Recruiting executives and other hard-to-fill positions bring their own unique set of challenges, which is why it it’s not uncommon for companies to invest in outside firms and pay high fees to get the job done. Member Emory University was no exception, but they wanted to tackle this challenge by creating an in-house search group in order to:
- Reduce the cost of outside agency fees annually used by the Emory University community.
- Become self-sustaining as well as a revenue-generating department for Emory.
- Deliver a lower cost recruiting option for executive and hard-to-fill searches to departments looking to utilize a specialized or boutique third party search firm or “headhunter.”
- Provide additional support with regard to recruiting options that Human Resources offered to the greater Emory community.
Solution
To meet the objectives set forth, Emory University formed the Emory Search Group (ESG). They started by creating a specialized recruiting department with two full-time executive search consultants. In addition to the primary objective of providing full cycle recruiting and executive search options at a considerably lower rate than external search and boutique firms, Emory also worked closely with departments to support all needs including:
- Posting their vacancy announcements.
- Handling all candidates – including those that apply directly, not just the candidates they source.
- Scheduling candidate travel and interviews.
- Interviewing support and custom-made targeted selection interview guides.
- Assisting with compensation packages.
- Calculating survey and candidate feedback results.
Result
Since the ESG is internal to Emory, the candidate is processed and on-boarded more intimately, while also experiencing more continuity and support from beginning to end – something that a search firm that only supplies candidates can’t offer. The ESG also offers discounts for multiple positions and repeat customers.
At the time of the start-up of ESG, Emory University was spending over $1 million dollars annually in outside executive search firm fees. As a whole, the University saved $500,000 in fees being paid to outside search firms in just the first year, and business continues to grow!
Congratulations, again, to Emory University for sharing another successful program and providing great insight.
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