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Industry news, views and advice
The Future of Jobs in Africa?
As a mother, I think about the future for my child. As an executive search professional, I think about the future role my son will play in business. Perhaps even as a leader in business. In Africa. Yes, he is only four years old, but when you read about statistics...
The CXO – Saving the Day for the Retail Sector?
There's a sombre tone accompanying the latest sets of financial results from most retailers in South Africa. The size of consumers' wallets is certainly smaller - and shrinking - in many segments, there's less discretionary spend across the board, and many people are...
CEO Appointments – Time is of the Essence
I spent a lot of time over the holidays plonked on an outdoor sofa under the trees, catching up on my reading. If there’s one thing I wish to do a lot more of in 2017, it’s just this – read, plonked on a couch! New year’s resolutions aside (sadly, these don’t last...
Your Executive Role – ‘It’s not what they promised!’
So, you’ve left your old job – which was actually quite a nice one, even though your career wasn’t really going places – and joined a new company, because the role on offer sounded really great! Now you’ve been in your new executive role for a few months, and it’s...
A global perspective of leadership in Africa
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Europe to participate in the annual IRC Global Executive Search Partners meeting. In case you’re not aware, Jack Hammer is the South African partner of the global executive search network, IRC – which is rated in the...
Executive Search: Four critical elements for success
The success of an executive search process depends on four broad categories: Research, Headhunting, Interviewing and Selecting the Shortlist. If the executive search team is not highly accomplished in all four of these areas, the process is pretty much a hit and miss...
Executive hiring – Do you really ‘know everyone’?
From time to time, I engage with companies with a critical vacancy to fill, who are firmly of the belief that they ‘know everyone’ in their industry, and that they have no need of any external support in identifying and securing a candidate for the role. “We know...
CVs for executive leaders: Back to basics…
On a daily basis, I deal with executives who lead companies or sizeable businesses in large corporates, are adept and confident around the negotiating table, and orchestrate complex deals but, when it comes to putting together a CV that is essentially their personal...
Leadership mastery in chaotic markets
I was winter-vacationing on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean when the Brexit vote came out, and watched from the sidelines with sporadic internet signal as markets roller-coasted and whiplashed with shock. A short while later, there has been some...
The Inbox Test – a measure of executive bench strength!
For the first time since I got my first cell phone and email account two decades ago, I went away for a week to a destination where (even if I really really wanted it), there was no cell signal for kilometres! Initially, the mere thought of being so completely...
Hiring for diversity, or hiring for fit?
Fit. Hiring for fit is the one constant, overriding demand from companies recruiting new leaders. Because, regardless of skill and capability, fit is the key that will ensure long term success or seemingly never ending hassles and, ultimately, middling performance....
Gardening leave – something to ponder while mowing the lawn
Every so often, I'll encounter an executive who has been approached by our headhunting team to consider a new role, and who is in the unenviable position of having signed a restraint of trade of some sort during his/her tenure with his/her employer. Almost always, the...
Counter-offer: Appreciation or a slap in the face?
In my daily dealings with executive and senior candidates, one of the most important discussions I have during the interview process is around counter-offer. Because one thing is almost certain: top professionals will receive one from their current employer at the...
Purpose, People and Growth
My team and I interview hundreds of executives every year. Almost none of them are actively looking for a job. In spite of that, many of them are open to exploring new career opportunities, and some of them will land up accepting an offer to join a new organisation,...
The Year of the Blog – or not!
First blog of the year. I had resolved to do this monthly, but we're mid-Feb already and the first one has only just hatched. At this rate, 2014 could be the 'Year of Sporadic Blog-posting'. But I'll do my best to at least make it interesting! Point of interest number...
Name Dropping – When Not To…
Here’s a (fairly) true story. Candidate X - let’s call him Jim - attends an interview for an Executive role. His resume rocks – he has all of the required skills and experience, and he comes across as professional, committed, enthusiastic and interested in the...
So are Executives Coming Home…or not?
In the recent Financial Mail (April 25), an article on the ‘Brain Drain’, and whether it still exists, caught my eye. Are executives coming home or not? Various parties were slinging mud at one another regarding the data around returning South Africans – on the one...
The First 100 Days
Initially used to describe the first period of a first term presidency in the US, this phrase has become commonplace in the executive landscape and is now part of the rhetoric of ‘leadership development’. Many books have been written on the topic (a scan through...
Executive Interviews – Beware the ‘Informal Dinner’
Anyone who thinks they've nailed their next top job because they've sailed through the formal interview process (most likely around 5 - 7 interviews with all key stakeholders including the Chairman of the Board) as well as the psychometric assessments, and have now...
Jobs in the C-Suite – an alternative approach
More and more frequently, I see that the executives we appoint to C-Suite positions who take a stance of listening, observing and questioning, transition best into their new roles. It seems that 'slowly, slowly' is in fact what enables successful leaders to reach...
Search Engine Optimisation and Executive Jobs
One of the reasons that I write this blog is to pen down the ideas about the executive search landscape that pop into my head every few days (or weeks, or months....sometimes ideas are scarce!). It's nice to have an outlet for those random thoughts that roam inside by...
Talent Mapping – not always worth the money!
If you're a specialist in executive search (ie. you focus purely on senior level appointments, using a search methodology), there is limited scope for 'product innovation' and Talent Mapping. One could do the process faster, and/ or at a reduced cost, but these...
Why Google discarded a Key Hiring Requirement
Did you know that Google, the icon of legendary recruitment process, has apparently discarded one of its key hiring criteria! According to George Blomgren (Director of The Good Jobs in the USA), Google have decided no longer to focus on academic grades (college GPA's)...
The Executive Workscape in 2015 – What we’re thinking…
Firstly, HNY (aka Happy New Year) to all our regular and new readers of this blog. Yes, I know, it's February already, and not cool to still be offering new year greetings, but January passed in a flash! As always, I start the year with renewed vigour around my...
Leadership Lessons – from a 7-year old!
One of the key descriptor of a ‘Leader’ is one who can create a vision, and inspire others towards its achievement. Implying a relatively strong orientation towards goals and outcomes. Set the goal, figure out a way to get there, and motivate the troops towards the...
Executive Package Negotiations – true character traits emerge!
One thing we know for sure - during the interview process, everyone is on their best behaviour. The candidates (even headhunted ones who believe they have nothing to lose) as well as the interviewers, are usually doing their best to show themselves off in the most...
Leader or Psychopath?
I've just read a fascinating and scary book: "Snakes in Suits. When Psychopaths go to work", by Paul Babiak and Robert Hare (both are PhDs). The fascinating bit is the comparison the good doctors make between psychopaths and leaders. The scary bit is how close the...
Jack Hammer – Ranked in the TOP 5 Global Executive Search firms!
In May 2015, Hunt Scanlon Media released the Spring 2015 issue of the Executive Search Review including GLOBAL 20 LEADING INTERNATIONAL SEARCH FIRMS – and we’re in the Top Five (number four to be exact!). Through our global partnership, IRC Global Executive Search...
Times have changed, but HR still frowns on ‘JOB-HOPPING’
Although the notion of loyalty to a company has changed dramatically over the past decade, 89% of hiring managers from SA’s leading companies, polled in a recent survey by Jack Hammer’s market insights team, say that perceived job-hopping will hurt a candidate’s...