Running a senior recruitment campaign is challenging, particularly if you want ensure it is thorough and does not cost the earth. As a busy hiring manager struggling to find the time and budget to support headhunting for a key senior role, you may decide to reach out to a recruitment agency or search and selection firm to help you. But choosing the right one is no easy task.
Adding strings to your recruitment bow
Many agencies have a track record of delivering successful senior recruitment campaigns. However, their rates can be out of budget for many SMEs and third sector organisations. In a competitive candidate market attracting top-tier senior talent can be challenging both in terms of reach and cost.
However, a smaller recruitment budget does not mean you need to sacrifice quality. It often means your candidate shortlist needs to be even more ‘on par’ to optimise your hiring process.
Unfortunately, some bigger, less personal agencies, can lack the regional intel needed by an employer to find the talent required. As an organisation that needs a reliable and knowledgeable recruitment partner, specialist experienced agencies like Sitka will be your best bet for ensuring you receive quality senior candidates, because we take an agile, flexible and individual approach to every new role we take on.
So here is our best advice for an organisation of your size:
Diversify your approach for better candidate reach.
Avoid relying solely on search and selection or a database search for key strategic roles. In an incredibly tight labour market, combining headhunting and traditional recruitment methods is essential to secure the right talent, especially as the UK’s hiring boom is expected to continue into 2023.
Understand your organisation for a better recruitment experience.
For higher-level hires, taking your time to get to the heart of your needs will simplify your shortlisting and decision-making after interviewing. As the stakes are higher, senior recruitment is a lengthier process during which you should ask yourself:
- What organisational values do you want to see reflected in your senior hire?
- At what stage of growth will they be joining your organisation?
- What are your short and long-term goals?
- What are the biggest challenges you’re currently facing, both internal and external?
- How will your new senior hire support your organisation to navigate these?
Showing you know where you stand will significantly help improve the candidates’ experience, which according to the IBM Smarter Workforce Institute, could make them 38% more likely to accept a job offer.
Whether it’s finance, marketing, or HR, our experience in multiple business areas allows Sitka to understand the relationships between your different functions, which is the pillar of our consultative senior talent acquisition approach.
Communicate your culture.
Understanding what drives your senior-level candidates to apply will help position your organisation as a first-choice employer. Don’t hesitate to add a more personal touch to your communications or to aim some questions at understanding their expectations.
For instance, senior candidates frequently look to connect with their next professional endeavour, especially as they will be an inherent part of reinforcing your company culture. So, make sure to showcase it and keep your message consistent at all stages: from the first engagement through to onboarding.
Read what our clients said after using Sitka
Through transparency, responsiveness, and communication, we provide our clients with an unrivalled service that leads the best talent in Wales into the heart of their organisation:
“The recruitment process was seamless. The candidates have already made such a difference to our business”
Kath Chadwick, Director, Frontdoor Communications
“As a stand-alone HR manager, my input was minimal, and I felt confident Ita understood the brief and our business. I felt I was in a really safe pair of hands and the communication was good – I was never left wondering. A lot of work goes into what Sitka do.”
Linda Brockway, HR Manager, Intelligent Ultrasound
“The process was thorough and very individual – time was spent finding out about our culture and style of the organisation. Sitka work well with candidates to find the best fit for both employer and candidate. There is a sense of strong relationship building”
Rhian Jones, CEO, Drive
Ready to talk to us about your senior recruitment needs? Contact us at info@sitka.wales or call us directly on 029 2048 4520.
To find out how we can work with you, please drop us a line
Ita took the time to ask about our business, our culture, the role and really understood what we were looking for. This resulted in a really straightforward recruitment process. All of the candidates put forward were of exceptional quality and I would definitely recommend Sitka to my colleagues and network.
We were recommended to Sitka by one of our customers and we needed a lot of support on creating a job spec, salary level, interview techniques etc. We met Ita and immediately felt in safe hands and were presented with 3 excellent candidates in a short space of time. I would highly recommend Sitka, especially for those that need extra help and guidance finding that perfect employee.
I had a very positive experience with Sitka. Ita was quick to contact me after I submitted my CV for a role and the process progressed very quickly. She gave me a lot of information about the company and role so that I felt prepared at the interview. Thanks Sitka!
The recruitment process was seamless. From our initial meeting, when we thought we wanted a certain person, Ita guided us through the type of person we needed initially, and who we would ideally like to recruit for the development of the business. She found us both in quick succession.
Ita’s communication skills are second to none. She kept us informed at every step. I would definitely recommend Sitka.
The recruitment process was a very smooth one with constant, non-intrusive updates. We benefited greatly from a personalised visit to our business, ensuring the right candidates were sourced for us. We received an excellent service.
I love working with Sitka as they are very friendly, approachable and trustworthy. Karen has such a great energy, she really cared about getting the right people and right dynamic for my team. She took great time to understand the roles and the business and was committed to getting it right!