Executive Search Service Company vs Recruitment Agency
Many of us do not understand the difference between Executive Search and regular recruitment and selection. Or
what the difference is between what a Headhunter and a Recruitment Consultant do. Both terms are used loosely,
but there is a big difference. What suits me now?
The difference between executive search service company and recruitment agency
Simply put, Executive Search is a service used by professional companies to find the most suitable and relevant
candidate for an open position. This is often a candidate with a permanent job, who is not actively searching
but is latently orientating himself. It can also be someone who has made the decision for himself and is more
actively applying for a new job or challenge. Actively searching or not, that is the big difference between
Executive Search and regular recruitment & selection. The main reason Executive Search exists: the best people
or employees are usually employed and rarely 'looking for a new job'. As a competitive company you need the
very best people. The right employees are the key to a company's success.
When a vacancy becomes available, most companies will employ a recruitment and selection agency to find
a suitable candidate. The candidate being recruited is an 'active job seeker', someone who places his
CV on databases, actively approaches recruitment companies and responds to vacancies. By choosing this
approach, customers or companies will miss a large number of suitable candidates.
An Executive Search company uses a completely different approach. They personally and directly approach the
most suitable candidate for the position and do not wait until a candidate contacts an agency themselves.
Executive Search consultants focus on the “gray area” of the market, i.e. they focus on people who are not
actively looking for a new role, but who are considering a new step when presented with a great opportunity.
The number of candidates who are not actively looking for a new job is estimated at approximately 70% of the
labor market. These candidates are not registered with recruitment and selection agencies and are not in
discussions about other vacancies, making them the best candidates to work with.
There is another "big difference". Executive Search is much more resource intensive and gives clients
a thorough understanding of exactly what they need to fill the role. Executive Search goes in depth and finds
out everything about the position within the organization and the reason for the vacancy.