SHARE THIS EMAIL

August 2026

In this issue: The short list you want to access, and why August hiring momentum is not a myth.

A talent market made up of opted-in, ex-Mag 7 talent.

Zeki Talent Market (ZTM) is building a pool of elite talent, ready to make their next move. 

Membership of ZTM starts with our talent intelligence and an invitation, not an application. We pinpointed the top talent in engineering and go-to-market — those with evidence of what they have actually built, shipped and led. Those individuals were invited to ZTM, and today, over 70% of candidates on the waitlist are alumni of a Magnificent Seven company. 

Nearly nine in ten ZTM candidates have worked at a top innovation company, with more than 150 organisations represented across the pool — businesses that set the bar for engineering and GTM rigour at scale.

Because the selection has already happened, what reaches companies on ZTM are short lists for roles of qualified, interested leads. No haystack or cold outreach that goes unanswered.

If you or the companies you invest in are hiring exceptional talent, register your interest to secure early access. 

Don't miss the August hiring window. 

Full beaches and empty offices contribute to the idea that August is a slow hiring month, but Zeki’s data proves otherwise.

The conventional wisdom is well rehearsed: diaries fall apart, interview loops stall, candidates are distracted. So processes get parked and requisitions slide into Q4.

We looked at hiring activity between 2021 and 2025, and August ranked as the fifth strongest hiring month of the year, accounting for 9.25% of annual hires. Effectively level with July at 9.27%, and only marginally behind September at 9.65%. 

Broader labour market data says the same. LinkedIn's Workforce Report found US hiring essentially unchanged between July and August 2025.

The asymmetry is this: candidates are still making career decisions in August, but a meaningful number of employers stop competing for them. Our own State of AI Talent work found January and August to be recurring peaks for movement among elite AI talent in the US.

Fewer companies in the market, and talent ready to move on ZTM. This month is the window to make your next impactful hire. 

Were you forwarded this email?

Subscribe to Zeki Insights for free.