What to Expect from A Professional Executive Search Firm

It often happens when you least expect it. Out of the blue you receive a call from an executive search firm, wanting to know if you might have an interest in a position they are trying to fill for a client.

The opportunity seems promising, but you do not know what to expect. What does the process entail? How long will it take? What will the search firm expect from you? Most important, what are your rights and obligations during the process? As a potential search candidate, you are entitled to ask these questions and to have them answered.

In retained executive search, consultants endeavour to provide qualified

candidates for clients who wish to fill senior-level positions. Although

contractual obligations exist only between the search firm and client, search consultants also build professional and ethical relationships with candidates, whom they may remain in contact with over a period of years.

Rowlands International applies the code of conduct of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), the worldwide professional organization for retained executive search firms, that states that these relationships should be characterized by honesty, objectivity, accuracy and respect for confidentiality. Further we must also abide by all data privacy laws applicable within their country.

Furthermore, we believe that the most successful executive searches involve a three-way partnership, whereby the candidate, the search firm and the client fully understand their rights, duties and obligations to each other during the search process. As such, we believe that all search candidates have the following rights.

Candidate's Bill of Rights : more details

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