In this article we share some of the key findings from the recent report from the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC). Extensive research which includes data and insights from global clients found:-
- Clients’ top three challenges today are ‘lack of diversity’ (82%), ‘lack of leadership successors’ (81%), and ‘competition for talent’ (75%). But the top three challenges in five years’ time are ‘aging demographics’ (78%), ‘globalisation’ (69%), and ‘competition for talent’ (68%). Clients seem optimistic about initiatives around diversity and succession but see megatrends such as globalisation and aging demographics posing a new set of challenges.
- Clients seek executive search consultants as partners because of their professionalism, access to difficult to reach candidates, objectivity and confidentiality. Executive search is used when the executive position is strategic and high impact – positions where trust can make the difference between attracting the right talent and missing out.
The survey explored why clients decide to use different forms of talent acquisition (executive search, in-house talent acquisition and contingent recruiters), and what qualities appeal about each of the services. Executive search ranked most highly in the areas of professionalism, confidentiality, and access to difficult to reach candidates. Executive search also ranked highly for objectivity and diverse candidacy. Notably the survey reported that based on AESC’s surveying of executive – level candidates the tenure of executives is longer when they are placed by AESC members firms, confirming that AESC members are the highest quality firms in the executive search and leadership consulting profession.
Hobson Leavy is a member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants.
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