5 Reasons To Work With A Specialist Search Firm

5 Reasons to work with a Specialist Executive Search Firm

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C Suite hires are pivotal, regardless of the size of the business. From Seed to Fortune 500: great leadership is worth its weight in gold.?

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And yet studies show that the failure rate of executives coming into a business is 40% after 18 months. It’s expensive in terms of lost revenue and opportunities, not to mention the hiring fees and the untold damage to team morale.?

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Combine this with a hiring market, like the one we find ourselves in, and sourcing the leader to take your teams and companies to new levels appears to be more of a challenge.??

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The solution? Engaging a search firm with an international network, vast experience, specialist knowledge of your market, and a consultative approach to search.??

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The right specialist search firm provides all the executive search solutions of larger firms, but with a bespoke, better-resourced approach.?

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And here’s how:

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Bespoke consultative approach

Specialist Search firms who understand their markets extensively also understand what their client needs and employ a greater degree of creative thinking in their consultative approaches, increasing long-term retention rates. Attention to detail and active listening skills during an in-depth brief enable search specialists to assess client needs and customise their approach accordingly. With bespoke timescales available, coaching, screening, advising, and project management, clients can confidently outsource the hiring of pivotal roles, increasing their productivity.?

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And with access to a personally curated network, search specialists source candidates with the skills, experience, and cultural fit for the company are placed, saving everyone time and money.?

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2. Investment in client relationships

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You're more likely to work directly with a leader of the business at specialist search firms, with unfettered access to their experience.

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There is no delegating to junior staff; you can be assured that the high-level abilities you were promised are what’s delivered. And it's this breadth and depth of experience that helps with creative thinking and problem-solving along the way.?

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This direct point of contact with senior leaders allows queries to be resolved quickly and tweaks to the process to be actioned immediately.?

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Search specialists smooth the way between clients and talent, making communication seamless and setting a precedent for a successful relationship going forward.?

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It is this very same specialist who will take you through from the initial call to start dates and referencing, building trust, learning your culture and goals, and enabling them to become brand advocates, because search specialists, good or bad, are representing your brand in the marketplace.?

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By valuing client relationships, setting high standards, and meeting them, trust is built with each interaction, and search specialists demonstrate skills and capabilities that are indispensable for busy clients.?

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3. Global Networks

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Search specialists have curated their individual networks over many years, which makes going to market and sourcing candidates more discreet and personable. With fewer limitations to the candidate pool than in larger firms and with a focus on coaching for the candidate, talent engages with the process and is more open to exploration. It’s a one-size-fits-one approach from the very start.?

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By keeping in touch with their networks and utilising the macro-level view of the role, search specialists look for talent in unexpected places before searching for the skills and attribute essential to the role.?

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4. Economies of Scale?

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Due to long-standing and productive relationships with clients, specialist search firms can offer economies of scale passing on cost savings for project work on multiple roles and team build-outs.?

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Unlike larger firms, with high overheads and billion-dollar revenues, placement costs do not spiral out of control to cover these costs, nor are there unexpected costs added at the 11th hour.?

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5. Quality over Quantity

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Whilst larger firms can reel a very long list of previous clients, it’s important to consider the retention and completion rates. With a commitment to robust screening, referencing, and coaching, specialist search firms tend to have good reputations when it comes to sourcing candidates that get the roles and stay in them, long-term.?

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Finding the Search Firm for you

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If in doubt, a good place to start is with a referral. Excellent search firms have excellent reputations. Get to know the specialist that works in your market, their search methodology, how well networked they are, and how knowledgeable they are. You need them to have global reach and influence, without losing the personable, customised approach that will serve your business best.?