"Business fit" seeks to avoid the pitfalls others encounter when they offer only "marquee" candidates or individuals that fit only a portion of the situation.
What does your business need
"Business fit" zeros in on the success factors needed for your business to be successful. Specifically tailored to the retail industry, our proprietary process carefully evaluates four critical attributes of a successful candidate: intellectual qualities, personal characteristics, experiences and skill... factors that go beyond buzzwords like "culture fit" and "chemistry."
We have found by focusing on the business and its needs, the candidates we present and place consistently have significantly higher success rates. Each situation requires a different combination of "business fit" attributes. Firms that routinely present "marquee" candidates miss the mark.
Intellectual Qualities
We seek to uncover candidates' intellectual horsepower. How fast can they think? Can they think analytically and strategically? Can they balance short and long term thinking? Can they focus and prioritize? What are their organizational abilities?
Personal Characteristics
Candidates must possess a passion for business. We are looking for executives with drive - the appropriate energy and aggressiveness to answer the challenge. Are they outgoing, positive and enthusiastic personalities? We carefully probe to understand candidates' ethics, integrity and values. Are they more comfortable in entrepreneurial or enterprise environments? Are the candidates competitive and resilient? Do they own issues and take responsibility? Are they committed, and do they have courage in their convictions.
Experience
What kinds of situations has the candidate managed: startup or turnaround or mature? What is the candidate's functional expertise? What best practices has the candidate developed? What is the candidate's business knowledge? How marketing and finance savvy is he/she?
Skills
Leadership, management and communications skills are prerequisites for successful candidates. Candidates must also exhibit political and team building smarts.
Focused Job Specification
Before
we commit to doing a search we engage in in-depth learning of our client,
the responsibilities of the position, and the personal and professional
qualifications required of the successful candidate. We put all of this
in writing. Our position specifications carefully describe the situations
candidate need to succeed in. Once we have a mutual agreement on the
brief, they can be used by the candidates to begin their own due diligence
for the interview process. This gives our clients an enormous advantage
with potential candidates.
Planned Research
Based on the needs of your business, each research plan starts with our comprehensive proprietary database specialized in our served markets. It tracks key executives and their biographical materials, companies and industry trends. In addition we maintain an extensive network of executive contacts in a broad range of industries who can recommend candidates not easily located by conventional means. Of course, we also access our library of directories and hundreds of computerized data banks.
The Interview
Interviewing is an art at Plummer & Associates. Because our Consultants have an in-depth knowledge of the industry, they conduct situational interviews that quickly and accurately reveal how well a candidate will fit your business. Our consultants are not easily impressed, they know the industry jargon and buzzwords and can separate the juice from the pulp.
Candidate Evaluations and Presentations
The insight, maturity and experience of our Consultants are crucial in the selection process. The Consultant prepares a comprehensive written report on each of the candidates judged to be especially well-suited for the position. This report contains factual information on the candidate's personal and professional qualifications, as well as the Consultant's evaluation of the candidate's compatibility with the client organization.
The Extra Mile
Video Conferencing
The best way to screen potential candidates is face-to-face interviews.
In order to add speed and accuracy to the interviewing process, Plummer & Associates
operate state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities at each location.
Integrating our offices into a network of domestic
and international centers helps keep expenses in check.
Travel Services
Every detail of the search process reflects on our clients. To best
represent our clients, our travel consultant, with over 18 years of
experience, arranges all candidate travel to client meetings including
flights, hotels and rental cars as needed. We can act quickly to make
alternate travel arrangements if interviews last longer than anticipated
or if flights are cancelled or delayed. We reimburse candidates for
expenses on a timely basis. There is no additional cost to clients for
this service.
Reference Checking
No search is complete without thorough reference checks on finalist
candidates. After establishing a mutual interest in a candidate, we
conduct extensive reference checks and verify educational credentials.
Through in-depth interviews with superiors, peers, subordinates and
others who have actually witnessed our candidate's performance, we assemble
a complete and objective evaluation of the candidate, validating their
stated achievements and confirming management style, potential for growth,
personality characteristics, and interpersonal skills. Our reference
consultants present their findings in a comprehensive confidential report
on each candidate.
Optional Services
Through our relationships with well-regarded consultants, we can arrange
for the psychological testing and evaluation of finalist candidates.