In the aftermath of the Great Resignation, the hiring frenzy at all levels has employers tearing their hair out. It is expensive and time-consuming to find candidates who have proven they can deliver your specific desired outcomes.
Moreover, hiring for senior-level roles requires greater expertise to recruit the right leadership. Hiring the wrong person for a leadership position is costly, and often downright disastrous. Most people simply do not have the training, tools, experience, or bandwidth to tackle the intensive process of a high-stakes search.
This is where partnering with an executive search firm can add tremendous value, as they manage the difficult work of candidate research, engagement, and vetting.
However, you need to be vigilant when choosing a search firm. The firm must be worth the investment - proven in their processes, tools, how they represent their clients, and in their outcomes. Ultimately, do they deliver a diverse pool of proven leaders who are a good fit for your organization, its culture, and the skills, experience, and personal attributes the role requires for success?
Here are the top considerations when selecting an executive search firm.
Is the search firm invested in understanding you?
You cannot identify candidates that are a fit for your organization if your search firm does not fully understand the environment into which the candidate must successfully fit.
When a firm invests in discovering the unique aspects of their client and a role, they know the type of candidate to look for on behalf of their client. This is why the best search firms spend time conversing with stakeholders to understand the nuances of the role and the culture of the organization.
Make sure the firm you are considering is providing you with a search plan that includes a “getting to know you” phase. Once completed, ask them to share with key leaders the information they have collected to ensure accuracy.
How much searching will the firm actually do?
Is the firm you are considering recycling candidates from an established database or are they conducting fresh candidate research based on each client’s unique profile and requirements?
Delivering the same shortlist of candidates for similar roles does not require much effort. To make your investment pay off, partner with a search firm that entices candidates you would not have been able to bring to the table on your own - individuals you may never have dreamed would consider your opportunity.
The best candidates for a position are likely happily employed and not looking for a new role. Skilled firms use their expertise and a broad network to identify these hidden gems and pursue them on the organization’s behalf - convincing them to engage in the interview process.
Does the firm build trust with the candidates?
Good executive search firms look for candidates who meet the stated qualifications. The best executive search firms are genuinely interested in candidates and their success. The best executive search firms perform many rounds of holistic conversations to build rapport and develop trust - allowing candidates to reveal their true selves, aspirations, challenges they have encountered as leaders, the candidate’s needs, or challenges an organization would have to overcome in order to make their hire possible.
Is your search firm investing the time to make each promising candidate feel comfortable? Are they building authentic connections with key candidates? Once a foundation of trust is built, the search firm is able to probe into performance history, discuss uncomfortable circumstances, and ask difficult questions that often deliver the most valuable insights.
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Selecting a search firm as a partner is an investment. It is essential to be discerning about the firm you choose. The more attuned the search firm is to your organization and the role, and the greater their emphasis on identifying and meaningfully vetting candidates, the better they will be at providing a pool of leaders who are aligned with the needs of your organization and the outcomes you require.
If you’re looking for phenomenal candidates who match your team’s energy and enrich your organization, be certain you select a search firm based on these recommendations.