When I started in the staffing and search business in 2011, one thing was constantly drilled into my head: this is a relationship business.
Relationships with people. People are this business. Without people and the connections we build, we wouldn’t have a business.
That resonated with me right away. I’ve always enjoyed connecting with people—whether it was a school janitor or the owner of a company. I genuinely love learning people’s stories and have always had a natural curiosity about people.
When I started with Preference, I knew right away that this company was an excellent fit because we already had one thing in common: people matter.
I remember our founder, Candice Dietz, always saying, “We need to get great at one thing, and that is relationships.”
That message has stuck with me.
This past spring, the American Staffing Association reached out to us and asked what we believe will shape the staffing industry in 2026. My first thought—and something we talk about all the time—was simple: people and relationships matter most.
I’ve seen a huge shift in the world and in every business, including the staffing and search industry. Much of that shift has been driven by technology, with Artificial Intelligence being one of the biggest disruptors.
It’s important to note that I’m not anti-AI. In fact, I use AI as a tool every day, both in business and in my personal life. I’ll continue to leverage it to help me in areas where I’m not as strong.
But I also believe there are things technology can’t replace.
My comment to ASA was:
“I believe AI will continue to have the biggest impact on the staffing industry in 2026, just as it has in recent years. One trend I see growing is companies relying more on recruiters to identify talent through relationship-based interviewing. There are more candidates to choose from, but they often look and sound the same due to AI-generated résumés and interviews. This makes it harder to separate what’s real from what’s prompted—increasing the need for recruiters to validate experience, assess culture fit, and confirm the truth. AI has changed hiring forever, but it hasn’t replaced human judgment—it has shown how important it still is.”
In the world we live in today, I believe human judgment and relationships are more important than ever.
Here’s the reality: AI is making candidates look more alike than ever. Résumés are polished. Interviews are rehearsed. Everyone can sound great.
And that’s exactly why human judgment and genuine relationships are becoming more valuable—not less.
At Preference, we take pride in knowing our clients and candidates beyond what’s written on a résumé. We want to understand their goals, their challenges, their personalities, and what will make a relationship work long-term.
That doesn’t come from a tool.
It comes from conversations. It comes from trust. It comes from time.
AI can support the process—and I believe it absolutely should—but it can’t replace the relationship.
And honestly, I don’t believe it ever will.
I recently read an article from the American Staffing Association that really caught my attention. It reported that recruiter call time has reached its highest level on record.
Stephen Dwyer, President and CEO of the American Staffing Association, said:
“Relationship-building continues to serve as a cornerstone of modern recruiting.”
I couldn’t agree more.
In a world where technology continues to make things faster, easier, and more automated, I believe the human connection is becoming even more valuable.
Relationships still matter. Maybe now more than ever.
