An Executive Search Consultant is instrumental in recruiting for leadership roles in organizations. The responsibilities of an executive search consultant ranges from preparing the job profile, headhunting the best candidates to scheduling interviews, selecting the best, and preparing for a smooth onboarding process. Clearly, the role of executive recruitment consultants is not an easy one and hence there are certain skills and traits that every executive search consultant must possess.

Though it is recommended that one has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource, yet there are plenty of executive consultants who have completed their graduation in business, marketing, language, banking, or any other field for that matter.

But there are certain attributes or traits that are non-negotiable. If you have these qualities, then you are all set to become a successful executive search consultant.

Excellent Communication Skills
To be successful at executive search management consulting, you need to be an excellent communicator. You must possess the ability to adjust your communication style depending on the situation and person. You need to be good at both direct face-to-face and indirect (calls and emails) communication. An executive search consultant is a liaison between the candidates and the organization. Communication skills also include good listening skills. It would help you to understand the feedback and apply it for a successful search.

Profound Industry Knowledge
Experts at executive search services are known for their deep industry knowledge. Most of them are experienced in some industry or the other. They know the latest market trends, the demands in the market, the skill set needed by an individual to succeed in these scenarios, and thus will find the right person to fill the executive position. You must nurture your knowledge and keep adding to it all the time.

Good Networking Skills
One of the unique advantages that an executive search consultant carries is his/her wide network of connections. Friends, colleagues, or even family members can become a potential candidate. You need to grow your network and increase the quality of your network. Make sure you connect with your contacts regularly, keep yourself and them updated, and thus build a network of trust. Remember, it is often said that your net worth is your network.

Focused and Detail-Oriented
The difference between regular recruiters and executive recruitment consultants is that executive consultants are always detail-oriented and focused on their work. You need to find the key information, background details, experiences, and the alignment of the candidate. Every single detail in executive search is important. There is no room for any mistakes.

Multi-Tasking Abilities
If you are not good at multi-tasking or working under pressure, then this is not your field. Preparing job descriptions, shortlisting resumes, conducting interviews, and onboarding candidates involve a lot of multi-tasking. At times you must fill vacancies in less than a week. Hence, strong time-management skills and a composed mind become imperative for executive search consultants.
The primary thing that you need is a passion for this profession. Then you will automatically develop these skills, and these will keep improving with experience. Work smart, love your work, have faith in yourself, and taste success all the way along.

At The Taplow Group we help you source the best-fit for your organization’s leadership through our executive search consultants. To know more about our services like leadership coaching, professional hiring, management consulting, reach out to us at www.taplowgroup.com