Augmentum - Our Search process

All Augmentum search assignments follow a process that makes best use of all our available resources and knowledge capital, thus ensuring that we achieve successful completion in the shortest possible time. Our search assignments are comprised of three distinct components: research, interviewing and candidate management.

All research activity at Augmentum is conducted in-house since we strongly believe that consultants are always more effective when they are personally responsible for the initial identification and qualification. The first element of all research is to compile a target list of relevant companies and this is achieved by combining our market knowledge with any specific recommendations that have been provided by our client. The experience and contacts that we possess has been accumulated over many years and most of our consultants have worked within executive search and their specialist market sectors for at least 10 years.

This research is used to create a long list of names incorporating both sources and potential candidates. It is imperative at this stage that the collective market knowledge within the existing client team is assessed and that personal recommendations are added to the list as required. The final element of our research process is to ‘network’ from the contact list and identify further candidates by referral.

All potential candidates are initially assessed during a telephone discussion. This approach is an opportunity not only to qualify the individual concerned, but also to sell the ‘client as employer’ concept. Our evaluation of potential candidates is thorough, structured and imaginative and although we invest heavily in technology and information resources, we have also developed relationships within the markets that we serve. Assessment of candidates is a blend of fact finding, evidence gathering and professional judgment. Our interviewing is consistent, fair and open, our reference taking is based on integrity and confidentiality. We are diligent in ensuring that candidates receive the feedback that ensures every individual benefits from the process.

Managing the interview process is the dual responsibility of Augmentum and our client. The success of any campaign is entirely dependent upon open and frequent communication and we ensure that this is achieved through review discussions; we recommend weekly telephone calls throughout the lifetime of the project, referring to both the ongoing long list, the shortlists as they are built and interview progress reports.

Once the interviews are complete it is our responsibility to assist with the offer process and act as an intermediary. This ensures that future relationships between our client and the preferred candidate are not soured by contract negotiations and that we are able to arrange the earliest start date possible. Augmentum’s candidate management also continues throughout the early days of employment and beyond, providing successful assimilation within our client’s business.