Tips for Identifying Quality Executive Search Firms in Melbourne

An executive search firm is a group of specialist recruiters that can help companies find the right candidate for senior management positions.

Typically, finding the right candidate for a role such as Chief Executive Officer is not a simple task. This individual will be responsible for making operational decisions that can have a significant effect on a business. You need to have confidence that you have found the right person for the job.

The phrase ‘right person for the job’ can mean many things. To start with, any person entering a senior management position needs to have appropriate experience. Ideally, they will have spent a number of years working in your industry and have faced similar challenges and opportunities.

In addition, you want to be sure that your new hire is a good fit from a cultural perspective. A good executive search firm will go beyond experience and qualifications to make sure that their candidates represent your company values and ethos.

How to find the right search firm for you

A simple Google of the phrase ‘executive search firms in Melbourne’ will bring up many different companies. How can you be sure that a firm is the right fit for your business?

Here are a few key qualities you should be looking for that will indicate an executive search firm has your best interests at heart:

Time commitment

There are certain stages of the hiring process that you can expect to take some time — and that’s a good thing. An executive search firm that moves too quickly may be overlooking important details, an attitude that will only harm your business.

For example, your executive search firm should invest considerable time and effort getting to know all aspects of your business, including what types of challenges and opportunities you are facing and your company culture. This will make other stages of the recruitment process — such as finding appropriate candidates — far more efficient.

Communication skills

The point of working with an executive search firm is that they will make your life easier. In saying that, a team that is slow to respond to messages and acts in an unprofessional manner is likely to have the opposite effect.

When you first meet with a search firm, discuss what method of communication you will use. You should clearly outline your expectations and only work with a team that can deliver.

Industry experience

While there are certain qualities that all senior professionals should have — leadership skills, problem solving capacities, and the ability to make decisions — the CEO of a food manufacturing company will face considerably different challenges to the CEO of a law firm.

Ideally, your executive search firm will have considerable experience sourcing professionals for your specific sector. They will possess knowledge about current industry events and will have a network of professionals they can reach out to when searching for appropriate candidates.

A solid search strategy

There is very little luck involved in finding the right candidate for an executive position. Rather, a solid search strategy is what will most likely yield the best results.

A good executive search firm will implement a tried and tested strategy for sourcing candidates and narrowing down their shortlist. This strategy will take into account your candidate criteria to produce tailored results that guarantee success.

Confidentiality

In working with an executive search firm, you will be entrusting them with a significant level of information about your business. It’s imperative that they respect your confidentiality and act with discretion.

This is also important from a candidate’s perspective. Oftentimes, individuals who occupy senior management positions are reluctant to let it be known that they are looking to see what employment opportunities are available. They will only work with a search firm if they feel that they can trust them. Don’t miss out on top candidates by partnering with a firm that does not respect the privacy and confidentiality of everyone they are involved with.

Full support

While an executive search firm is tasked with the responsibility of sourcing and hiring candidates, their job does not end there. A quality search team will stick around to make sure that the candidate is truly a good fit, is settling into their new position, and is meeting client expectations.

When you first meet with your search team, ask what responsibility they will take in this crucial handover period. Ensure they will offer hands-on support and have strategies in place should any issues arise.

Given the significant impact that a senior or executive employee can have on a company, finding the right executive search firm can be the difference between business success or failure. With that in mind, take your time when deciding between different executive search firms in Melbourne. Do your research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to demand full support, time commitment, and professionalism from your search team.