CSP Engagement Report May '26

Good afternoon,

Good afternoon!

As we head toward the unofficial start of summer, the market continues to show signs of movement, but not without caution. Companies are still hiring, candidates are still exploring opportunities, and conversations are happening every day, but nearly every hiring decision is being approached with more precision and scrutiny than we’ve seen in previous years.

The good news? Activity continues to build.

April’s jobs report came in stronger than many expected, with 115,000 jobs added and unemployment ticking slightly upward to 4.3%. While the headlines continue to focus on economic uncertainty, the reality on the ground feels much more nuanced. Organizations are still investing in leadership, revenue generation, operations, and HR infrastructure, but there is significantly less room for error in the hiring process.

From our perspective, that environment creates opportunity. The more intentional companies become, the more important true partnership and market insight become throughout the search process.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

— JB

Always happy to connect, feel free to jump on my calendar at any time.

Quotes & The Stories Behind Them

"Have the hard conversations when things are going best."

Most people wait too long.

They wait until frustration builds. Until resentment sneaks in. Until performance drops. Until a relationship starts drifting. Until a business partnership feels strained. Until a friendship becomes awkward. By then, the conversation isn’t really a conversation anymore; it’s damage control.

But the best time to have hard conversations is actually when everything feels good.

I’ve learned that difficult conversations handled early create clarity, while difficult conversations handled late create conflict. There’s a massive difference between saying, “I want to make sure we stay aligned,” and saying, “We need to fix this before it falls apart.”

The strongest leaders, partners, and relationships aren’t the ones that avoid tension. They’re the ones willing to address things before tension becomes toxicity.

It takes maturity to bring up something uncomfortable when there’s no obvious fire burning. Most people avoid it because they don’t want to disrupt momentum or create unnecessary friction. But avoiding small discomfort today almost always creates larger problems tomorrow.

This quote reminds me that communication is preventative maintenance.

In sports, championship teams don’t wait until they start losing to fix mistakes. Great coaches challenge players even after wins because success can hide weaknesses. The same is true in life and business. Good times can create the illusion that everything is perfect, when in reality there are small cracks beginning to form.

The people I respect most are the ones who can sit down during the highs and say:
“How do we get better?”
“What are we missing?”
“What needs to be said now so it doesn’t become a problem later?”

That’s leadership.
That’s trust.
That’s emotional discipline.

Because real strength isn’t avoiding hard conversations. It’s having them early enough that the relationship, team, or opportunity becomes even stronger afterward.

The Work.

April's Jobs Report continued the steady progression we referenced last month.

January was slow. February improved. March accelerated. April maintained momentum.

Across executive and professional recruiting, we continue to see healthy activity levels, with neither sector dramatically outperforming the other. The most consistent trend remains selectivity. Companies are moving forward with hiring, but expectations around experience, adaptability, leadership, and culture fit continue to rise.

The April BLS report reflected that same dynamic. Healthcare continued adding jobs (+37k), transportation and warehousing remained active (+30k), and retail also saw gains (+22k). At the same time, the information sector continued its long-term contraction, while federal hiring reductions remain a notable storyline.

One area that continues to stand out in conversations with both candidates and clients is the growing importance of flexibility and problem-solving ability. Companies are increasingly prioritizing individuals who can operate across functions, manage ambiguity, and create impact quickly.

We are also continuing to see strong momentum through Chesapeake HR Solutions, particularly around fractional HR leadership, executive coaching, DISC implementation, and organizational advisory work. Businesses remain focused on improving leadership communication, retention, and team alignment as they navigate continued market uncertainty.

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Featured Searches

The following engagements represent trusted partnerships with clients who have asked us to align closely with their leadership teams on critical hires. These searches reflect strategic commitments where we are deeply embedded and fully accountable for delivering a successful experience for all parties.