Imagine the situation: You are a global company in real estate consultancy looking for a key person for your operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but the labour market is tight and the competition merciless. This is exactly the situation our client, a reputable company based in the EU, found itself in.
The challenge: A new position, high demands
A client active in commercial real estate consulting approached us with a clear goal: to fill the newly created position of Assistant Director – Agency, Industrial/Logistics for the Czech and Slovak markets. The successful candidate would be tasked with building and developing a whole new business segment, practically starting from scratch and putting together their own team. The assumption was that the candidate would eventually move to the position of Head of Agency Industrial/Logistics for the Czech Republic/SK.
Despite a very attractive offer, for a long time the client was unable to find a suitable candidate. What, according to prospective candidates, made the offer less attractive?
- Lower brand profile in the CZ/SK region.
- Small market share of the company in these regions.
- Tough competition, including a new player that entered the market at the same time.
- Limited number of candidates with required experience.
Our solutions: Precise executive search
We had already helped the client to fill two other senior positions in the past. We were therefore familiar with the client and their exact requirements. Our team designed a comprehensive recruitment strategy that proceeded in the following way.
- Thorough market research: We identified 45 potential companies and 75 suitable candidates.
- A systematic procedure: Each week, we provided the client with a detailed report on the progress, i.e. the candidates and ongoing interviews.
- Personal approach: We approached candidates directly, determined their motivation, and conducted thorough screening.
- An effective process: From the first contact to the final interviews, the process took an 8 weeks
The selection of candidates was complicated by several circumstances, but our executive search team was thoroughly prepared and has extensive experience dealing with them:
- Candidates’ scepticism towards lesser-known brands.
- Competitive offers from other companies.
- Limited interest from preferred candidates because they came from direct competition.
In cooperation with the client, we therefore extended our search to include candidates from the field of international logistics and warehouse services.
The candidate was recruited right away to fill the position Head of Agency
We presented the client with a shortlist of four top candidates who met all the requirements. After two rounds of interviews, the selection was narrowed down to two finalists. The extremely high quality of the candidates meant that the client faced a difficult decision.
The selected candidate was so exceptional, that the client offered him the position of Head of Agency for the Industrial/Logistics team of the Czech Republic/SK. And right from day one!
Are you looking for a needle in a haystack on the job market? Don’t be discouraged by any initial failures. With the right partner by your side, you can find not only a high-quality candidate, but even exceed your original expectations.
Contact us today to find out how we can help your business find the best talent for key positions.