Critical Questions You Should Ask

The selection and recruitment of the right individuals for top positions is of exceptional importance. For this reason, your search will require the selection of search consultants who are proven professionals of the highest quality and competence. The critical questions we feel you should ask are:

SEARCH FIRM QUESTIONS

Legal and Actual Off-limits Issues: Which firm does not have the significant off-limits issues with client companies, including stated and unstated ones. Does the search firm have stated and unstated off-limits due to longstanding relationships with companies? Ask for what the firm¹s major clients are. They are not likely to recruit from them even if legally allowed.

Competition for Candidates / Candidate Reservations: Which firm has the least amount of conflict between partners in the same practice? Which firm is likely to have more than one search vying for the same candidates, and hence be inhibited by candidate reservation issues.

Number of Technology Partners / Conflict Issues even in Boutiques: Which firm has a reasonable amount of experience in the space without being encumbered by many partners vying for the same candidates? Some boutique firms have as many technology partners as large firms in your space or geographic area.

Priority Search: What priority will be given to this search by those involved? How important is your company to the recruiting firm, so that its best resources are assigned to you? Does the partner have other "large relationships" that will compete with your project?

CONSULTANT TEAM EXPERIENCE AND MINDSHARE

Perhaps most importantly, are you comfortable with the proposed approach and the consultant(s) who will be responsible for the assignment? Are you comfortable with the executing partner and not just the "selling" partner?

There are certainly many more factors which can be taken into consideration in your selection. We believe, however, that by focusing on these questions and answering them carefully, you will greatly increase your likelihood of selecting the right firm and having a successful outcome.