Proven Process

Commitment, Experience, Expertise

With decades of experience identifying and delivering the best leaders for our clients, we have a clear understanding about the most successful search process. A consistent process enables speed of execution and guarantees the same level of service across every assignment. But even a proven, time-tested process must evolve.

With each new assignment, we learn from our clients and from each other. While we follow the same steps every time, we allow room for flexibility to ensure we meet each client's specific needs.

We accomplish this by:

  • Asking the right questions.
  • Listening to the client's goals and requirements while also helping them prioritize their recruiting needs.
  • Networking and brainstorming with fellow partners in the firm to create customized, innovative approaches.
  • Continued re-evaluation of the processes to accurately address and solve our clients' challenges or strategic needs.
  • Serving as a strategic partner to our clients.

I. Initial Consultation

Listening is critical to our success. Our consultants meet with key executives to ensure that they have a thorough understanding of the client's big-picture goals, the requirements of the position and the culture of the organization.

Regular, open communication between our consultants and clients is critical to the success of an assignment. Once we have been retained to conduct a search, we encourage weekly updates to ensure our success and to address any issues or changes immediately as they arise.

II. Research and Identification

Once the initial consultation is complete, we work with the client to create a position description and list of primary target companies. We use public and private information sources and other reference materials to develop and finalize the strategy and action plan for the search.

We begin our extensive research by contacting the appropriate target companies, qualified candidates, and knowledgeable sources, as well as tapping our comprehensive database of outstanding executives and industry contacts.

III. Candidate Development

After processing our research results, we contact targeted individuals that appear to most closely match the client's specifications. Since success depends on the satisfaction of the client and the candidate, we carefully screen all candidates thoroughly both by phone and / or in person to evaluate both professional and cultural fit prior to presenting them to the client.

IV. Field Interviewing & Presentation of Candidates

We interview all potential candidates face-to-face or via video conferencing to assess and validate their competencies. We take pride in our interviewing process, which measures candidates against the requirements of the role - not against each other.

Following our screening and in-person interview process, we present the client with oral and written evaluations of the candidates. We deliver a distinct handful of prospects that are each uniquely qualified for the position. In many cases, within the first several weeks of the search we develop one or two credible "calibration candidates" for the client to meet so we can fine-tune requirements and cultural fit. This approach expedites the search process and allows both the client and our partners to better understand the role as it evolves.

At this point, the client may decide to personally interview a short list of candidates, or continue the research and contact effort to broaden, narrow, or refocus the search.

V. Focused Referencing and Closure

Once the client has narrowed the candidate pool to two or three potential finalists, detailed reference checks are conducted in order to assess the appropriateness of each candidate and to verify their abilities in the areas of most concern. As the majority of the candidates are employed, these references are always conducted in a discrete and courteous manner and in such a way as to not jeopardize their current position and/or confidentiality. Once a finalist has been chosen, we will extend the offer on behalf of the client or, if the client chooses to extend the offer personally, we remain available to serve as the "buffer" during the negotiation process.

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as the obstacles which he has overcome." - Booker T. Washington

We're committed to continuing the search effort until a candidate is successfully hired, regardless of the time required, the size of the available candidate pool, or the difficulty of the role. We work closely with the client to ensure a smooth integration of the selected candidate into the organization, and if desired, will continue to provide strategic counseling to the finalist over time to allow for continued success.

VI. Our Guarantee

cFour Partners will work on an assignment until the agreed-upon candidate development effort is completed or the client cancels the project. If the finalist hired for the position is terminated within six months from commencement of employment due to unsatisfactory performance, cFour Partners will conduct the search assignment again at no additional fee except expenses.

Download our Executive Search Process Here: (165K .PDF)