Recently a client asked my firm whether his growing organization warranted a Director or VP level in Human Resources. I asked the experts this specific question and turned to The Austin HR Roundtable that was established in 2013 with approximately (25) Directors and VP HR leaders. Here were three robust responses: "Director—primarily a department [...]
Just thinking back today about how business flows in and the crazy twists and terms of obtaining an executive search from clients. I have been in this crazy and fun business since 1997. I remember it was 1998 and I met with a VP HR in the Nebraska area. The meeting went ok and [...]
When my firm is ready to discuss best candidate profiles after the first 30 days of our search efforts, a candidate grid is a useful method for this client discussion. The grid is a good icebreaker to start the candidate discussion. It displays how each candidate presented fits the qualifications that the client is [...]
Attempting to understand how good candidates assess their performance and true interest in the job can sometimes lead to awkward questions that don't really get to the red hot center of information. After a candidate completes the final interview, I ask them two very basic questions: Rate from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the [...]
I have been an executive search professional since 1997 (20 years this October). I could have not made this long term and successful without clients who have believed in me. Think about it: when a client signs an agreement to work with you, they are saying that they believe in your passion and believe that [...]
Just some random thoughts this Sunday morning thinking about a couple of CEO's who happen to be great clients and friends to my firm. Jerry Davis is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Texas. Had him over for coffee and scones the other day to discuss business (he lives in our neighborhood, so it was [...]
If you ask me what keeps me up at night, it would definitely be newly hired executive candidate who has accepted the job offer and set a 3 to 4 week start date with my client company. Of course, you always expect at least 2 weeks but sometimes candidates need 3 or 4 weeks and [...]
In the retained executive search sector, most medium to large executive search firms will typically charge 30-33% of the candidate's first year total cash compensation. They will leave the last payment (each payment is paid in 3 equal increments spread over 60 days) for an opportunity to invoice for an "up payment" if the candidate [...]
There was a recent business lesson related to the raucous 2016 Election (and let me be clear, I am not taking sides). To be effective in whatever you do, you have to show up and see people in person. On November 14th, President Obama said about the recent election and disappointment for Democrats, "we have to compete [...]
We meet back with our client 30 days after an executive search is kicked off and present a top candidate grid, candidate interview notes and candidate resumes. We also first like to discuss what we are seeing in the job market with market data during the first 30 days of the search. This snapshot information is [...]
