Recruitment : Simple is not necessarily easy!

The recruitment is a rather simple process:

-   Understand the assignment specs

-   Identify and select a few profiles

-   Present a short list

-   Make sure the best candidate is chosen

A thorough analysis shows how each step influences the final success of the talents’ recruitment. The quality of your quest will be determined by the weakest step of the whole process.

However, if this process is so simple why do companies use Executive search services?

Let’s review the tricky aspects of each part of the process applied to Supply Chain.

Although a detailed description of the function’s aspects is necessary, what lies behind the title of the function needs some attention. Too often titles don’t cover the same content and/or meaning in each company.

For instance, does a Supply Chain Director have the “Forecasting” under its responsibilities?

Although “Procurement” and “Purchasing” are two rather different concepts, some companies use one for the other!

The question is not to determine who is “right” or “wrong” but to clearly understand the assignment scope.

This situation requires being familiar with the various concepts covering the entire Supply Chain to properly draw the specs assignments.

In order to attract the best talents, some dimensions of the assignment have to be clearly highlighted.

What are the added values expected from the function? Cost saving, Support to new activities, Customer service improvement, Optimisation after a merge, etc …

What are the function’s aspects capable to trigger the candidate’s motivation (expected next career move, compensation, etc …)?

Once the above aspects have been clarified, establish a target list of sectors, company profiles and key performers to direct. This area is very sensitive as it will largely condition the assignment success. It requires active market knowledge combined with a strong professional network.

This second part is probably the most complicated of the whole process. It requires from the interviewer to make the match between the above defined assignment specs and the candidate’s profile (experience, motivation for the challenge, management style, professional achievements, etc …).

The success of the assignment lies in an excellent command of soft management skills allowing the interviewer to rapidly understand whether he is in presence of the candidate who is going to make the cut.

We have reached here a grey area of human factor, made of personal perception which could barely be explained and hardly thought but that, quite frankly, makes the difference. Unfortunately, the talent evaluation is not hard science!

Submit confidential reports of the selected candidates, remains simple and easy.

Make sure effective reference check is undertaken before starting the negotiation process.

Support the client all the way through the negotiation and make sure the final offer is accepted.

Ensure some follow-up during the first year of appointment.

Every step is important and directly influences the final success of the talents’ recruitment. More than ever, the solidity of a chain is determined by its weakest link.

The quality of your talent’s quest will be determined by the weakest step of the whole process.

Therefore, this rather simple process requires expertise and strictness at every step.

As a conclusion: it is not because it is simple that it is necessarily easy!