Many organisations traditionally use Executive Search firms for senior assignments. However, working with an Executive Search firm has a high cost attached to it, especially when factoring the initial payment of a large retainer fee to secure a headhunter’s services.
At MERJE, we can offer all the benefits of working with an Executive Search firm, often in a significantly shorter timescale and with a more flexible and competitive fee structure.
We are able to achieve this because we are a bespoke recruitment consultancy focusing in specific niche areas, with a tailored approach to finding the very best talent at the highest seniority. Whether it’s a Chief Risk Officer, a Finance Director or a Chief Operations Officer, we have the network, experience and skills needed to provide a superior service than an Executive Search firm – who are often generalists when working at a senior retained level.
An unrivalled database of the best Candidates
We aren’t a recruitment consultancy that just relies on posting adverts and waiting for responses. Our Consultants are experts within their niche markets and have built up a significant database of contacts which means that we can quickly identify suitable passive Candidates from our professional networks. Our Senior Management team have a total of over 150 years of recruitment experience, which means our Candidate database is a rich and robust pool of talent that is constantly growing and being updated.
Unlike Executive Search firms, who begin their research and looking for Candidates once they have been formally instructed on a vacancy, it is highly likely we already have suitable Candidates ready to contact for any appropriate vacancy. This means we can significantly reduce the time required to provide a shortlist of 3-5 Candidates, as well as giving Clients the peace of mind that we truly understand the professional experience and skills of these Candidates.
Our insight of the markets that we work in gives us the ability to advise and assist on all aspects of the recruitment process, including market-mapping and salary benchmarking. We can even work with our Clients to identify appropriate interview and assessment methods, such as specific psychometric or behavioural tests, in order for organisations to get the most comprehensive view of the suitability of a Candidate and the impact that will have in their role.
Lower and more flexible fees
We operate a significantly more competitive fee structure than typical Executive Search firms. This isn’t because we provide a lesser service, but because we believe that the combination of our award-winning Client offering and our extremely competitive fee structure will lead to a continued close relationship that develops for many years to come, rather than just be a one-off money-making opportunity.
As we provide a bespoke service, we are flexible with our fee structure approach, which is of contrast to many of the stringent agreements of Executive Search firms. For instance, we don’t insist on splitting the fee into three equal payments and can adapt the fee structure to suit our Client’s expectations and requirements. Due to the complexity or seniority of the position there may be a request for a retainer fee or exclusivity for the role, however when we do request a retainer fee the final amount is often heavily weighted, and only due after the Candidate has formally accepted the role, to demonstrate our confidence in delivering a successful outcome.
A tailored experience for our Candidates as well
We don’t just pride ourselves on the service that we give our Clients, but also the support we give our Candidates. We focus on nurturing our Candidates and helping them through the recruitment process, giving a personal and informative helping hand from CV submission through to the position’s start date.
For senior positions, we ensure that we meet potential Candidates, thoroughly vetting them based on our Client’s criteria and our own expertise. This means we get to know the people we put forward for jobs, understanding their experience and personality so we can make an informed decision about the culture fit of a vacancy. As we have known many of our Candidates for a long time, we are able to identify suitable Candidate’s based on our own knowledge of their skills, ability and personality, so our Clients can trust our reliable and honest shortlists.
Specialisms and skills
MERJE is a niche recruiter, and across our core markets of Compliance, Credit Risk & Analytics, Customer Contact, Finance & Audit, Financial Crime & Fraud, Procurement and Risk Management, we understand the specific requirements of these specialisms. The majority of mid-senior roles, permanent and interim, that we fill have technical and specialist skills needed – and we do not see this as a hindrance or complication to our recruitment process. Our knowledge of the roles we fill, and our market insight, positions us as true industry experts. No matter how senior the role, we can find the ideal Candidates with the desired specialist skills and, equally importantly, the softer skills needed.
Get in touch
To discuss your senior roles, and to find out how MERJE can provide an Executive Search service without the Executive Search cost, contact us atinfo@merje.com or call 0203 637 1600 (London and South East) or 0161 883 2740 (Rest of UK).
