Retained Search–Why Now?

In this day and age of internet, online job postings, and LinkedIn connections, why would any company still need to use the professional services of a “retained” executive search firm?   Here’s what a company should expect that online services can’t provide:   1) quality of candidates to choose from, 2) time saved, and 3) year-long guarantee.

Quality of 3 to 5 Candidates:  Retained search firms are engaged specifically to find and present only top-quality candidates who have precisely the career background and track record specified.  Retained firms reach into companies of similar size and industries to talk to and entice only the best qualified management-level executives to consider a career move to the client company. Candidates are interviewed in person to assess their leadership, management abilities and professional results generated during their careers.  Only three to five finalists are presented–all the client supervisor has to do is choose the candidate best-suited to the team and corporate culture.

Time-saving:  For senior-level searches, no client company wants to invest hundreds of hours of its own staff time poring over the deluge of resumes, most unqualified, that they receive when a position is posted online.  Retained search professionals use time efficiently to proactively seek out potential candidates who have precisely the track record the client organization is looking for–our average time from outset to presenting the finalist candidates is 41 business days.  Retained firms are paid their fee throughout the three-month process of a search, rather than at the end, so the firm acts as “partner” to the client company, to save time and produce the best result.

Guaranteed for a year:  If the executive does not last 12 months, a professional retained search firm will re-do the search at no additional fee. When a company on its own tries to find candidates online, there is no guarantee.  If a company chooses the wrong person from online recruiting, there is no insurance policy.  But that’s part of a retained search firm’s commitment, which is very reassuring to the client organization.  And the search firm has incentive to find the best person the first time.

The best retained search firms stake their reputation on producing highly qualified candidates, in record time, and standing behind their work–just three reasons that retained executive search remains relevant and invaluable to the business world today. There’s both art and discipline to finding the best candidates–the professional touch and wise judgment that online services cannot provide.

By Betsy Bekhemer-Credaire, President

Berkhemer Clayton, Inc.