Introducing candidates to a company as an executive search consultant can be similar to the work of a go-between, bringing together future bride and groom. From the perspective of the individual, if possible one would like to avoid any mediator and just let the encounter with one's future employer (or marriage partner) happen naturally. Or, to make things happen faster, why can't one just be headhunted (or be hit on) by a promising employer (or a marvelous prince/princess)? But: 1. it's always better to take action on the issue by oneself than to just sit there and wait. 2. most often it needs several interviews to find your ideal employer, the same as the first date is rarely the ultimate one. We as an executive search agency provide the setting, the chances from which a good relationship (employer-employee or bride-groom) can arise. But rather than putting all your hopes on just one employer (prospective partner) whom you don't even know yet very well, it's a safer bet to arrange several interviews (dates) with interesting companies (dating partners). As much as you try to match your preferences/skills with the job responsibilities/requirements of a job ad, or as much as you try to figure out common interests and attributes with your dating partner, you will only know how good the match is when you meet your counterpart.

It's all about good chemistry

That's also what we as executive search consultants experience. It is one thing to have a good resume on the desk, but only after meeting the candidate can we say if he or she could be a good fit with our client. And even more, it is between the candidate and the company where the good chemistry has to be. As it is true for a date, the outcome of an interview is often very difficult to predict. Recently, even if we had some doubts about a candidate's skills, after introducing him, he and our client's president turned out to get along very well, overcoming the "hard skills". On the other hand, when a highly qualified candidate showed up with a bad mood and attitude, complaining about prior interviews, we had doubts if we should introduce him to our client.

Married life at your working place

Even if many candidates believe that hard skills and experience are all that should count when applying for a job, it is neither unfair nor irrational for a company (and of course for a dating partner) to bother about the personality of the candidate. Most jobs, and especially management jobs require a big amount of people skills. Furthermore, after being hired, maybe sad but true, you will most probably spend more time with your working colleagues than with your wife/husband, so it is important for the sake of the company that employees get along with each other.

Love your working colleagues

So as it is in the dating process, the whole process until you find your ideal employer can be challenging, even frustrating. On the other hand, as a successful date, an interview that goes well can get you enthusiastic about the prospective marriage with your employer. The importance of the fit of the candidate's personality with a company should not been underestimated. Your personal satisfaction depends strongly on a good working environment. Therefore it is also in your interest that you only join a company where you not only like the working content, but also the team and the company as a whole.