Something that most recruiters in advertising rarely have the opportunity to experience is having the C-Level executive as the candidate versus the client. The reason for this is that advertising, to some extent, is still very much a "good ol' boy" network. Most C-level execs know one another and career moves are struck on a golf course, at the hotel bar of the Ritz Carlton or at the newest chic restaurant in Soho. Very few times does an ad agency actually conduct a true search for a new C-level hire, it usually comes about more organically.
As a 3rd party recruiter, I always heard of this mythological type of hire, the hire that just "happens" (insert jazz hands here.) The type of hire that miraculously appears out of nowhere. One day Joe Schmo is the CEO of Old School Advertising, Inc. The next day, Joe is the new Managing Director of Hoity Toity Interactive. Poof, it just happened. There were no recruiters, there was no process, it just WAS.
Well, not exactly. I see now that a lot more goes into it than the simplification above mentioned. So, how does it happen? Look into my crystal ball.
CEO of Old School Advertising, Inc. runs into the CEO of Hoity Toity Interactive at a conference, award ceremony, networking event, or the Orange Julius at the mall - it doesn't matter where they ran into each other, but regardless the clandestine meeting happens. They begin to talk about their respective businesses. They decide to have lunch the following week to discuss it further over spinach salads and Pellegrino. During lunch, they find areas of similarities and discover a yin and yang effect - light bulb goes off. By joining forces, these two decide that not only can they increase their offerings to the industry, but they can take over the world! Ok, wait, that's Pinky and the Brain. I digress.
After this meeting of the minds, the machine is already in motion - it's more about when it happens, not if. By the time it hits the media, these two have already gone on vacation together, know their extended families and are old friends - it's old news to them, but new news to us. There has been a process, however, one of social interaction and behind closed door talks rather than rounds of interviews and reference checks. It may seem to appear miraculous, yet in truth, it has been happening right under our very noses.
Post new comment