The Keller Group’s Recap of our December and January Poll Results

As everyone at The Keller Group closed out 2025 and stepped into a brand-new year, we checked in with our LinkedIn community to learn what candidates and clients are prioritizing right now. From career growth goals and interview preferences to what job seekers really want in 2026 (and what hiring plans are looking like for Q1), your responses gave us a clear snapshot of where the market stands heading into the new year. Here’s what we learned from our combined December and January polls.

The Skills Professionals are Focused on Building in 2026

In early December, we asked: What professional skill are you most focused on improving in 2026? The top responses showed a strong mix of leadership growth and modern, workplace skills:

• 34% - AI + Digital Tools Integration

• 31% - Leadership + Team Development

• 21% - Process Optimization

• 14% - Personal Branding

These results reflect what we’re seeing across industries: professionals want to stay competitive, but they also want to lead well. As technology continues evolving, candidates are focused on developing skills that help them work smarter, adapt faster, and add long-term value to their teams with transferrable workplace skills.

Interview Confidence Starts with the Right Format

Next, we asked: What interview style helps you show up as your best self? With 180 votes, the results were crystal clear:

• 52% - In-Person

• 32% - Video/Virtual

• 15% - Phone Call

• 2% - Other

Even in a world where remote work is still common, many candidates feel most confident when they can connect face-to-face. For employers, this is a great reminder that interview format can impact candidate performance - and offering an interview process that supports comfort and clarity can lead to stronger outcomes (and better hires).

The Best Holiday Perk? Bonuses

In our final December poll, we asked: What’s the best holiday perk companies can offer? The winning perk wasn’t a surprise: 

• 48% - Bonuses

• 30% - Flexible Schedules / Work From Home

• 14% - Extra PTO

• 8% - Early Office Closures

While time off and flexibility are still highly valued, bonuses came out on top - showing that many professionals appreciate tangible recognition for their work, especially during the holidays. For employers, this reinforces the importance of offering perks that feel meaningful, not just symbolic.

2026 Job Search Energy is High

In January, we shifted toward the new year ahead and asked: Would you switch jobs this year if the right offer came along? With 212 votes, the response was an overwhelming “yes”:

• 74% - Yes, actively looking

• 15% - Yes, but passive

• 5% - Maybe

• 6% - Nope, I’m happy where I’m at

This is a huge insight for hiring teams. Even if candidates aren’t applying everywhere, many are open to making a move for the right opportunity. If your company is hiring in 2026, it’s more important than ever to have a strong employer brand, a smooth interview process, and competitive compensation.

Q1 Hiring Plans: Mixed Signals, But Hiring Isn’t Stopping

To close out January, we asked employers: What does your hiring plan look like for Q1? While this poll had a smaller response group, the results still show an important trend:

• 33% - Paused for now

• 27% - Actively hiring

• 27% - Still evaluating

• 13% - Planning to hire

Many organizations are still evaluating budgets and headcount early in the year, but hiring is absolutely still happening. The takeaway? Companies that move strategically (and quickly) will have an advantage, especially when strong candidates are actively exploring new job opportunities. 

Why It Matters

At The Keller Group, these monthly polls help us stay closely connected to what candidates and employers are experiencing in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a job search, refining your interview process, or building a hiring plan for the year ahead, these insights help guide smarter hiring decisions and better conversations. Contact us today to see how we can help support you during your job search or hiring process.

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