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Look Beyond: How Executive Search Works?

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The Executive Search or the “Headhunting” is the process of recruiting individuals to fill executive positions in organizations. Executive Search firms also help clients draft accurate and enticing job descriptions to draw in a pool of qualified candidates. The Executive Search profession ranges in models from “Retained” search to “Contingency” search and “Delimited” search. Retained search firms are paid a retainer up from the start of the process, another portion of the process and balance when the candidates begin work. While, Contingency search firms, receive their entire fee at the conclusion of the search process. Delimited or Engaged search is similar to retained search with a certain difference, but with the condition that the fee is refundable in case if the firm is not a suitable executive for the post. An Executive is an important part of the firm and it may not always possible for the company to find the best talent in the market, it is advisable to hire a firm that can do the task.

Since Executive Search firms are specialist in what they do and the way they operate is also very consultative; understanding the client’s business need, defining it into hiring requirement, defining the roles specs, vetting seasoned professionals against those specs, managing the offer making process and making the candidate join.

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5 main phases of Executive Search to exceed client expectations by providing the meaning choices of candidates a smooth and thorough process.

Establishment Search Priorities

Analyses the challenges unique to the organization and the role. They determine the skills, knowledge, and abilities on how clients can think about their needs. They develop a customized position and candidate specification, detailing the company, the role, responsibilities, goals and key challenges of the position as well as the experience, qualifications, and competence required for success.

Determine Search Strategy

Conduct targeted research into companies and sectors to find those with relevant skill-set and qualifications, supplementing extensive knowledge of and relationship with board directors and senior executives. Develop a long list of prospects best qualified for the role, with the goal of providing real options for clients. Talking to third-party contacts to identify and qualify prospects, preliminary referencing work for more productive long-list discussion.

Attract and Evaluate Candidates

Approach potential candidates to test their interest in the role. Conduct a rigorous competency-based interview with candidates based on the proven skills, knowledge, abilities and attitudes outlined in the position specification.

Present most Qualified Candidates for Client Interview

Drawing informal external views on each candidate to confirm and enhance knowledge of the candidate’s achievement and track record, provide meaningful insight past performance and reputation.

Complete the Search

After the client has selected its preferred candidate, conduct thorough background checks and references to further assess competencies. They conduct a client satisfaction survey to improve service and refine the approach. Assists in negotiations over compensation and other terms to be able to finalize the search. Once, the client follows up the candidate then the search is closed.

Executive Search firms are specialized recruitment services that find top-level candidates for senior, executive or other highly specialized positions for clients. Headhunters usually use a number of different tactics in their executive search to ensure their clients receive the best executive candidates. The unique method helps to find and attract a wide range of professionals. In addition, recruiters have access to “passive candidates” or individuals who are looking for a new position. These candidates often represent the most qualified talent in their industry. During an executive, the main role is to identify the best passive and active candidates for their clients. Usually, they have a more sophisticated and creative method of identifying and screening virtuoso in any field. Further, an executive searcher can execute a discreet search to find the right match, which can be appropriate in specific solutions that contributes more to an organization in terms of profits and savings compared to the cost to find them. Here are several ways they establish a talent pool.

Personal Networking

Executive recruiters are active relationship builders. By networking themselves, job seekers raise their chances of coming into contact with associates of recruiters by establishing steady and meaningful contact with acquaintances, friends, university alumni and industry influences who might be the perfect candidate for a job opening.

Referrals

Recruiters also become confidantes who can recommend individuals who might be right for job openings and provide first-hand insight about them.

LinkedIn Recruiters

The recruiter’s section of LinkedIn’s Talent Solutions programs has been a major hit with executive recruiters. The design makes it easy for headhunters to search the full profile like make notations, about prospects, send messages, collect responses and store reports.

Other Online Social Platform

Recruiters scour all types of blogs, social media websites, and forums that cater to specific professional niches. They also regularly track trending industry topics on Twitter and Facebook, nothing professionals that provide expertise, unique ideas, and engaging discussion.

Professional Organization

Recruiters frequent the conference circuit, taking note of dynamic speakers and panelist headlining events for membership associations in industries that match their specialized recruiting areas. Job seekers should attend as many professional conferences as they can and assume active roles.

Boolean Search

Recruiters use a few search tricks to find professionals in the right location, with the right certification and endorsement.

The News

The executive recruiters always have their antennae up for professional lauded in industry media sources or watching industry news.

Social Recruiting Apps

Social recruiting sites and applications are made exclusively for recruiting which provides an automated search for recruiters to find and track job candidates across the entire web.

 

References:

  1. https://www.ginkgosearch.com/the-steps-of-the-executive-search-process/
  2. https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/unusual-recruitment-better-candidates
  3. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-ideas-for-recruiting-great-candidates-1916798
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When To Use An Executive Search Firm?

An Executive search firm is something that affects every business and every level of management. The ability to recruit great talent is key to the ultimate success or failure of a business. Companies will use executive search firms so that they do not have to sort through possibly hundreds of applications for a job. These days, there are more people applying for the same position and companies do not have the time to sift through that many applications. They will, therefore, hire a recruitment agency to take care of this part of the process and to whittle the number of candidates down to a manageable level. Business owners and executives do not have the time and in many cases do not have the skills to find the perfect candidate, so outsourcing to an executive search firm will be the best solution.

Executive search firms are retained by clients in an advisory capacity. Typically used for senior-level executive positions and board directors, executive search firms partner with clients to identify, assess and select the very best possible candidate. They identify a slate of the most qualified candidates that would fit well with the client’s culture and have the right background and experience for the specific opportunity.

There are many reasons why companies are hesitant to engage an executive search firm to help them hire leadership talent. Whether it’s because they think they can hire an executive leader on their own, they don’t want to pay the cost of retaining a firm, or they’re just skeptical of the process, these companies are ultimately missing out on an opportunity to hire the best leader for their company. There’s a lot of benefits of using an Executive Search Firm, they help you find the best person by providing access to a wider, deeper pool of potential candidates. For critical roles, there’s a huge difference between an adequate candidate and an outstanding one, so you don’t want to limit your possibilities to the 5 to 10% of people who are actively looking for a new position right now. By proactively seeking out people who fit the profile, whether or not they’re in the market for a new opportunity, search firms provide you with more and better options for high-level positions.

Employers use an executive search firm when a search is important enough to warrant the investment and they are relying on search firms to help fill their executive ranks with the talent they need to stay competitive. Even with the use of executive search firms on the rise in the quest for top talent, many companies still rely on their own in-house resources to fill most of their open positions. The reasons for this are varied. Some companies believe they have sufficient resources and knowledge in-house, whereas others simply want to avoid paying a fee to outside search firms, regardless of their ability to fill mission-critical positions.

There are eight scenarios when investing in a search firm is a good idea. These eight scenarios are common cases for when it makes sense to hire help.

  1. Chase for the best

    If you use an executive search firm you’re statistically more likely to access the best job-seekers on the market (both active and passive). If you’re looking for an ideal candidate who will check all the boxes, of course, you need to work with someone who really knows what they are doing because recruiting is one of those things that anybody can do and just about anyone can find a person to do a job. Recruitment agencies may have some of the best talent already registered on their books and it could mean finding the perfect candidate sooner than later. Not only will an executive recruiter have the best jobs, but   they may also have access to the best candidates. Companies will benefit from the fact that a recruitment firm may have some of the best talent already registered on their books and it could mean finding the perfect candidate sooner rather than later.

  2. You’ve tested but have not experienced success

    Working with a recruiter open your pool of candidate beyond your network, either you have an active search that has been open for too long or you’ve used up your knowledge and recruiting tricks and you are not sure what to do next because failing to use recruitment agencies means that some candidates will not see these fantastic job advertisements and may miss the opportunity to work in a fantastic company with an excellent package.

  3. Confidential Search

    Sometimes you may need to replace an underperforming executive while they’re still in their current role. This type of search requires confidentiality and trust to get the job done. Companies conduct confidential searches when they want to replace someone who is still with the firm. In these situations, the criteria generally include a need for confidentiality, speed and finding a person with a highly specific skill set. If you have an employee that is under-performing, you may want to start recruiting before you let them go. Or you may need to recruit talent from organizations that your company does business with. In these cases, a search firm may be used to help keep things quiet until the new executive is ready to step into the position.

  4. Time & Resources

    The hiring process can be very time consuming, and especially the initial stages of sorting through applications. If your ‘day job’ is not recruiting, you may not have the time or focus to dedicate to an important search. Or your day job may be recruiting but you have too many open and not enough time. When you lack the time and resources, search firms are a great resource for giving an executive search the time and resources necessary. Giving a recruitment agency the task of creating a shortlist of candidates for a position in a company is good business sense.

  5. The most Standing out

    Most often, employers call on an executive search firm for most important roles, especially c-suite or executive leadership roles like CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), CTO (Chief Technical Officer), CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer), etc. Making a bad hire in your C-suite can have disastrous consequences. There’s an art to finding qualified, top-performing executives and the search for the right candidate can make the process far longer and far tougher. Not only are leadership positions crucial to the success of the business, but it’s helpful to have a third-party perspective to avoid blind hiring because sometimes internal team members see only what they want to see.

  6. Fresh Roles

    Generally, companies are used to filling their core positions, why go to an outside firm when you are in a rhythm? But then they create a brand-new position in the company and they don’t know where to begin. New roles are particularly difficult to recruit for because, typically, there is no benchmark to serve as a point of reference when determining the skills and temperament needed. This is also true for roles in which the predecessor was unsuccessful, and the role will need to be redefined/department rebuilt, etc. The need for guidance increases exponentially when the position falls outside the standard scope or target profile at other companies. Generally, successful companies find themselves in this position and quickly lean on the experience of an executive recruitment firm. Hiring them to come in and assess your workforce is a reliable way to get a fuller picture of the in-house talent you already have and also lets you know which options are available to you externally.

  7. Underwater Basket Weavers

    Several candidates may have the necessary skills on paper, but an executive firm will be able to tell which candidate has the right potential and personality for long term success and will ultimately contribute to the business’s future growth. In addition to executive-level positions, some companies offer such a unique product or service that they require rare skill sets that are essential for driving core, strategic areas of the business. Pop culture may refer to these candidates as unicorns, they call it Underwater Basket Weavers because, well, how many of those are there out there? Executive recruiters are used to developing a strategy for finding this ‘ needle in a haystack’ candidates.

  8. More passive candidates, less active job seekers 

    Executive search firms often have more connections with passive candidates, those who are not actively looking for a new job and can tap into their pipelines to search for candidates that might not otherwise be on a company’s radar. While active job seekers aren’t necessarily bad, chances are good that passive candidates aren’t going to apply to online job postings. In fact, some of them aren’t even really looking for a new job. However, they would be open to considering a new opportunity if that opportunity was presented to them. Executive recruiters know where these passive candidates are and how to present such opportunities.

Choosing the right executive recruiting firm to fill your organization’s next senior management vacancy starts with committing to some research before the search process even begins. This is one of the most important decisions your company will make, in part because of the potential upside the right executive can deliver and in part because of the huge cost of making a bad executive hire.

Whether you decide to use in-house resources or hire an outside consulting firm, your goal should always be to ensure that you will be able to identify and attract top-notch candidates for each position and build or restore your company’s talent pool. Nothing is more critical to your company’s long-term success.

References:

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A Guide on Building a Good Relationship With Executive Researchers

Upon entering the industry you want to pursue a lot of people you will meet along the way and one of them is the Executive Researchers, also known as Executive Recruiters. Their main responsibility is to help employers fill the senior and highest-paying positions in a company. They are one of the many people one would like to have a good relationship with because they might be the key for one to move up in their career.

Developing a relationship with headhunters as early as now is a very good strategy, especially that building this kind of relationship takes time. Having headhunters work with you side by side can be very advantageous, as they can be a good help in future endeavors. There are different types of recruiters that one can meet along the way but with the right recipe for brewing a good relationship and they might just call you when they land a research assignment that compliments your background.

Being approached by an executive researcher can be confusing at times. Some might be persuaded but some might think that it is a prank call done by someone they know. If you are a rising talent or starting to build a career for yourself there is a great chance that you will be approached by one. Especially now that business leaders are more visible and accessible because of online professional networks. On the other hand, some might be wondering why they have not yet experienced being approached by one. Maybe there is something missing, or that you have exceeded their expectations. But nonetheless, once those mistakes are corrected, sooner or later an Executive Researcher will contact you.

Once you are approached by executive recruiters or planning to approach one, you should remember that they are not all the same, they work for their clients and building relationships with them is a two-way process. To help you with that, here are some tips on how to build a good relationship with Executive Researchers.

  1. Know Their Industry

    Executive Researchers will greatly appreciate when one has a background on what they are doing and know their real intention. In addition, knowing their industry will give you an advantage when talking to them. When you know how they feel and how they do things, you will be able to speak with them with higher confidence than usual.

  2. Extend Help

    In situations when you feel that the position offered to you does not suit you or different from what you are imagining, you can suggest possible candidates that might be well suited for it.

  3. Explain Rejections

    When you reject an offer, there is a possibility that headhunters might misinterpret your decision. So, it is better to let them understand why the job is not a good match for you, also, this can clear false impressions.

  4. Never Lie

    Always be honest about your capabilities and credentials. This is one key to landing a new opportunity. Honesty gives you additional points, not only to the recruiter’s side but also to their clients.

  5. Be Certain

    Always be sure about your decisions, it will not hurt to take a minute or two to reflect on the action you are about to do. One might leave a bad impression on recruiters once you did not stick to your word. And if there are changes to your plan, always update your recruiter ahead of time and let them know your whereabouts before an interview or any special appointment with their client. This way, the possibility of a misunderstanding will be lesser.

  6. Stay Involved

    Make sure that you never lose connection with them. When you accept a job offer, always keep them updated, whether you are up for an interview or you encountered a problem and need to cancel the latter, always update them ahead of time. As well as in future employment, it will also be great for you to keep in touch with them, with this they will also feel involved with you.

  7. Share Knowledge

    Once you share knowledge with a search consultant they will also share theirs. They can also make suggestions and provide you with information that can help you broaden your network for future endeavors.

  8. Be Calm

    There might be instances when an Executive Researcher happens to call on a bad time. During these situations always keep your cool so that there will not be a misunderstanding between the both of you. Better, explain your current situation and wish that they would understand.

  9. Be Friends with them

    There are chances that you will be able to be friends with Executive Researchers and this is a very good thing as they would really like it to have a candidate as a friend. Also, this will make the environment between the two of you comfortable.

  10. Respect them

    Having respect for an executive researcher is the most essential thing one must do upon meeting one. Whatever industry you desire to go to will always tell that respect is very important as how important EQ is in the workplace. This is one factor that shows what kind of person one is and the one that helps a recruiter decide whether they are fit for a job or not.

It is important to be one of the top candidates for a job, but it is not everything. Leaving a great impression toward an Executive Researcher, on the other hand, is everything. Once you get stuck on their mind there will be a greater chance that they will contact you in the future and might even give you a boost towards their candidates. Just remember that whatever you do or wherever you go, there is a chance that you will meet a headhunter, so always be prepared and ready yourself for what is about to come.

Reference:

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What Are The Types Of Managers You Will Meet?

Companies need leaders to rule over the business, organize the company, and manage their employees. These leaders come in the form of company managers. But what is a manager and how should they function? In simple terms, a manager is someone responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or any other similar organization. Despite this simple explanation as to what a manager is, a lot of things are being overlooked – not all managers are exactly the same.

If you are an employee and have been exposed to several companies already, you will agree that there are different types of managers. You might have realized that they have different management styles and techniques. You might have noticed that they have different personalities and traits. You might have felt that they all have different approaches in terms of dealing with employees.

Read through the article to see if you have met and dealt with these types of managers already – or if this is the manager you have now.

  1. AUTHORITARIAN. This type of manager favors enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of an employee’s freedom. Whatever an employee does, either remarkable or effective, this manager is never satisfied. At some point, this manager is difficult to get along with and he has the mentality that the only competent person working in the company is himself. Authoritarian managers are tough, this is true, but they have been through a lot to be able to stand where they are now and have overcome difficulties in order to reach their positions. If you are an employee dealing with this type of manager, it is important to know their objectives and that both of yours are equally aligned. This is because you want their objective to be your objective too. This type of manager are always clear with what they want, and as an employee, you will need to support that. By doing so, you are able to contribute and assist this type of manager in accomplishing a specific objective. Authoritarian managers are after employees who are team players and competent workers.
  2. PERFECTIONIST. This type of manager is someone who wants to be updated always and is always in need of constant information. He wants to know everything that is happening and if it is being followed accordingly. Perfectionist managers want to be consulted if there are any critical decisions to be made. They always have this urge to be kept in the loop. They are very keen and detail-oriented and they study and analyze every information, regardless of it being big or small. This is someone who will call you at any time for an update or ask the status of the task. If you are an employee dealing with this type of manager, it is important that you always inform him of what is happening. The only way to deal with a perfectionist manager is to accept that you cannot change your manager and that you will need to understand why he acts this way. Simply because he wants to know if a job is done or if there is any progress. Or if there is any conflict or problems that he can easily address. As an employee, delivering what they want and gaining their confidence is very critical for your success with working with this manager. One way is to give him the updates he wants daily – or at least create an agreement or a timetable for sending updates and information.
  3. EGOTISTICAL. This type of manager is conceited and excessively self-centered. What is important to him is that he looks good, even if that means that he needs to take credit for something that he didn’t do. Egotistical managers will not accept full responsibility for mistakes and errors that may happen. Rather, it will put the blame on an employee and will let the employee fix the problem – alone. This manager loves to point out what needs to be done and should be accomplished but he does not even know how to get things started. This type of manager loves to go around and point out peoples’ mistakes and shortcomings just to give everyone the impression that he has none and that he is above and better than anyone else. When a problem arises, he is quick to delegate it to someone else and let the employee handle it. And when something good comes from the deed – he then will take full credit as if it was him who handled the problem. Employees need to deal with this type of manager by having proper documentation and details of every conversation, e-mail trails, or anything that the manager has to say. Through this, if the manager screws up and does not accomplish anything, you are able to avoid accountability and will reflect who it is that should be blamed.
  4. KIND-HEARTED. When an employee meets this type of manager, he will think that this person is the sweetest and most wonderful boss in the world. This type of manager is more focused on what he wants to say rather than what he is supposed to say. He will tell you positive and nice things even when you are doing a bad job at your task. Kind-hearted managers will tell you what you want to hear. This type of managers want their employees to like them and that they are avoiding conflict or having the need to explain any difficult situation. Employees who have this type of manager want to hear honest and direct feedback but kind-hearted managers fail to do so. Kind-hearted managers should also be sincere but straightforward. They should consistently aligning their words and action and should be able to speak up if there are problems and concerns. Employees can deal with this type of manager by understanding why he sees the world is fine and beautiful. When asking for feedback, I also request to point out points of improvement and development opportunities.
  5. THE CAPABLE. Capable managers are the type of managers who employees want to work for. They possess wonderful qualities that make them fit for a manager. Capable managers have the perfect leadership strategy and equipped with the right character and motivation. These are managers who are open to change and to hearing suggestions from employees. They teach employees what should be done and let the employees learn at their own pace as well. They also resolve employee concerns and are very professional, they will tell you when you need to improve on something but will also acknowledge your accomplishments. Capable managers know how to build a team and can decide on their own. Employees will learn a lot working under capable managers that will help them add value to themselves. When capable managers make tough decisions, they can do it in a way the employees will respect it and everyone involved will be professional about it.

You might have met at least one of these types already – or maybe you have managers who are a combination of those mentioned above. As employees, we have to realize that we can never change who they are as a manager, but we can always adapt to how they are. We can adjust so we can properly work with them and become successful.

Working with people is never easy but it does not mean that you will have to compromise the objective to be successful. Also, it depends on how we view our managers whether we put them in a negative or positive light. If you think that you are not a match for your manager or you doubt the style your manager implements then maybe you will not achieve success and are both being a burden to one another. Managers are different from each other – but that does not mean that it will hinder you from finishing a task or accomplishing a goal.

Harper & Hill Executive Search have assessed and employed a lot of managers to several clients. We make sure that these managers are equipped with the right attitude and character. We aim that our clients have the best managers not just to keep the business running but to also handle employees.

Thanks for reading the article! 🙂 If you find it interesting, hit that thumbs up button above and share. It helps other people see and read the article. Feel free to post your comments.

 

The Author 

Angelo is the Managing Director of Harper & Hill Executive Search Inc, specializing in Senior Management positions in executive search in Emerging Market in Asia. He managed a full spectrum of senior-level placements and worked with multinational clients in Asia, Africa and Europe. He travels across Asia pacific region for his assignments. 

 

Feel free to connect with him or follow him on LinkedIn. Angelo Cenon Valdez

 

 

You can contact our Executive Search Team

 

Marketing Communication

Harper & Hill Marketing and Communications Team

Contact Us: recruitment@harperandhill.com

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What are the Booming Industries in the Philippines?

The Philippine economy has been overcoming economic fallback both locally and internationally. This occurrence proves that the Philippines’ economy is booming, with growing demand in labor and an increase in compensation. In this regard, the possibility of an influx of potential investment and opportunities for growing markets and industries is not impossible to happen. With healthy and sustainable economic growth, coupled with strong consumer purchasing power, the Philippines is becoming an increasingly attractive prospect for several markets. However, these investments may focus on the industries and sectors that show potential development and growth. These industries can also become a focal point for Executive Search companies to establish a wide array of recruitment opportunities and possible partnerships. Listed are industries that are expected to grow and develop.

  1. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

    This sector is expected to sustain growth and development in the country. Both public and private sector construction activities have shown to be very active. If the industry continues to sustain its growth, forecasts for the infrastructure industry to provide profit will be observed and experienced. However, the growth of this industry works side by side the local government due to having several projects lined up and creating possibilities for various partnerships with different construction companies. On the other hand, the private sector also experiences a boost in the industry being a private company alone.

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    source: Google Images
  2. AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.

    This industry has not really experienced struggle in the market because of the demand for it although it has shown the potential to grow bigger and provide a sustainable market. If the automotive industry continues to show relatively great development, forecasted growth would also entail an increase in sales and profit for this specific industry. Accompanied by this growth reflects the number of Filipinos who can afford to buy new cars and the developing economy of the country. This growth is also supported by the introduction of new models and motor vehicles by major automotive firms.

  3. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

    Growth is now experienced in the manufacturing sector since it started strongly in its production of chemical products and manufacturing food. It is expected to grow more strongly and exponentially if the demand also increases, which is forecasted to do so. Consumer goods, mainly food manufactures, still contribute highly to this success and growth. Intermediate goods like chemical products and petroleum reflect a rather slow improvement due to the decline in its demand globally. However, this does not affect the industry here in the country where local production still takes place. With this market showing great potential, companies should remain vigilant as there are several risks that can hinder growth and development.

    Manufacturing industry featured image
    source: Google Images
  4. REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

    It was presumed to be an exciting development for the property sector as real estate developments as it shifts its focus on catering to specific needs. The only challenge that can hinder growth are factors such as the over-supply of past property investments and developments that have occurred in the market over the past few years. As the demand for workers increases in a specific area, most likely in the central business districts, the demand for shelter and a place to stay also increases which paves the way to the growing sector of real estate and property. Developers have also found a way to devise homes that have lesser amenities which entail it to be more practical and affordable. Forecasts for the growth of this sector are steady and continuous. This also means that development and growth are experienced long-term.

  5. IT AND BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY.

    Despite being tackled a few times, this industry is still set to be a growing sector in the country. It remains to be the largest and fastest-growing industry based on revenues alone. The demand for the services that this sector has to offer is not only needed locally but also in the international market as well. Several partnerships and collaborations have been laid to further the growth of the IT-BPM Industry.

  6. BANKING INDUSTRY.

    The Banking Industry has also been forecasted to grow and develop over the coming years. Although it is expected to grow at a steady pace, it has shown great potential with its capability to generate great income and revenue. Also, banks have shown potential for business both locally and abroad. Given that the government has revised certain rules for banking and investing in the country, giving power to international banks to do business in the local region. Through this step, growth can be achieved for this sector.

    Banking industry featured image
    source: Google Images

These sectors have shown potential in growing exponentially and help sustain the economic development of the country. As these industries open new horizons and businesses and opportunities to many people, it is also in the hands of the people to create and develop these sustainable markets to achieve forecasted growth and development.

Harper & Hill Executive Search have studied these industries and have determined several recruitment strategies that will equal positive results. We have devised several ways of forming partnerships in these industries to provide quality talent and highly-functioning workers. Our firm has established a foundation where expected results are delivered regardless of changes in the forecasted development in these industries. This is because our firm is able to build capabilities by sharing best practices, having innovative solutions, and being able to manage partnerships to achieve success.

 

Marketing Communication

Harper & Hill Marketing and Communications Team

Contact Us: recruitment@harperandhill.com

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Overcoming Challenges in the Emerging Markets in Terms of Finding the Right Candidate

Hiring for the best talents plays an important role and part in an organization’s growth and development agendas. It is important that recruitment and human resource practitioners are aware of current trends in their area of specialization. Being knowledgeable about current challenges are important so it may be addressed and managed.

Executive search companies are no different from in-house HR departments. Different sectors and industries may experience the same difficulties and problems with regard to hiring and recruitment. Given the difficulties, executive search companies should be able to create functional processes and standardized recruitment strategies.

The recruitment patterns and processes have been through several changes in the past few years as economic and technical aspects have become very dynamic and have been altered to create a more fitting process depending on specific demands as per roles and client companies. With these changes come different challenges that executive search firms have to overcome as well. In this regard, it would be helpful to know common challenges that executive search firms will and can experience throughout these changes. Let’s look at these challenges that need attention.

1.Effective and Consistent Recruiters

Executive search firms have become a big and successful business over the years. And as the industry grows, the call to become a recruiter and earn a great deal of profit has grown as well. No matter how easy it is to close the role or how abundant the talent pool is, it all boils down to how effective the recruiter is. How smart the recruiter is to utilize every strategy and every possible way to attract and get the right candidate. Also, recruiters should be able to open up to the changes that are happening as the business advances forward. Some recruiters may appear to have adapted better in the market in the past but are struggling to keep up now because they forget to also take time to know or make themselves aware of the changes that are happening now. Some recruiters also tend to copy others’ strategies regardless of it being effective or not. Recruiters are afraid of taking risks and create their own strategies simply because it is not practiced by others. It now becomes important to assess the recruiters’ effectiveness and competitiveness to be able to provide and deliver. One recruiter can place a new hire after another but being a consistent performer can mark that spot in the industry. A recruiter should set a timeline and should be able to pitch and sell a potential candidate to the client. This, of course, is to put a mark on the recruiter’s dedicated service and effective performance and consistency. This also builds a strong partnership with the recruitment firm and with the clients.

2.Ownership

Once the perfect candidate has been found, the executive search firm wants exclusive rights to this profile. Recruitment firms can search and target the same profile at the same time during the process of sourcing, and this can cause confusion and candidate duplication. Recruitment firms want to make sure that this candidate is tagged under them and not with another search firm. However, client companies can also play a vital role in this situation. They are entitled to decide and dictate what happens depending on the satisfaction they receive with the presented profile. It becomes important that these recruitment firms have completed several hiring requirements such as having interviewed the candidate whether face-to-face or over the phone. Another requirement is to have permission from the candidate to release the necessary information and details to the client company. Through these requirements, ownership is obtained by the firm who has worked harder than the other firms and is entitled to the candidate and placement. In this regard, firms should make sure that the profile they will present is also informed of the process and are able to declare that they have been presented by the respective recruitment firm.

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3.Identifying the Perfect Candidate

Hiring good candidates can be challenging. There are several factors that can affect an application and the process of hiring. Some profiles have the right skills that match a job together with having the right educational background and work history. However, there can be multiple factors and more information needed than what is stated on paper. In the early stages of the hiring process, it does not guarantee that you get the right candidate at once. Searching for the right candidate has been the most common challenge every recruitment firm has encountered and is still something most companies are experiencing until now. As demands from client companies have become more specific in regard to candidate skills and work background, somehow, these candidates have become difficult to find. In the process of hiring, it is important to consider that skills alone do not guarantee that the recruiter will hire the right candidate. The recruiters should consider that prospective candidates should possess skills and characteristics that not only match the role or function but also aligns with the companies’ goals and aspirations. To overcome this, executive search firms should be able to step up their game and go the extra mile. Learn to broaden the scope of the search and the farther you get the more quality and fitting candidates you are able to pool for the role you are trying to fill. Another way is to clearly state what the client is looking for. While not every potential candidate will possess all the skills that are required for the role, it does not hurt to prioritize candidates that already have the complete skill set. This can help the recruiter weed out candidates that are good from the ones that are not so much. To also overcome the tedious process of constantly communicating with the client as to why the candidates that were presented have been failing, recruiters should be able to note all the information they need from the profiles and assess the candidates once they are able to interview them.

4.Recruiting Timeline and Efficiency

The recruitment business has been moving faster as compared to the past, and a firm that is not dynamic enough will surely be left behind and will fail to compete and provide. Indecisive clients can suppress and slow down the recruitment process. Part of this delay can cause a temporary slowdown in the placements as well. It now becomes important in the part of the recruitment firms to be quick and efficient in interviewing candidates and presenting them to the clients. With this, recruiters should also be able to prompt their clients to act faster on the hiring process and decide quickly. At some point, some client companies assume that to be able to get the right candidate, it is through sending the profile through several interviews. This is because this has become a trend that prolonging and taking more time to make a hiring decision will also result in better hires. Although for the most part, this is not always the case. A candidate who is actively looking out can have several interviews and offers with different companies. And if the client tends to move slowly with the hiring process, chances are, they could miss a good hire and all efforts you’ve made are put to waste. It is important to make the client understand that there should be a timeline set for specific vacancies. Not only should this timeline setting be practiced by the recruitment firms, but it should also be used by the client companies as well. A role that has been vacant for a long time can have an effect on the company externally. Given that the role has not been filled for too long, it may give out a sense of incompetence from the part of the client because of prolonging the hiring process and indecisiveness. This event can also create a toll on the part of the recruitment firm so this should be something that is properly explained by the recruiters to the client companies.

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source: Google Images

5.Indecisive Candidates

Indecisive clients are just one challenge but combining it with indecisive candidates is another topic. Candidates tend to go for several interviews and in return would tend to have several offers presented to them. It is now the recruiter’s task to carefully talk to the profile and make sure he or she understands what the client company has to offer. The recruiter should learn how to make the interview process a great experience. In this process, the recruiter should ensure that the concerns and queries of the candidate are properly addressed and entertained. Some candidates feel the need to be taken care of and recruiters should be able to give the needed to make sure the profile accepts the offer and close the deal.

6.Effective Use of Search Mediums

Communication is key. Aside from effective processes and strategies recruitment firms are putting into practice, job boards and other search engines play a good role in the hiring process as well. If one firm uses sloppy search engines and old-fashioned tools, chances are, that a recruitment firm would not be able to make noise in the market and will be ignored, making that company fall behind. This becomes a challenge since some recruiters rely on job boards itself, making the recruiters complacent and just waiting for candidates to click on postings and submit their applications. This should be something that recruiters have to improve on since recruitment requires a pro-active behavior to get the job done. The use of job boards should only be a part of the recruitment process and should not become the process as a whole. Recruiters should also be knowledgeable enough to know the interface of different job boards and posting. It is important when it comes to the job posting, that job orders are posted quickly and are easily viewed so potentially good profiles are easily found and matched to a job. It is good to invest in these tools and engines if you are able to utilize everything it can offer and can save you time effectively. The right profile may be difficult to find, but with good use of your resources, it does not make it impossible.

These challenges are real and can be experienced by any recruitment firm. However, these are also opportunities for the firms to look into and determine the points of improvement. When one firm identifies and addresses the hurdles the company is experiencing, they can create plans and strategies to overcome these challenges and eventually succeed.

These difficulties are observed by Harper & Hill Executive Search. Our firm has mapped solutions to address these difficulties by:

  • Creating a pro-active partnership not only with the clients we support but also with the candidates that we source and acquire.
  • Leveraging on modern technology to reach out to potentially good profiles that fit the job function.
  • Having a wide-scope of a database that has been filtered and reviewed that enables us to properly match opportunities with candidates.
  • Establishing rapport with candidates and making the recruitment process an enjoyable experience.
  • Harper & Hill Executive Search is also represented by experienced and highly-skilled consultants and recruiters with an extensive background in recruitment that will work with its clients to achieve, deliver, and overcome recruitment expectations.

 

Marketing Communication

Harper & Hill Marketing and Communication Team

Contact Us: recruitment@harperandhill.com