For companies finding the right search partner is the first and probably the most crucial step in making sure their recruitment strategy pays off. When a company needs to fill a critical position its time to look for a specialist executive search firm which can work as a partner and not just a vendor. The search firm needs to totally understand the companys business philosophy, work culture and management style to find not only the rightly qualified candidate but also the candidate who will fit in the best within the company. Picking the wrong search firm can be disastrous as it can result in delayed or no recruitment or worse recruiting an anti fit candidate which can really hurt the company.

Some steps a company must take before hiring an executive search firm include meeting the recruiter/s who will actually work on their project, this will enable the company to judge and also educate the recruiter on what they are exactly looking for and what their company is all about. The second important step is to set mutually acceptable terms of engagement; this would include payment terms, deadline to search completion, replacement (attrition) policy, non disclosure agreements etc. Its best to clear out all doubts at this stage so that no complications arise mid way or at the end of the search. Thirdly the company must always be in contact with the recruiter during the search, sometime to guide the recruiter in the right direction and sometimes to give much needed feedback to the recruiters efforts.

The company must make the recruiter feel as if he/she is an extension of the companies recruitment team thats one way of making the recruiter totally involved in the companies project and give his/her hundred percent. Search firms such as Servnet, a premier executive search firm from India promote their clients to be continuously involved with the search to get best results.