It can be quite daunting and challenging for a company to successfully execute a recruitment process. This is especially the case if there is a multiplicity of high level roles to be filled. In these instances, many companies decide to outsource the process to a recruitment company. Today we’re taking a look at the Executive Search process to help demystify it and make sure the next time you have a high level appointment to make, you’re feeling confident!

One of the most appealing aspects of executive search, is the level of interaction you as a company can choose to have with recruitment companies. In other words, you can decide how closely you wish to be involved with the process. However, it is important not to go to extremes. At the most hands off end of the spectrum, if you have not given the full facts to the recruitment agency and then had no further contact until they have decided they have found you a suitable candidate, or a selection of suitable candidates, you have given the recruitment company a firm foundation of information to work off, so they can’t do they’re best work. Therefore, it is important to make sure you are fully honest in communication with recruitment companies about what qualities you do and don’t want from a candidate.

At the other end, there is no point outsourcing the recruitment process to a company if you are then present for every step of the executive search, unable to trust them to do their jobs. If this is the case then your company should undertake the recruitment process itself.

Therefore, your company should consider an executive search firm if the recruitment process would take too much time or resources for you to perform yourself. Thus, before embarking down either route of doing it yourself or hiring a recruitment company a sound analysis of the costs and benefits of each process needs to be given thought to.

Also, it should only take place once you as a company are completely sure on the criteria of what is needed for a given role. This as a process in itself can be time consuming, however you cannot expect a person specification to be created by the recruitment company as it is down to your company exactly what you need for a candidate to be considered.