Maximizing the Relationship

One of the biggest mistakes companies make is to draft a final job description and salary package before hiring a search firm. To be sure, hiring managers need to initially define the position and what they believe is necessary to achieve company goals. But this is not where it should end. The best executive search firms will insist on providing value in these early stages, based on their expert perspective of industry trends, their knowledge of how other companies define similar positions and their "take" on the vast talent pool from which to tap candidates.

Your costs do not increase by engaging your executive search firm early in the process; the consultant's fee structure is always a percentage of the salary of the position. The bottom line is: don't hire a firm that won't help you in this early stage.