"Our different search requirements demand a flexible approach"


Background
This major electronic engineering firm has expanded rapidly through the CEE & CIS regions. We first met them at a major stage in their regional development: the organisation was dealing confidently with the challenge of moving from a collective of relatively small departments and daughter companies to become an integrated corporation.

As a result, there was a clear need to hire some senior regional staff from outside. We have now placed most of their top managers, some of whom have developed as rapidly as their employer. This has given our placed candidates the chance to stretch themselves and add to their experience in an exciting environment and on an international stage.


Our Task
One particular placement was for a senior international marketing role, to lead and coordinate local and regional marketing and product teams. Given our client’s strong technical focus, it was initially assumed by all involved that the winning candidate was likely to be found within a direct competitor, or within an organisation active in complementary or at least similar products.

We had already produced a shortlist of such candidates, when we were referred to a passive candidate with an interesting profile - albeit one from a completely different business and product background. At interview, the candidate demonstrated a strong background in all the major competencies we had been briefed to find. Perhaps even more importantly, he had a strong personal 'fit' with our client’s company culture. We immediately presented him as a late entrant to the shortlist.

The hiring managers were initially surprised, and somewhat skeptical about being presented with a profile so far outside their accustomed business area. But given our past record of success with them, they were eventually persuaded to meet the candidate for interview.

They were soon convinced of this candidate’s cultural fit with the organisation, and of his competency background. An offer was extended to him very quickly, which he was happy to accept. He is still a very successful, satisfied and effective employee of our client, and has grown with them to tackle ever larger challenges.

"We want a partner who really ‘gets’ us - not just another supplier"

Background
Our client is a leading supplier of networking and IP solutions. We have been working with them for several years. Initially starting in Prague, our cooperation has since expanded to include search work in various other national markets and on regional, cross-border searches.

The company’s Human Resources function has been constantly developing, and they appreciate our flexible response to changes in procedure and personnel.

Our Approach
Relevant stakeholders are kept informed at every stage of the hiring process through regular verbal and written reports. We have been able to work closely with their line managers when required, whilst always respecting the relevant HR processes.

We are proud of the large number of placements we have made with this client - achieved in different markets, under varying conditions, and across both technical and commercial functions. In fact, we understand the company’s needs, markets and the type of candidate who will thrive here so well that is not uncommon for us to place more than one candidate from our shortlist. We have also developed close working relationships with our client’s key distributors, taking us deeper into our client’s world.

As well as our role as preferred search supplier across 20 international markets, we have brought value to our client through our training and outsourcing services. As our client needs candidates with specific skills sets, we are active in managing their local talent pipelines, hunting and networking within competitor and complementary companies. Our client respects our market knowledge, and appreciates both our feedback on the state of their candidate environment and tips about potential ‘rising stars’.

We are proud of our relationship and success with this client, and confident that we will continue to grow and develop together.