Use executive search firms for multiple industries that dedicate a real person to work with you

Whether the executive search firm consists of three professionals or a staff of thousands, you deserve the dedicated resources of someone to guide your campaign. Just dealing with a website or an automated response machine does not cut it at the executive level.

I recommend: Korn/Ferry International goes so far as to display personal e-mails and photos of its consultants, from the president on down. Similarly, Boyden Global Executive Search presents a scroll-down menu of its associates, linking to a contact page for each of its executive search professionals.

Find an executive job search firm that has both industry knowledge and human resources proficiency

Leading recruiting services for multiple industries understand the latest trends in their respective fields. In fact, they anticipate the emerging lines of thought in their practice areas. You'll know the depth of the bench supporting you by white papers, speakers bureaus and other professional engagements of the executive search firm.

I recommend: By sharing surveys, published articles and other data in its Thought Leadership links, Russell Reynolds Associates demonstrates wide-ranging industry expertise. Heidrick & Struggles shares an extensive library of its consultants' published research and human resource articles.

Enlist executive search firms that are active on your behalf

Reading consultant biographies of executive search firm professionals gives a glimpse of their prior advocacy on behalf of clients. Case studies of client success also demonstrate how active executive recruiting services are likely to be for your search.

I recommend: Edward W. Kelly & Partners has a roster of search professionals in global strategic locations who serve targeted business sectors. At Watson Wyatt Worldwide, the "Client Stories" page shares narratives of how a successful executive job search firm actively serves its customers.