| We
also want to share
our view on some
questions commonly
asked by leaders
with hiring responsibility:
1. Why use an
Executive Search
professional?
• When you
want to hire top
talent, beyond
your immediate
network and those
who are un- or
under-employed.
• When you
must save time
and money; mistakes
in a top executive
hire can cost
three times the
candidate’s
salary in only
six months.
• When the
hiring effort
must be confidential,
such as when you
are replacing
an incumbent still
in the company.
2. Is it true
that references
checks are worthless?
Yes and No.
• Yes, if you
are only talking
with the candidate’s
top 3-5 friends
and colleagues.
Most senior executives
have a small fan
club.
• No, not for
a professional search
consultant. The
professional interviews
more references,
knows how to ask
probing question,
puts the ‘reference’ at
ease, and guarantees
the reference
confidentiality
(so he/she can
be forthcoming
and not fear legal
ramifications).
3.
Why are serial
entrepreneurs
so sought after?
That is easy --
there is a track
record. Boards
and Venture Capitalists
are naturally
more comfortable
with entrepreneurs
who have been
successful. If
a leader has created
one business whether
it was successful
or not, they have
learned something
from the experience
and will not make
the same mistakes – this
reduces risk.
4.
What are the
three biggest
mistakes a hiring
manager can
make interviewing?
• The interviewer
sells and talks
too much.
• The interviewer
is not prepared
for the interview.
• The interviewer
makes a positive
or negative judgment
about the candidate
in the first few
minutes and acts
on it.
5.
What are the three
biggest mistakes
made when hiring
an executive?
• Being
too impressed
with the resume
and marquee
credentials.
• Not validating
the candidate’s
accomplishments.
• Not engaging
your team in
the selection
process.
6. What is more
important - skills
or cultural fit?
Both... In the
end, most executive
get fired because
they do not fit
the organization's
culture.
7.
What is emotional
intelligence -
why does it make
a difference?
Emotional Intelligence
(ET) encompasses
four elements:
self awareness;
self management;
social awareness;
and relationship
management. The
most effective
leaders have strong
ET in addition
to expected technical
skills.
8.
When does the
founding CEO
need to be replaced?
• When the
board recognizes
that the founder
is missing the
numbers even though
he/she is working
24 X 7.
• When the
company is unable
to secure the
next round of
financing due
to results or
lack of them.
• When the
founder’s
core skills and
experience do
not align with
what is needed
for the next
stage of growth
and team members
can not fill the
gap.
• When there’s
a “crisis
du jour” culture.
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