
A hiring insider with 20 years of experience reveals what hiring managers want in 2026: clear impact, measurable results, and proof that cuts through the noise.
At Yotru, we share stories from people who are shaping how work continues to evolve. Each Voices of Work feature highlights practitioners who see hiring decisions up close and help explain how expectations are changing.
This time, we spoke with Mark Pearce, Marketing & Communications Business Partner at MPI Recruitment in Perth, Australia. With more than 20 years of experience across recruitment, employer branding, and marketing strategy, Mark has reviewed thousands of CVs and worked closely with hiring managers across industries. As the job market moves into 2026, he sees a clear shift in how CVs are being evaluated and what candidates need to do to stand out.

According to Mark, one of the biggest changes heading into 2026 is attention.
Recruiters and hiring managers are managing high application volumes, multiple open roles, and increasingly automated recruitment systems. As a result, CVs are often scanned for seconds rather than minutes. In that environment, responsibility-based CVs struggle to make an impact.
“Most CVs still focus on what someone was responsible for,” Mark said. “But hiring managers already understand the role. What they want to know is what changed because that person was there.”
Clarity and relevance now matter more than length, layout, or polish.
Across more than two decades of working with hiring managers, Mark has seen one consistent pattern. When decisions need to be made quickly, outcomes matter.
Hiring managers are trying to understand what value a candidate can bring to their team. Achievements help them visualize capability before an interview even takes place. Without clear evidence of results, strong candidates are often overlooked.
“Achievements help hiring managers cut through noise,” Mark explained. “They show confidence, clarity, and capability.”
To prepare for the 2026 job market, Mark encourages candidates to shift how they think about their experience. Rather than listing tasks or responsibilities, he suggests focusing on evidence of impact.
He recommends asking five practical questions:
These questions help candidates uncover achievements they often overlook. They also make CVs easier for hiring managers to assess quickly.

Looking ahead, Mark believes CVs that clearly communicate value will continue to perform best. As AI screening and recruiter workload increase, relevance and clarity will matter more than ever.
“The candidates who stand out are the ones who can clearly show the value they bring,” he said.
For job seekers preparing for 2026, the guidance is simple. Focus on outcomes, not activity. Show what you achieved, not just what you were asked to do.
Mark Pearce is Marketing & Communications Business Partner at MPI Recruitment and an independent marketing consultant based in Perth, Australia. With over 20 years of experience across recruitment, employer branding, and marketing strategy, he works closely with hiring managers and talent teams to clarify how value is evaluated in modern hiring.
This article is part of Yotru's Voices of Work series, highlighting leaders who are redefining how people learn, lead, and get hired. To get featured, please contact us.
Our AI-powered ATS scoring system helps organizations assess and standardize resume quality at scale. ATS-compliant templates support consistent formatting, keyword alignment, and interview readiness across cohorts.



Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
Team Yotru
Employability Systems & Applied Research
We bring expertise in career education, workforce development, labor market research, and employability technology. We partner with training providers, career services teams, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations to turn research and policy into practical tools used in real employment and retraining programs. Our approach balances evidence and real hiring realities to support employability systems that work in practice. Follow us on LinkedIn.
For job seekers and career educators. Learn what CVs must show in 2026, why outcomes beat responsibilities, and how hiring managers assess candidate value quickly from a recruitment insider.
For job seekers and career educators. Learn what CVs must show in 2026, why outcomes beat responsibilities, and how hiring managers assess candidate value quickly from a recruitment insider.
Outcomes and CV signals
Skills-first, not CV-first
Character, values, and fit
Voices of Work and hiring trends
References
If you are working on employability programs, hiring strategy, career education, or workforce outcomes and want practical guidance, you are in the right place.
Yotru supports individuals and organizations navigating real hiring systems. That includes resumes and ATS screening, career readiness, program design, evidence collection, and alignment with employer expectations. We work across education, training, public sector, and industry to turn guidance into outcomes that actually hold up in practice.
More insights from our research team

Discover the best AI resume optimization tools in 2026 that go beyond keywords to improve clarity, impact, and ATS compatibility while preserving your authentic voice.

Career coach Alexandra Aileru explains why resumes now require identity translation, and how modern systems make sophisticated career strategy fast and accessible.

Inclusion metrics move beyond surface diversity to measure real access, fairness, and outcomes. They reveal where systems support or quietly exclude people.

As recession pressures grow, communities are rethinking career services. This article explores how automation helps teams reach more job seekers, reduce staff strain, and improve employment outcomes.
Part of Yotru's commitment to helping professionals succeed in real hiring systems through evidence-based guidance.