What is Executive Recruiter?

By Abhishek Kathpal | Updated 16 August, 2022

An executive recruiter helps companies to find and hire top talented and skillful people that would be suitable for them. They are responsible for sourcing and screening candidates, conducting interviews, and making recommendations to the company.

What is Executive Recruiter

Executive Recruiter meaning and definition

An executive recruiter is a professional who recruits employees for executive-level positions. In addition, he works with the employer and the candidate to find the best possible match for the position.

Roles of an Executive Recruiter

Executive recruiters are typically hired by companies looking for senior-level employees or executives. His roles include sourcing candidates, assessing their qualifications, and negotiating job offers. They can be used for positions in any industry, but they are most commonly used in the finance, technology, and medical industries.

The Executive Recruitment Process

The executive recruitment process begins with a job analysis. The recruiter will gather information about the position, including the responsibilities, skills, and qualifications. This information will be used to create a job description and to identify potential candidates.

The recruiter will then reach out to potential candidates directly or post the job openings on job boards and social media platforms. Once a shortlist of candidates has been created, the recruiter will conduct interviews and evaluate their qualifications. The best candidate will then be offered the position.

The Executive Recruiter's Toolkit

An executive recruiter's toolkit typically includes the following:

● A resume database: This is a database of resumes that the recruiter can access online. It includes resumes of both active and passive job seekers.

● A job board: This is a website opening in various industries. The executive recruiter can search for candidates by occupation, skills, and location.

● A contact database: This is a database of contacts the recruiter has met, including candidates and clients.

● A customer relationship management system allows the recruiter to track all communication with candidates and clients. It also allows the recruiter to keep track of all activities related to the recruitment process.

● A search engine: This tool allows the recruiter to search for candidates online. The recruiter can search for candidates by name, occupation, and location.

Benefits of Working With an Executive Recruiter

Executive recruiters can provide several benefits to companies and candidates alike. For companies, executive recruiters can help streamline the recruitment process. They can identify and assess top talent and help companies stay competitive in the job market.

For candidates, executive recruiters can provide access to exclusive job opportunities and help them navigate the job application process. They can also help candidates prepare for interviews and negotiate salary offers.

Executive recruiters provide several benefits to both companies and candidates, and as a result, they are an essential part of the recruitment process.

Drawbacks of Working With an Executive Recruiter

While executive recruiters can be valuable, they also have some drawbacks. First, they can be expensive. They typically charge a percentage of the employee's annual salary, which can be a significant amount.

Second, executive recruiters often have a very narrow focus. They only work with certain types of companies and only place candidates in certain types of positions. This can limit your options and cause you to miss out on great opportunities.

Finally, executive recruiters can be very demanding. They often require much time and energy from the candidate and can be very particular about who they choose to represent. If you're not willing to put in the work, an executive recruiter is not the right option for you.

How to Choose the Right Executive Recruiter

When looking for a recruiter, it is important to choose the right one. There are many different types of recruiters, and not all are well-suited for executive positions. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a recruiter:

  1. Experience: The recruiter should have experience recruiting executives for companies of similar size and industry.

  2. Reputation: The recruiter should have a good reputation and be known for placing top candidates in positions.

  3. Network: The recruiter should have a large network of qualified candidates.

  4. Resources: The recruiter should access the latest technology and tools to find the best candidates.

  5. Approach: The recruiter should have a proven approach that meets the company's needs.

Types of Executive Recruiters

There are three main types of executive recruiters: retained search, contingency search, and search firm.

  1. Retained Search recruiters: They are the most expensive and are hired by companies to find a specific executive. The firm is paid whether or not they find the right candidate, so they have a vested interest in finding the best person for the job.

  2. Contingency Search Recruiters: They are less expensive and are hired by companies when they have a specific opening that needs to be filled. The recruiter is only paid if they find the right candidate and is not responsible for any costs associated with the search.

  3. Search firms: Search firms are a hybrid of the two types of recruiters. They are hired by companies to fill specific openings but also have a pool of candidates that they can refer to their clients.

About the Author

Abhishek Kathpal

Abhi is the co-founder at Longlist.io. Funded by US based OnDeck, Longlist is currently enabling 50+ businesses to increase their candidate and client reach outs, automating the workflow across stages.