The benefits of working with a niche, sector-specialist, search firm

There are many factors to consider when recruiting for a role. Often, there will be qualities, experiences or skills you may want that are particularly niche and there is no guarantee that you will be able to source the right candidate effectively and efficiently using a generalist search firm. Utilising the expertise of a niche search firm, however, can save both time and money and help you find the perfect candidate, for the present and the future.

But what are the main benefits of working with a niche, sector-specialist, search firm?

Industry experience

This one may seem fairly obvious, but sector-specific search firms generally understand the industry they are hiring for far better than a generalist search firm would. This brings with it numerous benefits.

Firstly, they are much more likely to understand the role you are hiring for and the type of candidate needed to fill it. For example, at Maranello Executive Search, we understand many of the specific qualities that are necessary for someone to effectively fill a senior-level position with a focus on RFID, AIDC, Enterprise Mobility, Robotics, Automation and POS, for example. As such, wecan very easily recognise the responsibilities undertaken and workplace structure within which that role sits. Collaborating with a search firm that comprehends the type of candidate you require can help you achieve your vision, meaning half the hiring battle is already won.

Additionally, you can be certain that the firm knows what it is doing. Being so niche, it is likely they will have specific experience hiring for roles that are the same or highly similar to what you need and will have precise working practices in place to source appropriate candidates effectively. You can trust that the recruiters’ expertise and experience will work in your favour in finding the perfect candidate.

Pre-existing networks

Generally, the more niche an organisation is, the more likely it is to have good relationships with everyone else in their sector. While it may seem counter-intuitive that a niche network is effective, smaller networks tend to be better acquainted with each other and understand the specific roles each person plays in the system.

For a search firm, this means they know the key players in the sector, their ambitions, skills, level of experience and perhaps some details about their personal situations at the time, including if they may be seeking an exciting new opportunity.

By utilising the search firm’s network, and the networks of that network, the recruiter will be able to get a clear view of what opportunities exist in the sector, who may be a good candidate for you, and will have greater prestige when they reach out with your offer.

While a generalist recruitment firm likely also has a wide range of contacts, getting access to such a sophisticated network specific to the sector and role you’re hiring for is only truly possible through a niche search firm.

Better candidate procedures

While generalist search firms are certainly skilled in sourcing candidates, a niche firm will be able to do so far more quickly through more sector-specific candidate targeting practices. For example, they can find potential candidates far more efficiently by knowing what key words and language to use in a job advert, any certification schemes that produce highly skilled candidates, and what networking events potential candidates may attend that are related to your key area of operations such as Automation and Robotics.

Furthermore, as briefly mentioned, a niche firm will have a more robust candidate search and screening system in place that is industry specific, unlike a generalist search firm. For instance, if a certain kind of authorisation is common practice in the industry, but not outside it, it may cost more time and money for a generalist firm to implement this screening measure which a niche firm may already have in place.

By using a more targeted approach to candidate searching and utilising more industry specific assessment criteria, niche search firms will be able to find the right candidate much more efficiently than a generalist firm would.

While this article offers some insight into how a niche search firm works, speaking to someone who works in the industry will help to provide more insight specific to your needs and queries. At Maranello Executive Search, we specialise in hiring mid-senior level professionals. If you need help hiring the right person for your company, arrange a meeting with Maranello Executive Search here.