In your experience, what is the most challenging part of working with executive-level candidates?

How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

Being an executive recruiter is not all easy breezy! You are working with candidates who are busy, who travel a lot, who have many responsibilities, and who also have to exercise the utmost discretion in their job search. You may be restricted to speaking with them in the evenings, once they have left the office. Or, they may be limited entirely to email for much of the time. Discuss with the interviewer what you find to be the most challenging part of working with such high-level candidates.

"I would say that aligning schedules is the most challenging factor when it comes to working with executive-level candidates. I will often work into the evening because my candidate is working late, has meetings all day, or needed to catch a flight. This scheduling can extend the timeline of a project if I let it so, for that reason, I use online booking apps such as Calendly, to arrange meeting times easily and more efficiently."

"I find that many executive-level candidates get cold feet a bit easier than a middle-management candidate would. It's challenging to leave a very lucrative role for another one that you don't know so well, so I most certainly understand the hesitation that some of my candidates feel. To prevent these feelings from creeping up, I keep in close contact with my high-level candidates, answering their questions promptly, and ensuring they feel comfortable every step of the way."

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How to Answer: In your experience, what is the most challenging part of working with executive-level candidates?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Executive Recruiter job interview.

28. In your experience, what is the most challenging part of working with executive-level candidates?

How to Answer

Being an executive recruiter is not all easy breezy! You are working with candidates who are busy, who travel a lot, who have many responsibilities, and who also have to exercise the utmost discretion in their job search. You may be restricted to speaking with them in the evenings, once they have left the office. Or, they may be limited entirely to email for much of the time. Discuss with the interviewer what you find to be the most challenging part of working with such high-level candidates.

1st Answer Example

"I would say that aligning schedules is the most challenging factor when it comes to working with executive-level candidates. I will often work into the evening because my candidate is working late, has meetings all day, or needed to catch a flight. This scheduling can extend the timeline of a project if I let it so, for that reason, I use online booking apps such as Calendly, to arrange meeting times easily and more efficiently."

2nd Answer Example

"I find that many executive-level candidates get cold feet a bit easier than a middle-management candidate would. It's challenging to leave a very lucrative role for another one that you don't know so well, so I most certainly understand the hesitation that some of my candidates feel. To prevent these feelings from creeping up, I keep in close contact with my high-level candidates, answering their questions promptly, and ensuring they feel comfortable every step of the way."

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