Hiring in 2026: What Needs to Change for Leaders and Candidates

Free for CSCE Members!

Non-CSCE Members (early bird available until 11:55pm AEDT 4 February 2026)

Hiring processes are still sidelining some of the most capable communication professionals — often for vague, unhelpful reasons like “too senior,” “too broad,” or “not quite the right fit.” Beneath those labels sit deeper issues: discomfort with experience, misunderstanding of judgement-based roles and a growing but rarely acknowledged problem of ageism.

This webinar looks ahead to hiring in 2026 and asks some necessary questions about how communication capability is assessed, why experienced professionals are so often overlooked, and what needs to change if organisations genuinely want stronger leadership, trust and influence.

Hosted by the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (CSCE), the session will be moderated by CSCE co-founder Sia Papageorgiou, who will be joined by Konstanty Sliwowski, founder of the School of Hiring. Konstanty brings nearly two decades of experience advising organisations on strategic hiring decisions and has personally conducted thousands of interviews across roles, sectors and seniority levels.

Together, the conversation will explore:

  • why experience and breadth are so often misread in hiring decisions
  • how age bias shows up in modern recruitment even when it’s not named
  • where hiring managers misunderstand communication roles that rely on judgement, influence and political intelligence
  • what both leaders and candidates need to do differently to get better outcomes in 2026

This is not a “how to get hired” session, nor a lecture for hiring managers. It’s a practical, honest conversation about what’s broken in the system and how it can be improved from both sides.

While the session is particularly relevant for communication professionals and leaders, the insights will resonate with anyone involved in hiring for senior, complexity-heavy roles.

Free for CSCE Members!

Non-CSCE Members (early bird available until 11:55pm AEDT 4 February 2026)

Because when it comes to hiring, bias costs more than capability ever will.

This is your opportunity to join the conversation and shape it. Submit your questions for Konstanty in advance when you register – your question might be featured during the live event.

What you get:

Your registration includes access to the full recording and detailed session notes, plus a set of practical resources drawn from Konstanty’s work in modern hiring.

All participants will receive a free early-release copy of The Interviewer’s Playbook, a concise guide to interview frameworks and high-signal question design that applies to both candidates and hiring managers.

After the session, participants can also choose optional resources based on their needs:

  • For candidates: limited-time access to Mocklly, a mock interview AI to practise interview responses and build confidence.
  • For leaders who hire: a free trial of Klareda, Konstanty’s flagship AI tool for creating hiring blueprints, job descriptions and running structured interviews.

Access details will be shared during the session.

Free for CSCE members. Not a member? Join today to enjoy exclusive access to events like this.

Free for CSCE members. Not a member? Join today to enjoy exclusive access to events like this.

Who should attend?

This event is for anyone involved in hiring, being hired, or shaping senior roles where judgement, influence and experience matter. Whether you’re a communication professional navigating complex career decisions, a leader responsible for hiring capability, or someone questioning how talent is assessed, you’ll gain sharp insights into what’s being misread in modern recruitment. If you care about fairer decisions, stronger leadership and hiring practices that genuinely value experience — this conversation is for you.

About Konstanty Sliwowski
 

Konstanty Sliwowski helps leaders make better hiring decisions, especially in complex, judgment-based roles. He has conducted over 12,000 interviews, made more than 1,000 hiring decisions, and advised leadership teams across Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. He’s the founder of School of Hiring, where he trains managers on role clarity, interview mastery, and evidence-based hiring. He also co-founded Klareda, an AI-first platform that helps teams turn vague role ideas into structured interviews and stronger organisational decisions. Earlier in his career, Konstanty founded and sold two recruitment and executive search firms. He served on the board of an international people advisory business during a period of M&A, and led post-merger integration efforts across three acquisitions. His work is grounded in practice and built for leaders who want clarity, not complexity, in their hiring.

About Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP

Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP is an award-winning communication leader and co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence. Recognised globally for advancing professional standards, she works with leaders and communication professionals navigating complex, judgement-based roles. A former Chair of the Global Communication Certification Council, Sia is deeply committed to strengthening how communication capability is understood, assessed and valued at senior levels.

Free for CSCE Members!

Non-CSCE Members (early bird available until 11:55pm AEDT 4 February 2026)

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Available Dates:

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Tuesday 18 February
7:00 PM AEDT | 9:00 AM CET | 8:00 AM GMT

Hiring processes are still sidelining some of the most capable communication professionals — often for vague, unhelpful reasons like “too senior,” “too broad,” or “not quite the right fit.” Beneath those labels sit deeper issues: discomfort with experience, misunderstanding of judgement-based roles and a growing but rarely acknowledged problem of ageism.

This webinar looks ahead to hiring in 2026 and asks some necessary questions about how communication capability is assessed, why experienced professionals are so often overlooked, and what needs to change if organisations genuinely want stronger leadership, trust and influence.

Hiring in 2026

What Needs to Change for Leaders and Candidates

Free for CSCE Members!

Non-CSCE Members (early bird available until 11:55pm AEDT 4 February 2026)

Mastering Media Interviews: Essential Skills for Effective Spokespeople - Virtual Course

28 March, 9:00 AM AEDT

In this exclusive two-hour workshop, world-renowned media trainer Jo Detavernier SCMP, APR, will provide media spokespeople with the essential tools to handle interviews with skill and confidence. Whether you’re preparing for a TV appearance, a podcast interview, or an in-depth print feature, Jo will guide you through proven techniques to communicate clearly and steer conversations toward your objectives. Tailored to help you deliver compelling messages across various media channels, this session ensures you’re well-prepared for any interview scenario.

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