No, we're not talking about Hollywood, we're talking about executive recruiting. In this time of explosive growth in such fields as software, biotechnology and telecommunications, recruiting top talent has some of the trappings of sports drafts and show business about it with virtually every firm searching for members of a small pool of proven, experienced executives who have that rare mix of understanding the technology and being able to manage people. Of course, most top executives would give up their ticket to the company parking garage before admitting they got their new power position with the help of a senior executive consultant or a headhunter. But the fact is just about all firms use executive recruiters, and a growing number of top executives are employing senior consultants to hone their ability to market themselves. The market has moved to the individual, and company loyalty is gone.
Executives are a product in the markeplace, and they'd better know how to market themselves.
With such competition up and down the chain of command, companies are going to great lengths to find and lure quality leadership to their firms. There are the obvious enticements of more money and stock options. Quality of life here in the Northwest is another factor local companies now take for granted as part of the equation in bringing top executives to the region. Moore says recent research shows nine out of 10 executives in the region don't want to leave the Northwest because of quality of life. Then there are the more intangible aspects, such as chemistry, a company's potential and being part of a developing firm's vision and direction.