Austin Women in Technology (AWT) kicked off the year with our biggest career-focused gathering, “Who’s Austin Hiring.” The event included a meet-and-greet with potential employers, panel conversation focused on what employers want in 2026, and how candidates can stand out in a crowded market.
If you attended the event, hopefully you left with a clearer picture of how hiring is shifting in 2026 and concrete steps to stand out. If you missed it, we captured some of the key insights and tips here!
A big thank-you goes out to our event sponsor, Western Governors University (WGU), to Austin Energy for hosting us, and to our partners: Apex Systems, Wise, Association for Talent Development Austin, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Luna Data Solutions, The Unbuzzed Club, and Athletic Brewing Co to making this event possible.
Panel Perspectives: What “Who’s Hiring” Really Means in Austin 2026
The panel featured leaders across public sector, recruiting, and workforce development:
One consistent theme: hiring may feel slower, but it hasn’t stopped. Our panelists discussed a market with lower turnover, more competition, and employers being more intentional because they’re seeing higher application volumes. The takeaway wasn’t “panic.” It was about refining your approach, showing clearer impact, and leaning into the soft skills for differentiation.
Using AI in Your Job Search (Without Letting it Erase You)
The topic of AI came up early and often especially as more candidates use tools to generate resumes, summaries, and cover letters. The panel’s consensus was to use AI as a tool, not as a replacement for your voice and story.
Ways AI Can Help:
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Refining your LinkedIn bio and sharpening your messaging
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Proofreading and clarity edits
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Helping you organize experience into tighter accomplishment statements
Where Candidates Need to be Careful:
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Don’t become overly dependent on AI to write everything from scratch
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Avoid generic, overly polished “AI-sounding” language and grammar. For example, remove the em dash!
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Your materials still need the human and personal oversight
Resumes and LinkedIn: Telling Your Story, Strengths, and Impact
Your resume should do more than list tasks, it should tell the story of who you are and your strengths. When recruiters are choosing between qualified candidates, interpersonal skills often become the differentiator.
Tips Shared by Our Panelists:
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Reflect on your personal value-add and tie it to what leaders care about: Revenue, efficiency, change management, measurable impact, and business goals
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Strong candidates are storytellers and change agents, people who can connect what they did to why it mattered
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Make sure your LinkedIn is robust and accurate, and that it matches your resume (misalignment is a red flag)
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Recommendations: Not essential. Most recruiters assume recommendations are positive in nature, so they don’t rely on formal recommendations and prefer to gather informal recommendations from mutual connections, if anything
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Cover Letters: the sentiment leaned against providing letters, but it can vary by company and role
The Austin Hiring Landscape: Where are the Opportunities?
On the market side, the conversation highlighted Austin’s continued strength as a tech hub and growing sectors worth watching in 2026. The panel pointed to growing demand in:
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Advanced manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics (especially automation support)
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Aerospace
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Life sciences, such as biotech med tech
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Fintech and retail tech, including RPA and AI-driven personalization
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Energy
What Should You Do Post-Application and Post-Interview?
One of the most actionable topics was what to do after applying and interviewing. Here are some tips discussed:
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Go a step further than the cold application and consider reaching out to the hiring manager
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Find someone inside the organization who can advocate for you
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Send a thoughtful follow-up email after interviewing
How Important are Degrees and Credentials?
Degrees, certifications, and credentials can absolutely be value-adds and door-openers for a candidate, but experience matters more and especially your ability to articulate it.
Practical Ways to Demonstrate Experience:
- Build a simple portfolio site (even a clean GitHub-hosted page)
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Link your GitHub, portfolio, or website on LinkedIn and your resume
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Use projects to show how you think, not just what tools you’ve touched
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One Standout Tactical Insight: If you can identify a current problem the company is facing and clearly explain how you’d help solve it, you communicate ways you’ll add value immediately
Keep the Momentum Going
AWT and our partners offer more opportunities to build community, expand skills, and keep growing your networking. Austin Women in Technology members gain free access to all AWT events, exclusive discounts to Austin’s top tech events, and more! Interested in joining AWT? Learn more here!
Upcoming events include:
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Jan. 27: Tactic Tuesdays, our monthly professional workshops geared towards anyone pivoting their career, and navigating the job search. This is a supportive environment where you can share insights, swap resources, and learn practical tips from others on a similar path.
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Feb. 12: Galentine’s celebration, featuring a panel discussion on community and how showing up for one another fuels growth, confidence, and success. We’ll have a DJ, food + networking.
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May 12: InnoTech Austin, featuring a full day of networking opportunities, professional development presentations, tech demos, and more (Bonus: AWT will be giving away one Innotech ticket at each AWT event leading up to the conference)
