The 3 Challenges of Executive Searches (and How to Overcome Them)

There are 30+ million businesses in the U.S. In 2018, there was a total of 2.6 million executives in jobs; clearly there is a shortage of executives. A top executive can be the difference between your company’s success or potential failure. When the time comes to replace an executive at your company or freshen up your C-suite, there can be challenges with those executive searches. Here are 3 challenges you can face when performing an executive search and the solution to overcome all of them.

Top executives know they are in demand and have the luxury of choosing their next job. Each company courts the same executive and they can be inundated with attractive offers. With so many offers on the table, how can you beat the competition?

97% of senior candidates in a company want to be “found” or “approached” by headhunters for relevant vacancies. Very few executives are actively looking and applying for new opportunities. While most executives are passive, you and your company need to be active.

An executive candidate could the most successful, experienced one out there. However, if she isn’t a right fit for your company, it doesn’t make sense to hire her. Maybe the executive’s leadership style doesn’t make sense for your company’s unique culture or doesn’t have relevant industry experience.

Use an executive staffing firm. These firms are also known as “headhunters” and they can be a solution for all three of these challenges. Executive search firms are experienced in attracting the best executives by selling the opportunity to them in a way that you cannot. They have established proven processes to turn the head of even the most passive executive. The firm also takes into account everything that you deem to be the “right fit” and will only present you with executives that fit the bill.

Recruiting Connection was named on the Forbes 2020 “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” list. If you have seen these challenges in your own executive search and don’t know what steps to take next, please contact us and we’d love to help.