If you are trying to fill a very specialised position in a specific sector, you are probably facing a similar problem like our client. For a very long time, they were unable to find a suitable candidate for the position of sales representative in the field of animal nutrition. Thanks to our experience in headhunting and executive search, we are able to find the best candidates for positions that sometimes seem unfillable.

A major animal nutrition company, which is also part of an international agro-industry group, was looking for a suitable candidate for the position of sales representative for Bohemia.

At first glance, it was a regular job – the kind we have a lot of experience filling. A routine assignment without major challenges, or so it seemed. The catch was that the client had failed to fill the post for some time. This was mainly due to the specific environment in which the company operated, the requirements for the candidate, and the overall situation on the Czech labour market.

Selection was hampered mainly by preconceptions about the ideal candidate

The sought-after candidate had to meet criteria that proved to be a limiting factor:

  • higher education at an agricultural university,
  • ideally experience in trade with a specific client portfolio that included farms and agricultural cooperatives,
  • while also having experience in zootechnics and animal nutrition.

But even the parameters of this search were not going to faze us. That said, there were not many candidates to meet these demanding requirements. Which is why this company decided to use our are our specialty services – Executive search and Headhunting.

How did the search process go?

After confirming the terms of cooperation and approving the timetable, we proceeded to implement the plan, which had 3 phases:

  1. Target Company List (TCL). In the first 3 days we created and presented to the client a TCL with 39 companies in the field of crop and livestock production, among whose employees we could find candidates for the vacant position.
  2. Long List. In the next 7 working days, we identified 80 suitable candidates, representatives of companies listed on TCL who met the criteria. We created the so-called Long List, for which we used headhunting techniques.

5 other candidates were recommended by the client or the candidates contacted. In this case, these recommendations were very valuable and played a pivotal role.

In total, we communicated with 85 candidates for this position.

During our communication with the candidates, we encountered several challenges:

  • Strong loyalty of candidates to current employers. Many candidates did not want to change jobs.
  • Difficulty communicating with candidates. Some candidates stopped communicating during the selection process, or could not be reached.

At S&you, however, we are ready for this challenge. Thanks to our experience and sophisticated strategies, ghosting – a phenomenon originally associated with online dating – can be effectively addressed and minimised. Our team is able to identify and reach the best candidates, even in today’s dynamic labour market environment.

Presentation of suitable candidates and final selection

After the selection process, we presented the two most suitable candidates. The client chose an applicant who had a secondary agricultural education with a focus on agribusiness and experience in trade, but not in the field of animal nutrition. The client appreciated the candidate’s interest in the position, pleasant manner, and enthusiasm for agriculture and animals.

The candidate participated in a two-round selection process where he met representatives of the company. The first and second round of interviews, the subsequent issuance of the offer, and its acceptance then took place very quickly, and within 7 days the candidate’s start was arranged.

The client did not enter the selection process until the final stage. This resulted in significant time and capacity savings.

There’s a suitable candidate for each position. It’s just about finding them

Although it may seem that a client’s requirements are too exacting, and that finding a candidate is simply impossible, even in such cases we can deliver the absolutely most suitable candidate. Our targeted search methods, list building, and no-stone-left-unturned communication lead to the successful filling of even the most demanding positions. Leave the search and selection to us, and spend more time on your business.

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