OUR SERVICES

Direct Search

Headhunting for specialists and manager‑level roles

When is direct search beneficial?

Direct search is suitable when there is a shortage of qualified talent on the market. This typically concerns specialists or mid‑management professionals who are not actively seeking new opportunities and therefore cannot be reached through a job advertisement alone.

Our Direct Search is a traditional search process in which we identify, interview, and select candidates who are best suited for your organisation and the role.

How does it work?

1. Thorough groundwork ensures a successful outcome

We want to understand the company’s and business’s current situation, as well as the organisational culture and direction. We challenge you in defining the role and, for example, in identifying the industries where suitable candidates may be found. We also explore the role’s attraction factors so that we can engage candidates who are genuinely motivated.

Good and thorough groundwork creates the foundation for identifying the most suitable candidates and engaging them in a way that builds interest and motivation toward the role and your organisation.

2. Written summary

We prepare a written summary of the direct search assignment. It describes the company to the extent the client allows, outlines the role, selection criteria, and the preliminary search timeline. We also define the key criteria and the ideal candidate profile.

3. Research and outreach

We search for candidates and contact them. We invite them to a confidential meeting where we present the assignment, discuss their expectations, and make an initial assessment of their suitability and motivation for the role. When criteria for success are clear, the candidate’s skills and capabilities can be assessed as objectively as possible already at this stage.

4. Candidate presentation

We present relevant candidates who are interested in the position to the client and arrange meetings between the candidates and the client.

5. Reference checks

We check the references of the candidates the client is considering for selection.

6. Guarantee

Our Direct Search always includes a guarantee if the selected candidate does not succeed in the role for any reason. This requires that the selected candidate has completed our psychological assessment.

Client experience

Knowit is a Finnish consulting and digital solutions company that used HRS Advisors’ Direct Search combined with a public job advertisement to find the right person for the VP Public Sector role.

Knowit’s Head of People & Culture Wilhelmiina Riikonen:

“This combination was an excellent starting point for the recruitment. It brought together two valuable perspectives. Firstly, transparency from the candidate’s point of view by giving everyone the opportunity to apply and show interest, and secondly, enabling those who were searching quietly to explore the open role and the company. This approach supported our culture of openness. HRS’s ability to understand and communicate our culture to candidates was outstanding.”