SYNERGY SOURCING

Rising demand for top-paid executives is giving top candidates opportunities to write their own tickets to the C-suite, while leading them in many cases to decline attractive opportunities that may have been more appealing in leaner times.

A new "point of view" essay from Chicago-based Slayton Search Partners examines the factors that have created a sellers' market in the executive search game. "The supply and demand dynamics have given high performing executives more career options than they've had in years, and from that perspective, it's beginning to smack of 1999 all over again," Slayton adds. "The A Players are much more selective about pursuing transition options, but they're also pouncing on the opportunity to get what they want."

This year's fall recruiting season will keep corporate recruiters and executive search firms extremely busy trying to market compelling career opportunities to top management talent. It will also have a large number of executives spending more time interviewing to assess more job opportunities, Slayton predicts.
"I think we're looking at a pretty high level of executive-level recruiting activity now, but it will increase this fall," Slayton predicts. "I don't see any downturn in the near future."

Slayton expects corporate employers will continue to place a premium on A Players who have the right mix of professional experience, advanced education, a track record of consistent performance and successive promotions, and the intangibles that he describes as "executive presence." Slayton also believes leading employers will continue to create more opportunities for women and minority executives.

Slayton notes an increasing number of executive job candidates are turning their noses at new job opportunities with any company rumored to have a tyrannical CEO, high executive turnover, and/or business practices that might remotely evolve into corporate scandal. Slayton advises corporate employers not to underestimate the importance of their reputation, their brand, and their overall workplace experience and corporate mission, because top caliber management candidates are usually motivated by the challenge of a new job with a growth-oriented employer.

Slayton also advises executives to nurture relationships with recruiters. "Even A Players need to have relationships with search firms," Slayton says. "Your best option may still be at your current employer, but developing relationships with the best search consultants - that's just good career management."