| Retaining a good executive search firm to find | | | | expertise to help you. |
| executive candidates for your company is important | | | | Once your list has narrowed down to three or four |
| for your long term success. Hire one poor performing | | | | executive search firms, it is time to understand their |
| executive and it sets you back months if not years, | | | | search process and feel comfortable with the staff. |
| and is bad for the morale of your team. Hire a star | | | | They should provide you with a document that |
| performer and it can do wonders for your business. | | | | explains the search process. Request them to also |
| This is a guide to help you find the right executive | | | | provide information about a similar completed search. |
| search firm for your hiring needs. | | | | Ask to speak with the senior consultant and her |
| Before you start to look, it is a good idea to do | | | | team. Understand the search process including the |
| some homework. First create a list of key | | | | search fees, expected out of pocket expenses and |
| performance indicators (KPI) with clear deadlines. This | | | | other costs if any. Try to gauge their professionalism, |
| is a list of things the candidate is expected to | | | | character and personality. Is the search consultant |
| accomplish on the job. For example if you want the | | | | ethical, enthusiastic, professional and well |
| new hire to open up European market for your | | | | experienced? Ask yourself that if you were looking |
| product, you would write, "Open up Eastern Europe | | | | for a similar position, would you like to speak with |
| for widget x, making it accessible to at least 45% of | | | | these consultants? Many executive search firms have |
| the population -- 12 months." The KPI list should span | | | | off-limit organizations. If you have any target |
| at least two to three years. Next create a | | | | organizations in mind, make sure they are not on |
| description of the position. This would explain the | | | | their off-limit list. |
| content of the job, company vision, culture, historical | | | | It is important to ask the right questions to the |
| performance, candidate experience, desired attributes | | | | candidate to predict their future success. Ask the |
| and work style. Add any other factors that may help | | | | firm to show you their candidate assessment |
| to effectively market the position. Professional | | | | techniques. Ideally they should have a numerical rating |
| search firm will also help you refine the job | | | | approach to ascertain degree of match with key |
| description but this is going to be a good starting | | | | requirements. |
| point. Combination of the KPI list and the job | | | | References are critical in the search process and |
| description is probably a better way to explain the | | | | should be checked by the search firm soon after the |
| position than just a bullet point list of duties. KPI list | | | | first screen. Also important is the technical |
| also helps the candidates visualize the job more | | | | background check that confirms academic and work |
| accurately and connect it with their past experience | | | | credentials. |
| and their future aspirations. | | | | Ask about the success rate of the firm. How long |
| You are now ready to search for executive search | | | | have the hired candidates stayed at their new |
| firms. First step is to compare price quotes from | | | | positions? You need a candidate that is not only a |
| multiple Executive Search firms at a Business | | | | good fit with the job description but one who also |
| Network. Also search the yellow pages and Google | | | | sticks around long enough to deliver. Finally, ask to |
| to make a list of about ten firms. Remember to ask | | | | speak with a few satisfied clients of the search firm. |
| your business associates for recommendations too. It | | | | It is worth the time and effort to carefully select the |
| is important to look for firms with expertise in your | | | | right search firm for your key hiring need. If done |
| industry, job position or geographic region. Share the | | | | right, it will lead to a long lasting, mutually beneficial, |
| KPI list and the job description with a few firms, and | | | | business relationship. |
| see their response. Expect some of them to | | | | For further information, please refer to guide to hiring |
| withdraw if they do not have the candidates or the | | | | an Executive Search Firm. |