Process of a Professional Search
A deliberate, structured search process is a vital ingredient to assuring a successful search outcome. At FaithSearch Partners, our multi-step approach has proven to be both effective and efficient while also providing the flexibility needed for specific client needs.
Step 1
FaithSearch personally meets with all of the key stakeholders related to a specific vacant position, including members of the board and search committee, the leadership team, managers reporting to the position, and other important constituents. The input from these meetings is synthesized into a comprehensive and confidential “Assessment Report,” which is provided to the search committee or the hiring executive. This report includes the ideal candidate profile, goals for the position and issues potentially impacting the position and/or the search process.
Step 2
Based on the approved candidate profile, FaithSearch proactively contacts potential prospects and referral sources regionally and/or nationally. As candidates express interest, we review resumes and conduct phone interviews. Those candidates appearing to best match the profile are personally interviewed by FaithSearch in a two hour, face-to-face meeting.
Step 3
FaithSearch presents its recommended candidate slate to the search committee or hiring executive in a personal, confidential meeting. Semi-finalists are selected to interview with the client.
Step 4
As first and second round candidate/client interviews occur, FaithSearch helps facilitate candidate travel and interview itineraries. In addition, in-depth candidate referencing is coordinated for the finalist(s).
Step 5
FaithSearch assists with the candidate/client negotiations, as needed, as well as helps to assure the successful candidate transitions appropriately into his/her new role during the new executive’s first year of service.
Learn More About the FSP Process
As part of the FaithSearch Partners video series, we offer commentary on a variety of topics, including our search processes and methodology.
Executive Search: An Introduction
What is executive search? What’s the difference between a retained and contingency firm? Does my organization even need to hire a search firm? President of FaithSearch, Ed Fry, answers these questions and more in a brief introductory video.
Technology Overload: Executive Search in the Digital Age
There are few — if any — industries in today’s economy that have not been affected by the technological advancements of the last 20 years and the field of executive search is no different. At FaithSearch Partners, we have been able to use some of the more recent technologies to improve and enhance our search processes. We’ve found, especially when it comes to research, technology has proven to be a huge asset. Communication has certainly become more rapid, the transfer of information has become more secure, many data sources have become more streamlined and some of our proprietary methods of research have become more reliable. However, in a world full of online job postings, professional networking sites and virtual candidate databases, there is one area of the search process that simply cannot be digitized — the interview.
Senior Vice President of FaithSearch, Ivan Bartolome, discusses how technology has changed executive search in the short video below. You can also read additional commentary on the effects of digitizing the interview in an extended article here.
Research Methods
In today’s economy, it’s no surprise many companies and organizations are trying to find ways to cut back. One common approach to saving money is to try to do as much in-house as possible. This may seem like a good idea at first, and may even save a some money in the short-term; however, in many cases, businesses discover they are ill-equipped to thoroughly manage critical searches and begin to see unfilled positions remain vacant for far too long or short-cuts resulting in bad hiring decisions.
As management guru, Tom Peters says, “Do what you do best and outsource the rest!” FaithSearch Partners is a team of highly-skilled, faith-driven experts who have completed more than 450 executive-level searches combined. The bottom line is this: Leadership search is our only business. We’ve leveraged our knowledge and industry experience and come up with a deliberate, structured search process that has proven both efficient and effective. We’re committed to finding the right leader to meet your organization’s needs and are so confident in our process that we even guarantee it. In this video , FaithSearch Partners President Ed Fry and Director of Research Courtney Fry, discuss preliminary search strategies and research methods.
Confidentiality
FaithSearch Partners understands that in order to secure the best possible candidates, maintaining confidentiality is vital. Learn more about why discretion is so vital to the process and the FaithSearch commitment to protecting each candidate’s right to privacy.