Executive Recruiters

The executive search industry should have a good future. The Department of Labor predicts 8 percent employment growth for human resources specialists, including executive recruiters, through 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The era of company loyalty and employment for life is over in the corporate world. Many savvy workers campaign aggressively and will transfer given a larger salary, improved benefits, and stock options—in short, a better employment future. Employers, on the other hand, realize the importance in having qualified and experienced employees at the helm of their business. Most companies are willing to pay the price, whether a retainer fee or commission, to find the right person for the job.

Potential clients for executive recruiters include large international corporations as well as universities, government agencies, and smaller businesses. Smaller operations are aware that having a solid executive or administrator may make the difference between turning a profit or not being in business at all. Many times, search firm services are used to conduct industry research or to scope out the competition. Executive search firms now specialize in many fields of employment—health care, engineering, or accounting, for example. According to the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants, it is becoming more important for executive recruiters to operate on a global basis. They must be able to conduct searches for clients and candidates in other countries.