Services
The Lloyd Karson Difference
Key Factors in Delivery to Clients
Client Focus
The primary objective of Lloyd Karson is to identify and deliver to clients an outstanding shortlist of talented executives for selection against agreed criteria.
Understanding our clients' businesses and commercial objectives is an imperative.
Lloyd Karson utilizes its skills and experience to match the objectives of both parties.
Research Driven
Lloyd Karson has developed skills and methodologies which enable identification of outstanding executives across almost every business sector. Pre-selection processes ensure that the best available talent is recommended to clients. Specialist knowledge is acquired to enhance results.
Candidate Care
Talent is respected by Lloyd Karson. Interaction with Candidates is proactive. Stringent reference checking is a risk management tool employed by Lloyd Karson in the interests of all parties.
Needs Assessment
The first step in the search process is to begin creating a profile of the position as well as the personality and culture of the client. Data is compiled both verbally and in writing with the client and a written Search Assignment Profile is prepared. Through extensive research and interviews with the client we assess the style of the current leadership as well as invest time in clearly understanding the culture of the company. It is mutually understood exactly what the experience, skill sets and management style of the candidate needs to be for the role. This is all compiled into a completed Search Assignment Profile that must be signed off by the client as a written understanding of both the role and expectations for the specific search. The Search Assignment Profile is a critical instrument that is used as the guidelines to measure an individual's candidacy against.
Search Strategy
During this phase of the process we determine the time lines and calendar the Search Process, create the Recruitment Target List of source candidates and companies, build a fundamental competency model, and begin conducting our Preliminary Research on the sources. It is critical to the process that we map out each step in the process and agree on timelines with the client to assure mutual understanding and expectations. We prepare a Target List of source companies for the Client to review and make any necessary adjustments too. Once the client signs off on the Final Target List of sources, we generate a specific list of individuals to contact. This list is compiled from various sources ranging from our proprietary data base to extensive networking inside of the source company to determine the qualified prospects.
Talent Sourcing
During the Talent Sourcing phase we Identify Candidates, begin Preliminary Candidate Screening, and determine Potential Candidates Matched to the specific position and cultural profile. In most cases Talent Sourcing involves calling literally 100 or more qualified prospects and presenting the opportunity we are representing. During these calls our primary objective is to generate an interest by the individual to be amenable to confidentially explore the opportunity. Most people are always interested in bigger and better opportunities for themselves, so most people are at least willing to listen. If the prospective candidate volunteers themselves, we conduct a preliminary phone screen, collect a detailed resume and set up a follow up discussion. If the prospect is not interested for any reason, we have them recommend multiple qualified individuals that we can confidentially discuss this opportunity with and add those individuals to our prospect list.
Talent Screening
During this step we conduct extensive Competency and Cultural Fit Interviews and begin making Preliminary Reference Checks on viable candidates. Once we determine a potential mutual interest we engage in a more in depth exchange of information. During this process we verbally share the details of the Search Assignment Profile with the candidate and discuss each and every line item with them to determine a mutual fit. If a mutual interest is maintained, we begin conducting Preliminary Reference Checks. We conduct these Preliminary Reference Checks with people we know can validate the candidate's qualifications and can attest to their management style and stated accomplishments.
Interviews
Through extensive final interviews, Short List Candidates are identified, candidates and clients are prepared for interviews, and we engage in comprehensive Post Interview Debriefings. We select the Short List by evaluating the entire candidate pool and prioritizing the candidates we have surfaced, qualified and interviewed. At this point we conduct an even more extensive final interview and prepare a Candidate Profile to present to the client along with the candidates resume and any additional information we feel may be of interest to the client. In the Candidate Profile that we prepare for the client, we discuss why the candidate is qualified and what specific experience and qualifications he/she has that pertains to the specification both in terms of technical qualifications and personality/cultural fit. We literally name every line item in the Search Assignment Profile and provide written specifics of why the candidate meets or exceeds that specification and expectation. Candidates that don't make the Short List are professionally released.
Once the interview is arranged, extensive time and energy is invested preparing both the candidate and the client for their interview. We coach the client on why the candidate is interested in exploring the opportunity and the areas that are most important to them and encourage the client to participate in the recruiting process. Our search process generates exceptional candidates that often are not even considering changing jobs until we call them. As a result of our presentation, the candidates agree to confidentially explore this opportunity outside of their present concern. These candidates need to be sold on the opportunity with our client. We clearly communicate each candidate's unique situation with the client. We also invest significant effort to make certain the candidate is well prepared for the meeting. We help the candidate with research and pertinent information on the client that they will need in order to make an informed decision and clearly communicate why the opportunity is a good match.
After the interview we debrief both parties by conducting Post Interview Debriefings. We ask both the candidate and the client questions the answers to which will aid them in making a decision on whether they want to extend and/or accept a job offer. Once all of the candidates have interviewed we can proceed to the final step, Candidate Onboarding.
Candidate Onboarding
With the cooperation of the client, Comprehensive Benchmarking is done, verbal and written Offers are Negotiated, and Resignation and Counter Offer negotiations are gone through. Finally a written offer and acceptance is done.
Now that much of the hard work is completed and all of the candidates have been interviewed, it's decision time. At the end of the day, the primary responsibility of any executive is to make a decision. With the client we benchmark the candidates and make a hiring decision. This decision is arrived at through countless steps in the process, some of which are outlined in this search process presentation. Once a decision is made, an offer is negotiated and formulated between us and the client. The offer is extended and accepted both verbally and in writing. We professionally release the remaining candidates. A start date is established and the deal is almost complete. We further discuss the resignation process with the candidate, assist in the drafting of a resignation letter and discuss the realities of counter offers and everything else they will experience during the resignation process. We coach the candidate through the resignation, keeping the client apprised of each step along the way. The candidate begins work and we ask the client where else in the organization can we be of service?