Why join a global search firm?

If you aspire to be one of the best head-hunters in your field, then we’d highly recommend a stint working at one of the top global search firms. Here’s why.

Learning

Working at a global search firm will give you the opportunity to learn best-in-class search methodologies, to work on the most senior, high-profile mandates, and to learn from some of the leading head-hunters, both researchers and originators, in the market. In terms of an education in search, it doesn't get much better than that.

The best global search firms, such as Russell Reynolds, have structured paths for progression. Their AIT programme, akin to an MBA for search, helps train senior researchers to become the best possible consultants and advisors to their clients. Russell Reynolds also has a dual programme of sponsorship and mentorship, to ensure that all employees are set up to succeed at the firm.

The SHREKs now offer so much more to their clients than just search. Being involved in, say, assessment, succession planning or leadership development, means you will have the chance to better advise your clients. 

The globals operate at such a senior level that they usually prefer to train anyone joining their firm in how a search should be delivered. So, whether you spend five or ten years at a boutique at the start of your career, a global might still need you to join as a senior researcher if you've no experience at a comparable firm. As such, more time spent at a smaller firm isn't always readily transferable to a global search firm. You could even argue that it's better to join a global sooner rather than later and build up experience which can then be transferrable to any other search firm.

Opportunity

Some people are reluctant to leave boutiques because they feel that they would have less exposure to clients and candidates at a SHREK. This is a common misconception. The level of responsibility you can get even as a researcher is huge. Once you have demonstrated you are capable, Partners are often thrilled to give ambitious junior colleagues a significant amount of autonomy. Indeed, as a senior researcher, you can be acting as a strategic advisor to clients, responsible for setting the search strategy, taking part in pitches, updating clients, interviewing candidates and taking sourcing calls with senior stakeholders.  

Having a SHREK brand name on your business card gives you access to the most senior people in your area of speciality. That sort of access and exposure can be transformational for your career.

The most senior C-suite roles tend to be awarded to one of the global search firms. If your ambition is to become the pre-eminent search professional operating at the pinnacle of your industry, there are only a handful of individuals who can achieve that without all the advantages that a high-quality global search platform affords you.

There's often a surprising amount of white space for more junior people at global search firms. Despite the scale of these businesses, they rarely cover the entirety of the market, meaning entrepreneurial people can often carve out their own niches with the benefit of a huge brand name behind them, giving them the best of both worlds.

Working at a prestigious global search firm can significantly increase your chances of being considered for the best in-house roles. Top PE funds, for example, will often hire from the SHREKs for senior TA roles.

Global Footprint

At the highest levels of business, in every sector, the talent pool is global and highly mobile. At any SHREK, there is a significant international component to much of the work you do. Either you’ll be collaborating with colleagues around the world or looking for candidates from multiple countries and regions. Plus, high performers can potentially transfer to different offices if they fancy working abroad at some stage.

Job Security

The scale of global firms and their entrenched relationships mean you can be better placed to weather an economic downturn at one of the well-run, privately held globals than at some smaller search firms. Plus, the level at which they operate together with the nature of the roles they recruit for, means that their services are still required even in the depths of a recession.

Earning Potential

The medium to long-term earning potential at a global can be exceptional. Partners (and even some Principals in the US) can earn well into the millions of dollars annually if they excel. This is a totally different level of income from what the vast majority of people are able to command at most smaller firms.

There are certainly many boutique search firms where people with only a few years’ experience can earn considerable sums of money. However, that earning potential tends to plateau, usually because the most senior work, with the largest fees, goes to the SHREKs. At the early stage of your career, the priority should be to learn as much as possible. If you develop your skill set to the maximum as soon as possible then financial rewards and promotions flow from that. Being focused on short-term financial gain above everything else can be a mistake.

The best global search firms are also able to offer many great financial perks, such as generous non-contributory pension plans, excellent maternity leave packages, private medical care and very competitive base salaries.

Conclusion

Of course, there are plenty of people for whom a move to a global search firm would not be the right choice. Others are keen to return to a boutique environment after a stint at a SHREK. But for many, time spent at one of the global search firms can have a transformative effect on their career trajectory.

But which is the right SHREK for you to join? Whilst it might seem from the outside that they're all the same, they are very different organisations with varying strengths and weaknesses.

Please get in touch with nick@radiantsearch.com if you want to understand more about the five globals

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