What Kind of Executive Recruiting Firm to Hire

It's not about the number of consultants who work for the firm; it's about their knowledge of your industry and/or the function for which you're hiring. Be sure, therefore, to hire a firm that is known for the right specialization. These specialist firms have access to the best-qualified candidates through their personal knowledge of key players as well as proprietary databases. They also "talk the talk" in the marketplace, which helps them engage the best candidates for your company.

Before hiring any firm, be sure to:

• Check their references and reputation. Internal referrals from your own employees are also a good source of confirmation that the search firm you are considering is reputable and can do the job. Also, calling the prospective search firm's current or former clients is another logical route.
• Note their completion rate and repeat business which are also indicators that a firm is a good performer.
• Look to see who's being quoted in the media and who is being asked to write articles about the profession and industry. This is a good indication of who is respected in the market place.