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Every January, there’s plenty of speculation about where commercial real estate is headed.

By July, we have something even more valuable: real insight from the conversations happening every day between owners, operators, hiring managers, and candidates.

At Building Careers, we partner with commercial real estate firms across several markets, with Southern California continuing to be our largest. After hundreds of conversations during the first half of the year, one theme has become increasingly clear:

The market has shifted from waiting to executing.

While uncertainty hasn’t disappeared, companies have largely adapted to today’s environment. They’re no longer sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfect conditions. They’re making strategic decisions, pursuing opportunities, and investing in the people who will help them execute.

As someone who lives in the hiring market every day, I’ve found that recruiting is often one of the earliest indicators of where commercial real estate is heading. Hiring reflects confidence, priorities, and where companies believe they’ll create value over the next several years.

Here are a few trends we’re seeing halfway through 2026.

Hiring Is Back—But Every Hire Matters

Compared to this time last year, hiring activity has picked up meaningfully.

What’s different, however, is why companies are hiring.

Few firms are adding headcount simply because business is busy. Instead, nearly every search we’re working on has a clear strategic purpose—whether it’s supporting acquisitions, strengthening asset management, improving operations, or preparing for long-term growth.

Companies are asking themselves a different question than they were a few years ago.

Instead of, “Can we hire?” they’re asking, “Who is the right person to help us execute our business plan?”

That shift has created a much more intentional hiring market.

Asset Management Continues to Be Front and Center

If there’s one area that continues to generate consistent demand, it’s asset management.

Owners remain focused on maximizing NOI, executing business plans, navigating lease expirations, and making disciplined capital decisions. The ability to think strategically while also understanding day-to-day operations has become increasingly valuable.

We’re also seeing continued demand for professionals in acquisitions, property management, construction management, accounting, finance, and investment operations.

The common denominator isn’t necessarily a specific title—it’s the ability to create value.

Employers Are Raising the Bar

One trend we’ve noticed across nearly every search is that employers are becoming more selective.

They’re spending more time evaluating candidates, involving additional stakeholders in interviews, and placing a greater emphasis on long-term cultural fit alongside technical expertise.

At the same time, exceptional candidates remain in high demand.

The professionals who combine strong experience with excellent communication skills, curiosity, and business acumen continue to have multiple opportunities available to them.

Even in a more measured market, top talent doesn’t stay available for long.

Southern California Continues to Show Its Resilience

While we recruit across multiple markets, Southern California remains our busiest—and it continues to demonstrate why it’s one of the country’s most dynamic commercial real estate regions.

Industrial fundamentals remain solid, even as leasing activity has normalized from the historic highs of recent years. Office continues to evolve, with high-quality, well-located assets outperforming commodity space. Across nearly every product type, owners are placing greater emphasis on operational excellence, disciplined underwriting, and long-term value creation rather than relying solely on appreciation.

Perhaps the biggest change we’ve observed isn’t tied to a particular asset class at all.

It’s mindset.

The conversations have shifted from uncertainty toward execution.

Looking Ahead

If I had to summarize the second half of 2026 in one sentence, it would be this:

Companies have stopped waiting for the market to give them certainty—they’re building their businesses around today’s reality.

For employers, that means investing thoughtfully in the people who will drive the next phase of growth.

For professionals, it means staying visible, continuing to develop your skill set, and being ready when the right opportunity presents itself.

Commercial real estate has always been a relationship business. Markets will rise and fall, capital markets will evolve, and investment strategies will change. But great people remain the one constant behind every successful company.

I’m excited to see what the second half of the year brings, and as always, I’d love to hear what you’re seeing in your corner of the market. If you’re hiring, considering your next move, or simply want to compare notes on where the industry is headed, don’t hesitate to reach out!

-Carly Glova

If so, if we identify as bad communicators or weak negotiators, are we just doomed?

If you’re applying for a job or looking to advance your career, you’ll need to update your resume to highlight your soft skills. These skills can include problem-solving, leadership, empathy, and communication. 

The modern applicant can expect to see some of the usual suspects under the requirements section. If you’re looking for a graphic design job, you’ll be expected to have fluency in Adobe CS. If you’re looking to become an in-house accountant, you can expect that you’ll need to be familiar with Quickbooks or complicated Excel spreadsheets.

What you might not be expecting is the importance of soft skills in the workplace. As healthy company culture becomes increasingly important, hiring managers are taking soft skills directly into account when hiring and promoting employees.

Read More: https://www.careercontessa.com/advice/soft-skills-definition/

Workers can take only so much stress, and burnout occurs when workers face a chronic, unmanageable amount. The past couple of years have been stressful for workers. They are less optimistic about their company’s business outlooks and worried about potential or ongoing layoffs. In this research, we explore trends in Glassdoor reviews related to burnout.

Burnout rates continued rising into 2026

Workers mention burnout in Glassdoor reviews at much higher rates than they did before the pandemic, and those rates continued their climb. Burnout appears 2.5x more in reviews than before the pandemic in 2019, and were up 65% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026.

Burnout mentions first climbed in mid-2021, appearing about 50% more than they had previously. This rate remained steady for a few years, but began climbing again in 2024. Last year saw the sharpest increase yet, as companies sought to contain costs and asked employees to adapt to an increasingly uncertain labor market.

Read More: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/worker-burnout-2026/

Executive presence has long been linked to self-assurance, poise, and a professional appearance. It was something you could see in a boardroom: a dominating posture, a firm voice, and a crisp message that frequently characterized who “looked the part.” Today, that description falls short.

These days, a leader’s perception is shaped by every encounter that takes place in meetings, chat rooms, emails, and public channels. Therefore, executive presence is a system of signals that people perceive throughout time rather than a fixed quality.

It shows how well a leader matches their actions with their beliefs. This congruence is often reinforced by organizations based on core principles that prioritize integrity, service, and leadership – giving their presence a sense of consistency and credibility.

In this context, executive presence becomes the ongoing balance of authenticity, authority, and image. It is less about performance in a single moment and more about coherence across many.

Executive Presence as Perception Architecture

Executive presence is shaped by how others interpret a leader’s behavior. It is built through repeated signals that answer three key questions: Can I trust your judgment? Do I believe what you are saying? Do you meet the requirements of this role?

These inquiries correspond to three dimensions. Credibility and decision-making power are reflected in authority, sincerity and intent are seen in authenticity, and a leader’s image shows how well they live up to the expectations associated with their position. Whether it is a formal presentation or a prompt reply in a team thread, every encounter adds to these perceptions.

This is complicated since several dimensions are evaluated at the same time. Even if a leader makes a firm judgment, trust may erode if the tone comes across as cold. On the other hand, a leader who is approachable but unsure about their path could find it difficult to gain trust. When these signals constantly line up and reinforce each other instead of vying for attention, executive presence increases.

Continue Reading: https://ivyexec.com/career-advice/2026/executive-presence-in-the-modern-era-balancing-authenticity-authority-and-image

If you’re like most professionals these days, your to-do list is longer than your actual day. When the volume of work exceeds your available time and energy, it’s easy to spiral into frustration or guilt.

But here’s the truth: an overwhelming workload isn’t necessarily a personal shortcoming. Often, it’s simply a logistical mismatch that requires deliberate recalibration.

Having trained professionals across industries for more than 15 years, I’ve discovered that there are only three real options when you’re overwhelmed. Everything else is a distraction or a delay.

Option 1: Reduce the Workload

This is the most obvious (and usually the most resisted) option. You can reduce your workload, but it requires conversations that most people want to avoid. You might need to renegotiate deadlines, reallocate responsibilities, delegate more intentionally, or leverage technology more effectively.

Resistance usually comes from a well-meaning place. You want to be seen as a reliable, capable, team player. But being overwhelmed doesn’t serve your team, your goals, or your personal wellbeing. You are a human being, with normal, natural human limitations of time and energy.

If your plate is overfull, ask: Who else can contribute here? What are more reasonable expectations I can advocate for? What tools or systems could help reduce my manual busy work?

Continue Reading: https://eatyourcareer.com/2026/01/how-to-deal-with-an-overwhelming-workload-article/

The holiday season is a time of celebration. Balancing work and family time can be challenging, especially when you work from home. When children are on holiday break, many parents experience a sense of guilt when work commitments pull them away from moments they’d rather be sharing with their loved ones.

But with the right strategies, you can stay productive, protect your well-being, and make the most of every moment with your loved ones. 

In this article, we’ll explore effective tips to help you navigate the demands of work and family during this holiday break.  These strategies will help you stay organized, reduce stress, and create meaningful memories.

1. Setting boundaries

One of the most important tips for balancing work and family is setting boundaries, not just for yourself, but for your entire family. Open communication with your partner, children, or other family members before the holiday break begins can help reinforce existing boundaries and introduce new ones that support everyone’s needs. To help you stay productive while keeping family time meaningful, you can try to: 

• Share your meeting schedules so your family knows when you’re unavailable.
• Agree on acceptable noise levels during working hours to minimize distractions.
• Create activity boxes filled with games, books, or crafts your children can enjoy independently while they are waiting for you to become available.
• Use educational apps, online classes, or virtual playdates to keep your children engaged
• Establish visual cues like a “do not disturb” sign or wear headphones to signal that you shouldn’t be disturbed

2. Master time management and planning

Planning ahead is key to a smooth holiday break. Whether it’s mapping out work deadlines or fitting in family activities, having a clear overview helps reduce last-minute stress and sets realistic expectations for everyone at home.

You can also use shared family calendars or planners to help your family understand when you’re working and when you’re free. A schedule not only helps with balancing work and family but it also helps your family feel more involved and respected in the process.

Continue Reading: https://www.brighthorizons.com/article/parenting/6-tips-for-balancing-work-and-family-during-breaks