2026 HRLF Leadership Awards! At the center of this celebration are three distinct awards, each honoring a unique dimension of HR excellence:

• HR Leadership Excellence Award: honors individuals who have made a profound impact on their organizations while elevating the HR function as a true strategic partner.

• Rising HR Star Award: this award highlights emerging talent who are making a meaningful difference. 

• The HRLF Vanguard Award: recognizes high-performing HR teams and/or HR-led initiatives that are delivering measurable business results while pushing the boundaries of what organizations can achieve.

Do you know someone or a team that you believe should be recognized? Then nominate them today!

A Final Word - Evolution

Spring is a time of rebirth, and it reminds us all that nothing stays the same. No one could have imagined how the HR profession would transform over the last ten years, and we continue to be impressed by the determination and ingenuity of HR leaders in the face of remarkable challenges. We remain confident that HR will not "die," but rather continue to evolve.

Though daunting, evolution allows our industry to remain relevant and to better support employees in today's workforce. As a boutique search firm, we also refuse to remain static, and strive to move with changes in the HR industry. If your organization feels overwhelmed while navigating today's market, don't be afraid to reach out. Benson Executive Search is here to help you find the right leader that can lead your organization's future.