Some understandings in human relationships are required to know how to best fit candidates to positions. There is nothing worse for an executive search consultant than having high-quality searches and no potential candidates or, vice versa, great talent and nowhere to place them. So, the secret lies in the middle – making the match.

When Is a Fit A Fit?

Every search starts with an idea of what is needed, and most candidates think they can fit that need. Both sides are determined that they know exactly what they are looking for, but often this is merely a suggestion. Many times, I have been surprised by which candidates ended up being “perfect” and selecetd for a job, and therefore what companies actually needed in a role. This is the essential superpower executive search consultants have. This is to fill and recognize the skills and space in between the client's and candidates needs. Everything short of a personal fit is not enough, and much like in love – the lid needs to fit the pot.

Understanding Professional Relationships

You may say that there is quite a difference between finding eternal love and filling a position, but the fundamental principals are very similar. Executive recruiters have a deeper understanding for human relationships. While these are more professional relationships, they are still human ones. Finding a cultural fit for a position often entails finding a candidate that fits into the environment and understands it. Appointing this type of candidate has proven economic advantages, and to find the right candidate you must understand their underlying human characteristics and motivators. How does this person relate to the company? Where is the connection? How does the person fit with the people in a company?

Knowledge and Character – It Comes With Experience

A senior executive in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector needs to know exactly every processes within a company. Experience and background for a CEO are therefore very important. Although he or she will face many managerial and executive duties on a daily base, critical business skills are very important. So how do you find the perfect balance for your specific job description? Defining this balance becomes much easier the more often you are tasked with finding it. In a nutshell – experience can help a great deal. 

Industry Specifics

Knowing the industry is key, and this applies to all industries. For Life Sciences, finding executive talent can be particularly difficult. There are high turnover and burnout rates in this field, which leave companies with vacancies with very specific requirements. Personal qualifications such as character and assertiveness, are also just as important. Cultural fit is just as important as other requirements. 

Assessing a cultural fit is easier to determine from an objective perspective, which neither company nor candidate have. This is why consulting a third party executive search firm in the processes can make the matchmaking finally happen.

The smart candidates know where the expertise lies and actively seek out the right people. Although finding those people that have access to these types of candidates can be a challenge. Get in touch with me to find your professional match! 

This article was paraphrased from its original publication appearing on Industry In Motion.