Q1. What is executive search?
Q2. How is Executive Search different from Selection or contingent search?
Q 3. What is exclusive search?
Q 4. Why are executive search contracts exclusive?
Q 5. Why does Executive Access require exclusivity in its search contracts?
Q 6. Why do you ask for a retainer?
Q 7. Why should I choose Executive Access as my search partner?
Q 8. What differentiates Executive Access from other search firms?
Q 9. How is Executive Access accountable for its work?
Q 10. Is Executive Access capable of handling international search assignments?
Q 11. As a candidate, why should I call Executive Access?
Q 12. How do I register myself with Executive Access as a candidate?

Q1. What is Executive Search?
Ans. Executive Search consulting is a professional service provided to companies and organizations that need to attract, hire and develop leaders who will hold responsibilities that are the key to performance, success and growth of the client company or organization.

Q2. How is Executive Search different from Selection or contingent search?
Ans. Executive Search is a diagnostic, consultative and comprehensive approach in partnership with the client to search out for the most suitable person for the job. It involves identification, assessment and verification of candidates by the search firm in line with the understanding of the job and the company environment agreed upon with the client. In Executive Search, the fee of the search firm is not wholly dependent upon the ultimate hiring of the candidates presented by the search firm.

Selection or “contingent search” involves spending bulk of the effort on finding potential candidates and getting them in front of the client as quickly as possible. It involves a less structured process vis-à-vis executive search with a broad level understanding of job description and the client. When a firm operates on a contingent basis it means that the firm will only earn a fee for service rendered if the firm is responsible for identifying and presenting the hired candidate to the client.

Q 3. What is Exclusive Search?
Ans. Exclusive Search refers to the contract between the search firm and the client, in which the search firm’s deliverables are clearly laid out and the client assures the search firm not to use the services of any other firm regarding the deliverables agreed with the search firm as per terms of the contract.

Q 4. Why are Executive Search contracts exclusive?
Ans. There are number of reasons why Executive Searches are exclusive:

• Exclusivity is required to ensure that HR department or other recruiting firms do not compete against each other and the hiring process does not become a "horse race" to see who can send you the most resumes in the shortest amount of time, thereby impairing the quality of candidates.
• Exclusivity allows the search firm to design a customized search process suited to the requirements of the incumbent position and client organization.
• Exclusivity ensures search firm’s commitment to spend the required time and effort warranted by the criticality of the position.

Q 5. Why does Executive Access require exclusivity in its search contracts?
Ans. Exclusivity is a standard clause in all our search contracts because:

• We feel that it is in the interest of the client to engage a single search firm for a particular position to ensure that there is a single uniform message going out to the candidates and the external environment, thereby ensuring greater alignment with the objective of the hire.
• Exclusivity also eliminates the remote possibility of the same candidate being approached by multiple search firms leading to a high headed opinion being formed by such candidate.
• Executive Search requires designing customized search strategy for every single position. Multiple search strategies would lead to wrong candidates being presented, leading to confusion and increased chances of mishire.

Q 6. Why do you ask for a retainer?
Ans. An Exclusive Search contract warrants commitment of time and resources on our part to the search. Our fee has a linkage to the time and effort spent on the assignment rather than the successful closure of the position. Like any other service, a retainer corroborates client’s commitment to partner with us.

Q 7. Why should I choose Executive Access as my search partner?
Ans. Please refer “Why Executive Access”

Q 8. What differentiates Executive Access from other search firms?
Ans. Executive Access is committed to the long term interests of its clients & candidates and accepts accountability for its recommendations. It does not consider its responsibility to be over once the candidate has joined an organization. This is reflected in its value system, strategic approach, unique search processes, accountability agreement and research-based recommendations on how to achieve peak performance through human assets.

Q 9. How is Executive Access accountable for its work?
Ans. Executive Access India has pioneered the concept of Performance Accountability, which states that a portion of the Executive Search fee is payable ONLY if the client is satisfied with the candidate’s performance on the ground for a continuous period of 6 months from the date of appointment.

Q 10. Is Executive Access capable of handling international search assignments?
Ans. We have placed 23 Indian executives in overseas jobs in Asia, West, etc. We have also brought back 47 overseas experienced Indian executives. Executive Access is also founder member of AEA International Search ranked as 14th largest search firm* in the world. AEA International Search provides Executive Search solutions throughout Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Our reach and network in the Americas is further strengthened with our partnership with Brown Venture Associates.
* Featured in issue 20 2004 of Search-Consult magazine.

Q 11. As a candidate, why should I call Executive Access?
Ans. At Executive Access, values are at the centre of whatever we do. We value long term relationships with the candidates and clients. Candidates meeting our team members can expect a sound advice on the industry perspective and the opportunities most suited to their profile. A lot of efforts are taken to accurately map the competencies required for the job through process experts, domain experts and functional experts. The Executive Access team goes beyond the skill sets and researches the cultural environment and the value system of various organizations to ensure that the Candidate gets the most suitable environment to give peak performance. We take a lot of care in ensuring absolute confidentiality and do not share the CV of our candidates without his or her permission.

Q 12. How do I register myself with Executive Access as a candidate?
Ans. You can fill up an online registration form available on the following link “Register with Us”. Once we have your particulars, our consultants will start exploring opportunities best suited to your interests and profile.