|
Q & A How to Find a Great Search Firm
Q & A Q: Are people sometimes cautious of 'headhunters'? A. Yes. However the industry has evolved over the last decade and steadily gained more respect. Now recruiters go to the same lengths that other professionals do to be certified by obtaining a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation. Q: Is it appropriate to approach a professional recruiter or should the recruiter pursue the job seeker? A: It is very common for both to occur. Our search firm, FGP International (Find Great People) has been building its own proprietary database of candidates and contacts for nearly 22 years. This has been done by active contact on our part as well as by referrals from those who respect our approach. If you contact a firm directly you need to do your homework before simply sending a resume. We are not "all alike". Q: Which is best? Contingency or Retained? A: Both types have merit. A Retained search firm is paid in advance and will typically be dealing with Executive and Senior level officials. Searches where the base salary start in the mid 100k area and exceed 300k. Contingency firms will work mostly on searches below those salary levels. Contingency firms are routinely paid only if the person they present is hired by the company. Each have their place. Q: Say you are a candidate for a position. What is the next step after this? A: After a recruiter presents your background to a potential employer, he or she should contact you frequently to keep you aware of where you are in the interview process. Routine cooperation and feedback is expected from the company, and the individual seeking a position. Once the client company desires to proceed with an interview the recruiter would facilitate the interview process. Q: How do you know a search firm is right for you? A: Investigate the firm to see if it is specialized in any industries or any particular niches. It is always best to contact the search firm that coincides with your area of professional interest. Once you begin working with a search firm, ask yourself these questions. How cooperative is the search firm with you? Will they give you feedback, and will they give it to you in a timely manner? Make a phone call first before sending a resume. Ask them to walk you through their standard approach of the placement process. Q: Is the size of the firm important? A: Multiple consultants mean a more diverse client base, and a larger network of client contacts. There are many of solo practitioners (recruiters who work alone) in this field. Unless the solo practitioner is known throughout the country, they will be limited in their effectiveness of placing because they are only one person. With eleven consultants, my firm, FGP International, can cross-sell to our client base across multiple disciplines. Q: How can you tell if a search firm or consultant performed well in the past? A: It's perfectly all right to ask. Find out what percentage of repeat business (from the companies) the firm has. If they don't have an answer, that's a good indication that it's not high and that may point to their ineffectiveness. Q: What is the best way to evaluate an individual consultant? A: Ask them their interview to hire ratio. The industry standard is between 4 and 7:1. If the number goes higher, then the consultant may have an inability to understand the job, the company, or the candidate's abilities when conducting the search, thereby introducing the wrong people on the wrong position. Q: For job hunters that may want to entertain the idea of relocation, what is the best way to evaluate a search firm? A: First, determine your own geographical focus. Then, pinpoint a search firm with a similar focus. Some firms are local and statewide, while others are national and international. A national or international search firm would be desirable, if your geographical preference is broad. About The Author Steve Hall has been a professional recruiter with Find Great People International (http://www.findgreatpeople.com), in Greenville, South Carolina, for 14 years. He specializes in IT and manages consultants in apparel, finance and health care. Steve has averaged a 3 to 1 interview to hire ratio, while the industry standard is 7 to 1.
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Become A Computer Consultant Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but you weren't sure if you could cut it? Do you have a basic understanding of computer-systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to help other people? If so, then you already possess the main abilities and traits that you need to become a computer consultant. How To Find A Telecommute Job The answer may be easier than you think, but there's a catch. The Right Way To Send Your Resume Having a great resume is the first critical step in a successful job search. Unfortunately, most people don't know the best ways to get that resume noticed. In today's job market, where you are competing with hundreds of other resumes, knowing the right way to distribute your resume can make all the difference. Career Job Satisfaction - Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race! Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race! 3 Reasons To Hire From Outside Your Industry While at times it may prove comfortable and convenient to hire from within your current industry, often the best candidate for the job comes from outside your "comfort zone". How can that be? As a recruiter focused on a highly regulated and competitive industry experiencing significant growth nationwide, here are 3 reasons to hire from outside your industry: Do What You Love, Love What You Do Everyone dreams of a life full of love and adventure. But we fill ourselves with reasons not to follow our dreams. Instead of protecting us, they imprison and hold us back. Life will be over before we know it, so now is the time to really live life and love. Counteroffers: Should I Stay or Should I Go? If "resignation" is the word that strikes fear into all employers, then "counteroffer" is the one that strikes fear into an employee's heart. "What should I do? They've matched my offer?" Career Planning for Gifted Adults "James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he's hyperactive." Online Resume Tips and Secrets I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features resumes prominently listed on the first page of the site. Unlike some careers, corporate flight attendants must promote themselves overtly in order to find work especially if they are contractors. Since adding this feature two years ago, I have learned that an online copy must be arranged differently than that of a hard copy primarily for security reasons. Let's review some of the 'best practices' you need to accomplish in order to successfully and safely promote yourself online. Passing The Police Test Just Became Easier You've taken the police officer selection test or law enforcement entrance exam, but just can't seem to get a high enough passing score. You know you would be a good police officer if you could overcome that first hurdle. Well, your not alone. Thousands of police officer applicants fail the entrance exam every year, but that's now a thing of the past. Introducing PoliceQuiz.com. Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major There was a time when accounting was the boring college major that many people regretted signing up for. A constant barrage of numbers, statistics and spreadsheets was none too interesting. How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now. Knew he had to get moving, had to find a job, but ? just couldn't seem to get his act together. Oh, he'd tried ? a little. But his lack of immediate success just made him that much more apathetic. Resume Writing and Preparation is Free Online Creating a strong resume is a very important part of applying for a job, either online or off line. There are many resume writing services that will help you build an impressive resume for job interviews. Using Journal to Support Your Job Search Are you searching for a job? Here are some tips on how you can use journaling in that pursuit. Are You Bored By What You Do? Is your working life in the doldrums? Do you feel stuck in a rut? Uncertain about the future? Depressed by what you can see ahead? Still looking for a job that will fully engage your interest? Thankk-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career There is one little practice that is vital to generating the interest of potential employers. It is critical, but very few job seekers actually do it. F-E-A-R in the Job Search! Fear in starting a job search is a four letter word! Like any other four letter word, the word itself can create more fear, and some- times self-loathing! How to Work Effectively With Recruiters "R-E-S-P-E-C-T / find out what it means to me" is a line made famous by Aretha Franklin, and one that recruiters have adopted as their mantra. This is probably because there is a love-hate relationship between candidates and recruiters. Specifically, candidates love what recruiters can do for them, but at the same time, aren't fond of the fact that they need their services. Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power What are you interested in? We all have a passion for something. So, what is your passion? Do Your Very Best in All Things -- Because Someone Is Looking.... Your job is to rise ABOVE the challenge. Do more than is expected. Say nothing negative about anyone or anything. Yes, that is easier said than done for most of us. Still, it is simply good advice for all. You never have to watch your backside when there are no boomerangs returning.
|
|
|
Copyright © Advancing Women (TM), 1996- 