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The Fordyce Letter

Straight Talk for the Recruiting Profession


Articles tagged 'execunet'

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ExecuNet Sees ‘Bright Spots’ in Healthcare, Green Tech, Energy



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The latest ExecuNet Recruiter Confidence Index says recruiters are forecasting a double-digit increase in executive search assignments in 2010.

According to November’s survey of 161 executive recruiters, 50% are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve during the next six months – down from 56% last month and up significantly from all-time lows reached in November 2008 (26%). In 2010, executive search consultants are forecasting a 15% increase in assignments.

The recruiters surveyed expect the greatest growth in healthcare; clean/green tech; energy/utilities; life science; and high tech. The top five functions expected to be in greatest demand in 2010 are Business Development; Sales; Operations Management; Finance; and Engineering.

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Confidence Spike in Executive Employment?



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The latest ExecuNet Recruiter Confidence Index shows an increasing number of executive recruiters expect job growth at the top of the employment market to improve in the months ahead.

And with evidence that the longest recession since World War II is losing its grip on the U.S. economy (apparently just as job woes are heating up in Japan), do you align yourself with the 49% of recruiters who are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve during the next six months? Or are you more aligned with the 7% of Execunet’s respondents who are not confident that the market will get better during this period of time (down from 14% last month and 20% in February)?

Mark Anderson, ExecuNet’s president, says the “deep cuts” many companies made during the past 18 months could mean “the pace of job growth during the year ahead could be stronger than expected in many industries.”

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The 10% Flat Fee: Yay or Nay?



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On the same day that ExecuNet’s June survey of 145 executive recruiters revealed a 7% drop in confidence (50% compared to 57% last month) over improvement in the executive employment market, along comes a competitor that might make you shudder.

An executive recruitment company has just announced its plans to undercut competitors by offering a flat fee of 10% per month of what the employee is paid for 24 months.

If the employee does not stay with the company — Schwelling Recruiting Services, which specializes in C-level executives as well as sales executives and new business development executives — the employer is only responsible for the months actually worked.

What does this say about the company overall? And what does this say about the economy and what it’s doing to our competition?

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Recruiters Upbeat About Year, Even If Searches Are Down



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execunet-logo2A new report from ExecuNet says executive recruiters and search firms predict that executive hiring should pick up in the second half of 2009, after a tough first six months.

Recruiters participating in the annual ExecuNet Job Market Intelligence Report predict a 14 percent decline in searches through June, after which a boomlet is expected that will erase most of the decline, ending 2009 down 4 percent over 2008.

The optimism is also reflected in the latest ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index. In decline since the beginning of 2007, the index rebounded from a low of 26 percent to 38 percent between February and March.

growth-in-search-assignments1“We’ve been tracking their confidence level since the last recession, and their confidence has always been a leading indicator of the economy and executive employment,” ExecuNet President and Chief Economist Mark Anderson. “During the last recession, we saw recruiter confidence quickly strengthen six months ahead of the recovery.”

The report is the product of a survey of some 5,000 executives, search consultants, and corporate HR professionals. It’s an annual snapshot of the executive job market that spots trends and offers guidance for executives and recruiters.

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Sourcing Executive Candidates



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ExecuNet’s “2009 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report” shows that search firms are using social networking/referrals for 37% of searches. Another 30% are using a firm’s database/personal contact list. Online job postings/advertising accounts for just 15%, while online search accounts for another 10%. Mining target companies scored the remaining 8%.

On the flip side, social networking accounts for almost three-in-four (73%) job opportunities uncovered by executives — trumping job websites and other forms of advertising.

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Based on a survey of 5,060 executives and 476 search firm consultants and corporate HR professionals, the report also reveals that executive recruiters expect search assignments to decrease 14% in the first six months of 2009 before rebounding to close the year down just 4%.

While the worst recession in decades is taking its toll on the executive employment market, ExecuNet claims it is not affecting all industries or all companies equally. The report says new leadership roles continue to be created and found by those who remain visible and connected.

“Executives who are not building sustainable relationships in their network won’t be able to revive it in time for the turnaround,” says Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet.

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Confidence in the Executive Employment Market



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Assignments are slowing, hiring plans are on hold, and confidence is plunging.

That is the evidence from the latest ExecuNet survey of 164 executive recruiters, with 28% confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve in the next six months – down from 36% last month.

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“While recruiters’ outlook for the first half of the year has become more bearish, the jobs posted in our membership in non-cyclical industries including consumer staples, medical devices, healthcare, and government are generating more new opportunities this year than in 2008,” says Mark Anderson, president of ExecuNet.

In addition, he says, recruiters do not see their business prospects changing in the next few months, as their short-term confidence also slipped.

In February, just 12% of recruiters reported being confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve during the next three months – down from 16% in January.

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Executive Confidence Dips to 37%



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Turmoil in the financial markets has companies taking a closer look at their human capital needs.

According to the October ExecuNet survey of 141 executive recruiters, 37% are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve in the next six months – down from 49% in September.

“While some executive recruiters report that searches are taking more time to fill as companies grow cautious, others are working closely with clients to improve existing management teams by hiring new, proven leaders,” says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet.