What if a candidate for a critical opening at your company:
Knows your industry
Knows your product (or a similar one)
Knows your competition
May know your clients
May know the exact job
Wouldn’t you want to talk to them?
But what if they work for a competitor and they aren’t replying to your job ad?
Employers often feel uneasy about directly contacting possible candidates who are currently employees of a competitor. Companies in the same industry are frequently involved in associations or other cooperative industry groups, and overt “raiding” can be a source of friction between organizations which can also result in reprisal raiding.
Avoiding direct contact with potential candidates who are employed by a competitor avoids this conflict, but it also eliminates one of the best sources of talent from which to build your team.
Read More: Your Competitors Aren’t Shy About Recruiting Your Best Employees
Do contact employees of a competitor, but do it in the context of a search for referrals to possible candidates for the position in question. If the person contacted is personally interested in the position, they will tell you.
If your staff are calling your competitors anonymously, be sure that their caller ID doesn’t reveal your company name.
Kathbern Management is an executive search firm based in Toronto, helping companies find the executives and senior managers who not only have the experience and credentials to fulfill their responsibilities, but also have the emotional and “fit” requirements that will enable them to be successful in a particular environment. We simplify the process and, through our deep research, are able to bring more and better candidates forward than would ever be possible through a do-it-yourself passive advertising campaign.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your key person search.