How about headhunting?
QA Manager, Furniture Multiple Retailer
Time for a new approach to find this Quality Assurance Manager.
If you have heard the expression, "If you keep doing the same thing, you will keep getting the same result," you will appreciate why, after nine months with the same agency, this client was no nearer to finding a furniture specialist Quality Assurance Manager.
The brief
As with many assignments with new clients, the brief was not ours to start with. The HR Director of this well known furniture multiple retailer had looked at the level of the position and had appointed a retail agency to advertise the role. There were many applicants; however, as is often the case with an advertised route, the candidates were missing the mark on the specialist skill set which was required.
Nine months into the assignment, it was time for a different approach. At this level, £45,000 basic, there is often a reluctance to use a headhunter as they are perceived to be expensive and specialist at higher levels. In truth, headhunting is extremely cost effective, especially when compared with nine months of advertising.
How about headhunting?
When the Head of Supply Chain suggested headhunting for the position, he also recommended Lann Consulting on the back of our previous relationship.
Our kind of assignment
It was just the kind of assignment we liked; a difficult to fill position, requiring specialist skills which were in short supply and at a head office location which was out of the way and difficult to get to. We paid our usual attention to detail in understanding the exact requirements and within two weeks, we had found an exceptional candidate.
A shortlist of one
Can you have a shortlist of one candidate? We wouldn't ordinarily recommend it and you may feel a little short changed; however, this client had had nine months of benchmarking! She knew exactly what she wanted and it was sitting across the desk from her!
Our QA Manager
This is one of our shortest assignments, but one of the longest for the client! The QA Manager could not join soon enough, because they absolutely needed these skills within the business. We have a very nice letter from the client which you can read in the testimonials section.
Read what the HR Director had to say on this placement here.
