DataMasters

After digging into @Gem’s 2026 Recruiting Benchmarks, one thing is clear: we are not going back to 2021-style “growth at all costs” hiring. Hiring is up 8.3% year-over-year, but volumes are still ~30% below peak and TA teams are 14% leaner than they were in 2021. What that means for Hiring Managers and HR: Your recruiters are handling ~93% more applications and ~40% more open roles per person. Only about 0.5% of applicants are getting hired, yet offer acceptance is at 82% – the highest since 2021. This is a disciplined, data-driven market where selectivity and clarity of requirements matter more than ever. Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/e6TAGPUZ If you want a quick, plain‑English readout of what this means for your own hiring plan (and how your funnel compares), let's discuss the key pages of the report, overlay your current roles and how we can help. Ckirksey@datamasters.com Source: Gem - #2026RecruitingBenchmarksReport

DataMasters - You Should Meet Our People 336-373-1461 https://lnkd.in/ghmWBjwE

Despite the uncertainties that characterize this year, it's critical to bear in mind that the job market remains resilient. Drawing upon our extensive industry experience over 50+ years, we have firmly established ourselves as the preferred partners for employers in the IT/ technology sector, operating across the USA. Our proven track record underscores our consistent ability to place exceptional candidates within our clients' teams. Over the past year, we have collaborated with numerous companies and successfully provided them with the desired talent. If you want to explore how we can support your hiring strategy send a direct message here or contact us at ☎📞 336.373.1461 #DataMasters #YouShouldMeetOurPeople

Interview processes are heavier, but not always smarter per various media sources/ staffing experts. Interviews per hire are up 33% OVERALL. For technical roles, that’s often 35–36 interviews and 26 hours of interviewer time for a single hire. At the same time, only 8% of applicants pass initial screening… but 82% of offers are accepted. We’re screening harder, interviewing more, and still landing a similar number of hires. TO WIN you must tighten the front of the funnel (better role definition, stronger calibration, data‑driven passthrough targets) and streamline the back of it (fewer, higher‑quality interview steps tied directly to business outcomes). If you’re seeing interview fatigue on your teams, I’m glad to review your current process against these benchmarks and suggest concrete ways to reduce time‑to‑hire without lowering the bar. We present well vetted candidates using your specialized questions to make sure candidates are a strong match, eliminating a "loose" vetting process. Call today for help! 336-314-1578, ckirksey@datamasters.com

ERP SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT needed residing in Eastern NC/ WILMINGTON, NC - 3–5+ years in ERP solutions implementation and architecture experience, particularly with large-scale ERP implementations (e.g., SAP, Oracle). EPICOR is a plus - Create/ design robust, scalable ERP architectures - Strong ability to analyze complex business workflows and data structures. JOB TYPE - On-going CONTRACT/ 1099/ DIRECT CONSULTANTS welcome (NO AGENCIES/ subcontract/ EAD at this time) JOB LOCATION - 100% remote Take a look at the details HERE..... https://lnkd.in/e3SBPgPF Send resumes to ckirksey@datamasters.com #ERPArchitect #EPICOR #ERPImplementation #SAP #ORACLE #IntegrationWorkflows

“Sourcing and referrals are doing the heavy lifting” per LinkedIN @Gem’s 2026 Recruiting Benchmark Report confirms what I’m seeing every day in searches: the highest quality hires are still coming from relationship‑driven channels, not job boards. A few data points that matter for every Hiring Manager: - Job boards + career site generate ~90% of applications, but only around 50% of hires. Thats a huge volume of candidates, many fake. - Direct sourcing delivers roughly 11% of hires from just 2.6% of applications – a 4x yield. - Referrals convert at 11x, and internal mobility at 32x, compared with inbound applicants. Overall, sourced candidates are nearly 8x more likely to be hired than inbound. If your 2026 plan still leans heavily on “post and pray,” you’re paying for volume instead of outcome. I’m working with several clients right now to rebalance/leverage our skills in targeted sourcing, referral activation, and rediscovering local talent. Message/ email me if you are interested in saving your HR team some time and energy - ckirksey@datamasters.com Source: Gem - #2026RecruitingBenchmarksReport

Top agencies don't need to push their way in—they naturally become the go-to choice when you're in need. Here's what we offer: - **Value-Driven Solutions** - **Exceeding Your Expectations** - **Fueling Your Company's Growth** We understand that there are moments when you can save on costs by filling positions directly, and we respect that choice. However, when it comes to those challenging roles, we’re ready to step in. Our goal is to save you both time and money while securing the right talent for your team. Let us support your hiring journey! Reach out at jwhite@datamasters.com. **Meet Our Team!**

ERP SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT needed residing in Eastern NC/ WILMINGTON, NC - 3–5+ years in ERP solutions implementation and architecture experience, particularly with large-scale ERP implementations (e.g., SAP, Oracle). EPICOR is a plus - Create/ design robust, scalable ERP architectures - Strong ability to analyze complex business workflows and data structures. JOB TYPE - On-going CONTRACT/ 1099/ DIRECT CONSULTANTS welcome (NO AGENCIES/ subcontract/ EAD at this time) JOB LOCATION - 100% remote Take a look at the details HERE..... https://lnkd.in/e3SBPgPF Send resumes to ckirksey@datamasters.com #ERPArchitect #EPICOR #ERPImplementation #SAP #ORACLE #IntegrationWorkflows

DataMasters - You Should Meet Our People. 336-373-1461 https://lnkd.in/ghmWBjwE

More than ever maintaining relevant skills is vital for career growth and personal/ business success. Embrace a culture/ mindset of continual learning! 1. Encourages innovation 2. Improves problem-solving skills 3. Enhances adaptability 4. Boosts employee engagement 5. Drives company and personal growth Prioritize the time to invest in yourself and your tools to STAY RELEVANT. At DataMasters, we're committed to building a learning environment that empowers our clients and candidates. How does your organization promote continuous learning? Take advantage of this today! Here's an article to help get your started on the path: https://lnkd.in/g3Da9Nv9