Find an Executive Search partner
It is important that when you are selecting your Executive Search partner that you spend some time researching the options available to you. It is vital that you select the Executive Search company that best matches your needs. Below are some general guidelines that will help you to reach the right decision.
Ask a Friend
Consult your friends or colleagues in similar fields. Ask whom they’ve used in the past, and who they’d recommend. A good recruitment firm will generally source at least a third of its new clients / candidates via word of mouth from satisfied customers, so this is one of the quickest and most effective ways of finding a great executive search company.
Do Your Own Research
If you can’t ask anyone else for his or her opinion, you will need to do your own research. To start, look for an executive search and recruitment company that specializes in the area you work in. This might sound obvious, but many agencies do a little bit of everything, and you need to find an executive search and recruitment firm that's an expert in your field. Take a look at the job boards and see who are advertising and commenting on industry issues, or look online - on, say, LinkedIn - for the areas you wish to work in.
Check the Websites
Next, visit the websites of the executive search firms you've short-listed. This will give you an idea of their pedigree (When were they established? What is the history of the company?) and the jobs advertised on their site. Look at the size of the company and find out if they have an international presence.
Talk to the Executive Search Consultant
Once you have a short list of possible executive search companies’ start calling them. Recruitment is sometimes like any relationship and will no doubt have its highs and lows. It is important you can relate to your recruiter and trust in their ability to do the Job. Don’t be afraid to ask industry related questions or to ask them to give you an overview of the types of companies they work with. A good recruitment company will encourage an open exchange of information to ensure they are placing the right people with the right companies.
Be Selective
Remember, there’s very little point in blasting out your CV to everyone or giving a recruitment assignment to many different executive search companies. If you’ve done your research, the agency you choose will invariably be the one that is right for you.