EXECUTIVE SEARCH? WHY NOT JUST ADVERTISE?

Executive Search?  Why not just advertise?

 You can try advertising – you may be lucky – but the chances of success are low, especially where you’re looking for top talent for a complex role.

 Why is that?  Because advertising is unfocussed and is unlikely to reach the people you really want.

 Let’s face it – the people you really want are probably in a secure and challenging role already, not thinking of moving and certainly not looking at adverts. They’re too busy!

Besides, if you’re searching across multiple regions – where do you advertise?  In my experience, with few exceptions, people who answer adverts do so for these reasons:

I’m not a great fit but It’s worth a try.

I’m desperate and really need a job – any job

I’m not really making it in my current position and I wonder what’s out there?

 I was convinced once by a client to advertise a professional position through a University Alumni Association and did so with a very clearly defined spec.   The stack of applications we laboured through were all so far off the mark that I went back to the advert to see if there was a mix up! 

 We completed the assignment successfully after resorting to our normal global search process. 

 Using a competent Executive Search firm may cost a bit but, if you choose correctly, they will know the market and who are the key players; they will have experience in recruiting for similar roles so will have developed a strong data base; they will have networks that span the industry through which they can flush out the key candidates and they can give succinct feedback on the state of the market.

 Through these networks and data bases, backed up by focussed on-line search, they can identify precisely whom they want to engage and contact them directly.

 The right agency will develop detailed role and candidate profiles.  They’re able to interview the candidate knowledgeably, asking the probing and precise questions the client is likely to ask and seeking the responses that the client is likely to seek.   And – they will save you a huge amount of fruitless interview time.

 So, chose your search firm carefully.  Make sure the agent you work with has deep technical knowledge in the field you’re recruiting, then work with them to develop a well-defined brief.

  Let them take the strain.   It’s cheaper in the long run!