If you don’t have knowledge about these agencies, it is hard to make a difference between them but executive search and general recruiters are very different. They work almost on the same principle but there are various advantages depending on the company that is doing the hiring or looking for employees. For example, they have headhunter life sciences experts that are looking for the best possible candidate for the position in that industry.
When getting in touch with the agency, you should prepare yourself to accept you as the best option for the company they work with. Except for having a set of skills, knowing how to get along with people is crucial for every important position. This is especially important for executive search because they are expected to be among the hardest working people with multitasking skills.
Five Key Processes
There are five main steps the best agencies will use to get the job done. The first one is establishing search priorities which include what abilities, skills, and knowledge they need to have. This may also involve having a fresh perspective of the organization and its needs. They will make a brief for the position and organization so the candidates will get the opportunity to learn more about them. Futures employees will know what their role is, what are the responsibilities, goals, and key challenges.
Every search should be based on a certain strategy in order to save time, money while targeting the right people. There aren’t too many people that will be the right fit for the executive spot but it also means that it’s the job with most responsibility. Everyone is looking for the best but it may be difficult when you don’t know where to start from. These candidates will get identified and called in for an interview by the agency.
When they know which strategy to use, it’s time to attract and evaluate candidates. This process takes most of the time because every single person needs to be interviewed. It may include tests to see if they have the skills they claim for the position and the last thing in this segment would be to make a list of all those who fit the spot and are interested. Read more on this page.
The fourth process is to present the most obliged people to the client or company. They might work on improving their skills before going to the firm, this depends on the agency and what benefits they offer. Applicants will go through capabilities evaluation before the final decision. When they know who is the best of all applicants, the last process would be to complete the search.
Completing the search involves checking their background and references. They can also be involved in negotiations about compensation or signing a deal. This isn’t the last stop because they need to follow the progress and see if they are getting along on the new position. Even if it may seem easy to find someone for your company, when there are thousands of options, it can be extremely difficult.
What Are the Advantages?
Having a big list of people that would like to apply for a certain job won’t get you anything considering how much effort you need to invest to find that one you need. This is one of the biggest advantages these agencies have compared to placing an application online and having your HR interviewing everyone. By having them to pick the best possible option, you are increasing revenue and success.
Some of the best professionals aren’t looking online which is the reason why you need someone with contacts and great marketing skills to find them. Postings on a website are passive solutions to fill a post in your firm which high-level players won’t look at. Some of the best executive search firms won’t even post anything online, they use headhunters to find people that are considered scientists in their field. Find more information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_search
A company is in advantage when they know who to contact instead of having people come with resumes and interviews. This is an advantage of headhunters but they need to be good at it. A great resume is considered so finding someone with a goal in improving the business or achieving a certain goal is something else. Every firm is unique and someone joining the team should adapt to that.
What is a Good Search Firm?
Their goal is to be your partner, not just an agency that will fill an immediate need. They can help a lot by advising and sometimes training the people that will be a part of your business. One of the ways to see if they are great is to check if they understand the core of your business, culture, and goals. They should invest some time into analyzing what is great for you.
People that work for them need to have functional expertise and understanding the industry you are in. This comes with a strategy so ask them about the processes and what can you expect. The service needs to be professional considering that they are representing your firm in one way. Ask their partners about their past work or ask them directly about their experience.
Finding a Great Search Firm
One of the best ways to find a great search firm is to ask your competitors about the agency they work with. If that isn’t the case, you can search online and read a few reviews from reputable websites that don’t place promotions. Some of them are not promoting themselves online because of the number of companies they work with. So, it’s better to have someone you know to refer one.
If you are a future employee, being in contact with a search firm can lead to improving your career and possibly find a place you can retire. The benefits they offer for the candidates are numerous depending on the agency. Most of them are free for the candidate but the firm will pay compensation after they find the right person.
