When retained by our clients to recruit for a C-Suite or Senior Finance role, we start by asking what kind of candidate they are looking for. Often, that question is answered with vagueness: good leadership skills, great personality, ambitious, etc.
Of course, the problem here is with the metrics. How will you know what good management looks like? A personality that appeals to some might be off-putting for others. And ambitious: where will they land on the scale of “motivated” to “ruthless”?
A good place to start is by getting all stakeholders on the same page with respect to the qualities you’re looking for, categorized in 2 tiers:
· Must Have Qualities
· Nice to Have Qualities
For each of these, decide how these qualities will be defined. Education, designations, and required languages are easy to define, and past accomplishments can also be fairly straightforward. Soft skills are more nebulous and will require more consideration.
A good executive search firm can help you create a concise job description and candidate profile, so it’s clear what type of candidate you’re looking for, and easier to recognize them during the search. Anything other than a solid plan will cost you time and money.
If you’re ready to put a plan together, or are just curious about the process, get in touch to arrange a quick chat. Email Paul, Brent, Troy, or Tara, or give us a call at 519-673-3463 or 416-847-0036.
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