We consult closely with our client to identify industries, fields, target roles, and organizations where we might find candidates who match the requirements set out in the challenge statement. Rather than waiting for candidates to respond to the job announcement, we actively pursue and recruit special talent well suited to the role. We conduct extensive telephone networking, drawing upon our rich and diverse network of contacts around the country, including our database of more than 150,000 names. Recognizing that our clients often have excellent networks themselves, we carefully and systematically pursue their suggestions. Where appropriate, we advertise in targeted publications or extend our outreach through Internet postings on relevant Web sites and e-mail mailing lists. Our networking always includes a concerted effort to reach and interest qualified women and people of color.

Our objective is to cast as wide a net as possible to assemble a deep and diverse candidate pool. Many of the people we identify are busy and successful in their current positions and are not looking for another assignment; we work closely with our client to protect the confidentiality of their interest. We take particular care to keep prospective candidates advised of their status, to handle rejected candidates with consideration, and to inform our client of the progress of the search on a regular basis. In some searches there are strong internal candidates as well. These individuals undergo the same screening and assessment process as outside candidates.

As we complete our outreach we focus on reviewing resumes and conducting telephone screens. This allows us to narrow the long list of prospects to a reasonable number of candidates to interview in person before referring them to our client.