Whether you have previously used an executive search firm to hire talent or not—love them, hate them, or have no prior experience using them—search firms are generally part of the recruiting process for most companies today.
Here are some key things to consider before picking the search team for you.
1. Who will be conducting the search?
Make sure you know the consultant you’ll be partnering with you to find the right person. The larger firms may meet with you but will have very little involvement in searching for the right candidate. Remember, this will be the person responsible for building relationships and the one who will be representing your company in the marketplace
2. How will they interview and find candidates?
Not all firms function the same way. Some firms will play the numbers game, contacting all the applicants they can without carefully checking their qualifications. A great firm will assess the true leaders, double-checking their qualifications and work history to make sure that they are presenting the right candidate to meet your organization’s needs.
3. How long will my search firm work on a search once the fees have been paid?
The best firms will have a reputation of commitment to completing a search quickly and continuing to work until the search is done.
4. Some search firms have provided a guarantee that they can find the right candidate in a short period of time. Can, this be true? Can you find the right candidate in 60 days or less?
Be wary of companies that provide this type of “guarantee”. They may be able to provide you with a pool of candidates; however, you should be very concerned as to the caliber of candidates you may receive.
5. How will the firm bill us for expenses?
How you are billed and what you are billed for is important and should be clearly communicated before the search has even begun! Make sure you understand exactly how much you are paying; some firms will charge expenses well over the normal cost of doing the search.
6. How will the search process begin?
With the better firms you will spend a considerable amount of time on the front-end establishing the things that they must know to find the best candidate. Learning a company’s culture and overall business strategy is a key factor in finding the right candidate and having an overall successful search. Spending time up front will save you both time and money as the search moves forward.
7. What should I expect from my consultant during the search process?
It boils down to two key words: constant contact. A great search firm will want all of your contact information so that they can reach you at any time should issues arise or just to keep you in the loop. A great search consultant will be proactive in contacting you with updates and will have a time-sensitive approach in finding just the right candidate for your team.
8. Once we have found the right person, how will our firm help close the deal?
This is one of the most important services a search firm can provide! Your firm should have a good idea of the candidate’s current compensation and also should be able to advise you on how to move forward with an offer that makes sense to both you and your prospective employee.