What to look for in an executive search supplier
As The BPO and shared service market continues to develop across
Europe, many organisations have decided that this represents a
substantial opportunity. They have identified also, the need to
staff the firm with executives who have credible experience in BPO
and in service delivery in an international and multi-country
context. However, companies also recognise that the number of
people who are able to operate effectively within this space within
Europe is limited.
Traditional executive search firms operate on a country-by-country
basis, but by operating trans-nationally in a single process, an
effective firm provides clarity over who actually does the work and
how it gets done. This approach also eliminates any internal
conflicts inherent to networked organizations.
The people the client meets and briefs should personally carry out
the search assignments from start to completion, without
intermediaries such as researchers and interviewers. The best
search firms provide one transparent, seamless process with
consultants who understand the culture and geographies in which
they operate and have an intimate understanding of what BPO is
about.
It is vital to find an executive search firm that is commended by
clients and candidates for its effectiveness, human touch and
understanding of the sectors in which it operates. This should be
coupled to a flexible approach to fees and an exceptional degree of
transparency in processes. This includes secure access to all
information related to the assignment in real-time in order to
enable the client to maintain strong control on quality and
timeliness.
Probably most important for a fast and effective service is for the
firm to have an extensive contact list of people who currently
operate in the shared services and BPO markets. Find a firm that
has successfully placed heads of European SSCs and other executives in the
BPO space within the last two years.
Finally, remember that the old adage is still true: an executive
search firm is only as good as its last assignment. It is important
for a company looking for executives to check with its own
employees, friends and stable-mates (in the case of several
companies being backed by the same VC), to see who is recommended the
most, then invite them in for a no-strings chat.