Executive Recruitment in Toronto Seeking Consulting Firms

Recent surveys have shown that more and more organizations are relying on firms for executive recruitment in Toronto and elsewhere.

Search firms help companies fill their executive positions with the right persons so that they can stay competitive in business.

It should not come as a surprise that the talent search market is vibrant today. Many companies are incessantly searching for top-grade executives to fill in key positions.

Yet, many companies face several dilemmas.

Should they handle search on their own?  Or hire a professional company to conduct the search?

Quite as few companies still rely on their own in-house resources to conduct executive search. The reasons for this are varied.

Some believe they have adequate knowhow to conduct the entire process of search and recruitment.  Others are reluctant to pay a fee to outside agencies, even if the agencies are competent enough to do effective search. 

Even if businesses decide to hire a professional search agency, then the next obvious query would be how on to select and evaluate the right firm.

The question often is whether to hire retained executive search consulting or make do with contingency search firms.

Here it is important to know the difference between the two.

Retained executive search is a specialized form of consulting wherein a firm provides assistance to organizations to recruit for senior management positions.

Other features of retained executive search firms are:

•    Providing assistance to all types of organizations in the recruitment of senior executives.

•    Filling key positions that are seldom advertised. Skill sets for the desired positions are scarce.

•    Proactive and systematic approaches to finding the best possible candidate for the position in question

•    Conducting search assignments on an exclusive retainer basis only

In contrast, contingency search firms:

•    Assist companies in locating middle level executives

•    Represent individuals rather than organizations seeking placements

•    Have reactive approaches involving database searches, ads, and internet job postings

•    Search for potentially qualified candidates for the clients rather than the exact candidate

Clients pay retained search firms upfront to work with them exclusively in contrast to contingency firms where the hiring company pays the recruiter only when the new recruit starts work.

Retained firms work very closely with their clients and adopt a mutually agreed methodology to find the best candidate for the job. A retained assignment is decidedly costlier as the client is expected to pay a good portion of the projected annual salary of the successful candidate.

Because of exclusivity terms, the retained consultancy firm takes its own time to find the candidate. On the other hand, contingency recruiters are a lot quicker.

Organizations must themselves decide whether they need a dedicated recruitment consulting firm or a contingency one.

While searching for consulting firms for executive recruitment, Toronto companies must primarily decide on the type of position to be filled, the methodology needed, and the nature of engagement contract.

From a candidate’s point of view a firm for executive recruitment in Toronto can be a strategic partner in career progression. If a firm approaches, it would do well for the candidate to stay in control and ask questions.

Sartor & Associates, established in 1997, is a leading firm for Executive Recruitment Toronto offering its clients unparalleled access to diverse groups of superior talents across functions, industries, and continents.  The firm has performed extensive executive search across Canada and North America.