Any good retained executive search professional worth his/her salt will tell you that the secret to kicking off a successful search is asking the the right questions at the start of the process.

Here are eight questions to keep firmly in mind when kicking off an executive search. There are more questions but these eight are the most crucial:

1) Is this a Confidential search or not?

2) Is this a new Expansion position or is it a Replacement? If replacement, what happened to the incumbent?

3) Experience and Education requirements (focus on the must-haves).

8 questions

4) What type of Personal Attributes will match your Company Culture?

5) What are some Target Companies to call into for the best candidates?

6) Travel Requirements?

7) What are the most Compelling Reasons for someone very content in their current situation to leave and join your company?

8) Compensation parameters including base, bonus target, relocation. What are the real boundaries regarding compensation?

If you ask the right questions at the start of the search and listen effectively, the search has a great chance of being successful and your client will be delighted with the results.