Executive Search Firms - Finding the Right One is Important For Your Success

Retaining a good executive search firm to find executive candidates for your company is important for your long term success. Hire one poor performing executive and it sets you back months if not years, and is bad for the morale of your team. Hire a star performer and it can do wonders for your business.

Before you start to look, it is a good idea to do some homework. First create a list of key performance indicators (KPI) with clear deadlines. This is a list of things the candidate is expected to accomplish on the job. For example if you want the new hire to open up European market for your product, you would write, "Open up Eastern Europe for widget x, making it accessible to at least 45% of the population -- 12 months." The KPI list should span at least two to three years.

Next create a description of the position. This would explain the content of the job, company vision, culture, historical performance, candidate experience, desired attributes and work style. Add any other factors that may help to effectively market the position. Professional search firm will also help you refine the job description but this is going to be a good starting point. Combination of the KPI list and the job description is probably a better way to explain the position than just a bullet point list of duties. KPI list also helps the candidates visualize the job more accurately and connect it with their past experience and their future aspirations.

You are now ready to search for executive search firms. First step is to look up a few search firms on the internet at places like B2B marketplaces, yellow pages and Google and make a list. Also ask your business associates for recommendations. It is important to look for firms with expertise in your industry, job position or geographic region. Share the KPI list and the job description with a few firms, and see their response. Expect some of them to withdraw if they do not have the candidates or the expertise to help you.

Once your list has narrowed down to three or four executive search firms, it is time to understand their search process and feel comfortable with the staff. They should provide you with a document that explains the search process. Request them to also provide information about a similar completed search.

Ask to speak with the senior consultant and her team. Understand the search process including the search fees, expected out of pocket expenses and other costs if any. Try to gauge their professionalism, character and personality. Is the search consultant ethical, enthusiastic, professional and well experienced? Ask yourself that if you were looking for a similar position, would you like to speak with these consultants? Many executive search firms have off-limit organizations. If you have any target organizations in mind, make sure they are not on their off-limit list.

It is important to ask the right questions to the candidate to predict their future success. Ask the firm to show you their candidate assessment techniques. Ideally they should have a numerical rating approach to ascertain degree of match with key requirements. References are critical in the search process and should be checked by the search firm soon after the first screen. Also important is the technical background check that confirms academic and work credentials.

Ask about the success rate of the firm. How long have the hired candidates stayed at their new positions? You need a candidate that is not only a good fit with the job description but one who also sticks around long enough to deliver. Finally, ask to speak with a few satisfied clients of the search firm.

It is worth the time and effort to carefully select the right search firm for your key hiring need. If done right, it will lead to a long lasting, mutually beneficial, business relationship. 

What You Need to Ask While Looking to Hire An Executive Search Firm?

Basically, an executive search firm is a professional company dedicated to headhunt or hire professionals as resource in leading organizations or companies. It specializes in assessing the true value of the prospective candidate for the desired position. It has been frequently observed that a company plans to recruit the top-level and management executives for expansion by considering qualification, experience and expertise. Most of the companies don't find enough time and flexibility in searching and sorting candidates, handling their interviews, work on references and other methods involved in the recruitment of employees. That's why they prefer to take the help of an executive recruiter.

Executive search firm focuses on to initiate a search by taking into consideration the list of criteria specified by the hiring company. It invests a significant amount of time in understanding and determining what exactly the clients are looking for. This seems to be one of the major intentions of the executive headhunters in Chicago who want to find the most suitable candidate for ensuring their clients hundred percent satisfaction. It is the sole responsibility of an executive recruiting agency to fill up the vacant positions with the candidates exceeding client's expectations. However, it is necessary to ask a few questions before hiring an executive search firm. Let's have a quick look at them.

If you are looking to select the best amongst executive headhunters in Chicago, checking their credibility and references is highly commended. The reference will include candidates, former clients, and the professional associations like A.E.S.C.

What You Need To Ask The Executive Headhunters:

1. Who will handle the executive search work for you?
2. How many executive searches has the firm succeeded in?
3. Does the recruitment firm manage the search process on its own or use any third party for the job?
4. Does the client list of the executive search firm include clients from your related industry so that you can have more qualifying candidates?
5. Is the search firm presently serving a company like yours and it could affect your chance of finding the best possible candidates for your vacant positions?

What to Ask References of the Executive Search Firm:

1. Was the quantity and quality of candidates presented to the client satisfactory?
2. Did you get results on time?
3. How professional, convenient, and fast was the recruiting agency to work with? Would you like to work with the agency again?
4. How responsible and focused was the executive search firm to your requirements or situations?
5. If its candidate search went beyond the time limit, did the recruiting agency remain sincere even after the payment was made?

A quality executive search firm is committed to find candidates by making a thorough research for each client individually rather than picking up them from a resume database. However, the firms highlighting their search capability and resources too strongly may not be making serious research to find out the best possible candidates from the new available means.

Executive Search Firms at The Intersection of Human Capital & Investment Capital

The venture capital industry competes in a volatile marketplace typified by high risk and high reward. Venture firms invest millions of dollars on seasoned executives and entrepreneurs who present great promise of creating significant shareholder value with the identification of the next big idea or innovation that will revolutionize an industry.

Whether an investment yields financial rewards depends on the delicate balance of innovation, market conditions, leadership strategy and countless other uncertainties. In making the complex calculation of whether to invest in a promising new venture, many venture capitalists often overlook one critical factor - the human capital component. After an investor invests capital behind a concept, it takes the right management team to get a company off the ground and execute the company's strategy.

Raj Pai, a principal at CID Capital, a 26 year old Midwest based venture investment firm that manages over $300 million of investment capital and specializes in life sciences, information technology and business services, says he has seen human capital "make or break" investment deals.

Pai remembers an investment his firm made in a technology company that fell apart because the right management team wasn't in place. Pai says the company's founder had problems with communication and delegation that didn't come to the surface until after CID Capital made the investment. Even though the technology was innovative and the market was ready to receive it, Pai says the company couldn't survive without the right leadership.

"You can go from everything's okay, to all hell is breaking loose in one month, and that's what happened with this company. We had to shut the whole company down, and lay everyone off."

Pai says that identifying the best management talent takes more than just sifting through stacks of resumes. Innovative leadership - the kind it takes to turn a bright idea into a profitable company - depends on all kinds of intangible factors, such as how an executive copes with stress or how she or he interacts with the board of directors.

Many of the most successful venture capital and private equity firms partner with a top executive search firm to help ensure the success of their portfolio companies. In addition to recruiting senior executives to serve as management team and board members, an executive search firm can play a critical role in vetting a prospective investment. "We know our strengths and weaknesses," Pai says. "Sometimes venture firms know it's best to look for outside help."

A top executive search firm can also play a critical role in helping investors source attractive investment opportunities. "Due to the many privileged relationships that we share with leaders of industry and sources of private equity and venture capital, we find ourselves at the intersection of human capital and investment capital. Because of the limited number of quality deals that are truly worthy of investment backing, venture capital and private equity firms rely on being introduced to titans of industry with the next big idea," says Donald Law, Managing Director of nationally recognized executive search firm Venerable Partners.

Pai says CID Capital recognizes the critical value of human capital, so now the firm hires an executive search firm like Venerable Partners to assist with nearly 70 percent of its investment deals. One of those successful investments was in Red Sky Technologies, a Chicago-based company that provides emergency response telecommunications services.

Pai says his firm hired executive search firm Venerable Partners to make sure Red Sky had the human capital to thrive.

Pai says executive search firm Venerable Partners was able to identify several seasoned industry leaders who might be interested in contributing to Red Sky. In the end, executive search firm Venerable Partners recruited a high-ranking Fortune 50 executive to serve as a board member to advise the company's management team. "What we need to hear from them is the big macro shifts that are occurring in the industry, and you can't buy that talent," Pai says.

Pai says CID Capital would not have been able to recruit an executive with such a high level of expertise on its own had it not been for partnering with a top executive search firm like Venerable Partners.

"I don't think we would have been able to tap a person like this to help. But somebody's got to bring the horse to the water. This particular executive got involved because he bought into the idea, but it was executive search firm Venerable Partners who brought this industry veteran to the water" says Pai.

Best Budget Laptop Models

Best Budget Laptop Models 

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 15.6-Inch Laptop: The time has come again to compile some of the best budget laptop models for this month. At first glance, I wondered why the Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 is doing so well in laptop market. On closer inspections, the reasons are very obvious. It comes with the specs and features of a mid-range laptop and best of all, has an entry-level price tag. This 15.6-inch model comes with 500GB for storage, 4GB of RAM and a 2.1Ghz dual-core processor. The 4GB RAM can be upgraded to a maximum of 8GB for greater multitasking performance. Other notable features include a HD screen, an 8X DVD optical drive and 3 USB ports. At the moment, the Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 is price at around $549 each.

Dell Inspiron 1545 15.6-Inch Laptop: Dell has recently released a slew of very sleek and interesting laptop models. The 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron 1545 comes in variety of colors. It has 4GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and a 2.1Ghz processor. Other features include a 7-in-1 memory card reader, 802.11b/g wi-fi connectivity and 3 USB ports. The 1.3MP web cam comes with a facial recognition feature that automatically logs in when it recognizes your face. The Dell Inspiron 1545 is priced at around $539.

Compaq Presario CQ61-310US 15.6-Inch Laptop: The Compaq brand has long be synonymous to entry-level laptops. This model is the cheapest among these laptop models and is well suited for students and business people with light computing needs. It comes with 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a 2.0Ghz processor and a HD screen. At the moment, the Compaq Presario CQ61-310US is selling for just around $459.

Best Budget Laptop Buying Guide - What Do You Need to Know?

A few points to consider when buying a budget laptop

Many people feel overwhelmed by computer jargon when first looking at budget laptop options. We have put together a guide of these terms, and what they mean to you. It helps to understand the terms used when looking around the internet for your best budget laptop, so that you can make the best decisions about finding a laptop or netbook to suit you.

This is an overview for beginners or a refresher for those who haven't looked at computing purchasing in a while. Further in depth analysis is provided via our website, please read below for our contact information.

Why Buy a Budget Laptop?

Portability, Energy Usage and Comparable Performance. Laptops take up less desk space, and you can carry them around to whatever location suits you, they use much less energy than a comparable desktop machine while offering similar speed for every day uses such as checking emails, watching movies and listening to music.

Common Budget Laptop Terms and what they mean to you

Processor (CPU) - the brain or engine of the computer. Generally it is best to but the fastest and newest processor within your budget. Intel and AMD are two common brands.

Memory (RAM) - the more RAM in your laptop, the more it can do at once. Check that the RAM on your potential laptop can be added to or upgraded. RAM comes in different types called DDR, DDR2, DDR3 with DDR3 being the fastest and most expensive. We recommend a minimum of 1GB RAM to start with for basic operations in a Windows environment, check that your laptop can be upgraded with more RAM before purchasing your laptop.

Hard Drive - information is stored on a Hard Drive within the computer. Laptops and notebooks usually have a minimum of 160GB; with very small net books starting at 4G RAM which can be supplemented by plugging in an external Hard Drive. Also, don't forget to look at the speed of the hard drive, usually 5400rpm or 7200rpm. Buy the fastest you can afford within your budget.

Graphics (Video) Card - these come in two types - dedicated and integrated and process only video. If you are planning to play a lot of games, touch up hundreds of photos on a regular basis or other graphic intensive tasks, look for the fastest graphics card with at least 512MB RAM dedicated. For watching movies, and a few photo tasks, then the integrated graphics on even the most basic laptops will do just fine.

Disk Drives - reading and burning from DVDs, CDs and even blu-ray discs. If you do not need to do this often, external disk drives can also be plugged in to your laptop.

Screen - consider this factor carefully, if you will be using the laptop on a desk and not moving it, a 17" screen laptop model is a worthwhile purchase. However, if you want a lightweight machine to take with you, a 10" screen may be more suitable.

Weight - laptops range in weight from 2 pounds to 10 or 11 depending mostly on screen size of the laptop.

Battery Life - Check this carefully, if you need a laptop you can use all day, something with a 3 hour battery life will not suit you. However, secondary batteries can usually be purchased separately.

Speakers - most laptops have these built in to the casing, as well as the ability to plug in higher powered speakers, microphones and headphones.

Webcams - quite often built in to bezel at the top of the screen. If you plan to use VOIP applications such as Skype we recommend looking for a budget laptop with inbuilt webcam for convenience, although webcams can be purchased separately and plugged in to most laptops.

These are most of the terms you will see when looking at new budget laptops, which should help you to understand laptop buying jargon and what it means to you. Why not keep a copy of this information handy next time you are browsing for the best budget laptop for you!

The Best Budget Laptops of 2009

The Best Budget Laptops of 2009

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 15.6-inch: I have always loved full-sized laptops as they are so much more practical and easy to use. The larger screen makes work and watching movies much easier and the full-sized keyboards are also good to use. Coincidentally, they also happen to be some of the most affordable laptop models. The Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 15.6-inch laptop for instance costs only around $579 per unit and it comes with specs that would prove to be more than sufficient for the average user. This model has made it to his list because of its great specs-to-price ratio, and also purely for the fact that it is a Toshiba machine. This model comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-core T4300 processor (2.1Ghz), 500GB for storage and 4GB of RAM. The RAM is upgradeable to a maximum of 8GB.

HP G60-501NR 15.6-Inch Laptop: No list would ever be complete without a HP laptop. HP has over the years consistently produced some of the best and most affordable laptops in the market. For instance you can get the HP G60-501NR starting from just around $399. This model has a 2.2Ghz Intel Celeron 900 processor, 160GB for storage and 2GB of DDR2 RAM (Max 4GB).

Acer AS5738Z-4111 15.6-Inch Laptop: Acer is another household name when it comes to affordable laptops. The Acer AS5738Z-4111 comes with a 2.1Ghz processor, 320GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The great thing about Acer laptops is that they are always very well designed (aesthetically). This 15.6-inch model for instance looks really posh with its rounded corners and smooth edges. It definitely looks way more expensive that it is. At the moment, this model retails for around $525 per unit.

Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 11.6-Inch Laptop: If you have been following my reviews throughout this year, you may have noticed that the tiny Acer Aspire AS1410-8414 has been one of my favorite laptop models this year. I love the fact that his laptop combines the affordability of a netbook with the performance of a regular laptop. This model is currently selling for around $422 each, which is a great bargain for this laptop.

Acer Laptops Refurbished

Look on the internet and you can find access to Refurbished Laptops from top manufacturers including refurbished Acer Laptops. You will find a large selection of secondhand and refurbished Acer laptops. These laptops are a great choice if you want to get in on the portable revolution. One of your the best options available is to look around EBay or other auction sites for used laptops and refurbished laptops that offer some great savings to you.

Refurbished

Refurbished laptops have been around for a long time and I believe they will only continue to grow in popularity as people everywhere are catching on to the incredible savings. Refurbished laptops are significantly less than a new laptop computer and the best part is that it is easier than ever to hook them up to a home network. All upgraded refurbished laptop parts include warranties along with any other additional accessories specified in the refurbished laptop computer. Refurbished laptops are checked, analyzed, repaired, and updated laptops where a used laptop is normally sold as is after it has been used with no quality check or evaluation. Refurbished laptops are carefully repaired and are certified before they are resold.

Acer

Acer laptops have a well-deserved reputation for being some of the best laptops in the world. Acer will also stand behind their refurbished laptops and give a "90 day warranty". Acer laptops are a great value to buyers working within a budget.

Price

Refurbished laptops are a good value as the customer gets upgraded models with faster speeds, more memory, and more features at an affordable price. Refurbished laptops are good choice if you are truly on a budget don't forget to look at Acer, and Averatec, as these to manufacturers strive to provide the consumer with vary good and reliable laptop at some of the best prices you will find. Shop around and I'm sure you will find a laptop which is right for your needs and at an affordable price. If you are looking for a laptop and wondering what your brand of choice should be, your first decision should not be the brand it should be looking for a laptop that is capable of performing the task you need. After all the reason your purchasing a different laptop is to become more productive or for enhanced performance, so make sure it will handle the job and then search for an acceptable price.

For great deals and discounts on used and refurbished Acer laptops check out what is available on the internet. You will find offers on some of the best available prices on the internet. You can save a substantial amount of money with a Refurbished Acer Laptop. If you want to get in on the portable revolution, while saving some money then one of your best options available is to look around on the internet for used laptops. There are many sites which have a great selection of new, used and refurbished Acer laptops available.

Acer Motherboard - Tips For Repairing Your Acer Laptop

A few years back Acer was one of the smaller brands of laptops, however they have made themselves quite a name with their quality. Despite the quality if any laptop there comes a time when upgrades and repairs are needed, and the same has to be said for Acer. One costly repair that many owners have had to experience is the Acer motherboard - whether you repair or replace the motherboard on your Acer it can be quite costly - well, that was until now.

If you are in need if a new motherboard for your Acer then you may have done a little searching online and seen the average cost of a new Acer motherboard standing at around $150. You then also probably thought the same as me, that is nearly half way to buying a new computer! So what other options do we have to obtain an Acer motherboard at a great price, and yet still receive the quality that Acer has come to be known for.

Many will say try sites such as Craigslist, OLX or even eBay, and sure enough you will most probably find an Acer motherboard that meets your requirements, however there is very little assurance of the quality of the part when you purchase in this manner, so you are better off seeking a site that will sell you the motherboard for your Acer for the same price but with some guarantee - and yes, these sites do exist.

Providing you make the right choice when you are using a laptop spare part store online you can receive not only the great price we have mentioned but a whole host of benefits that include a Never Fail guarantee, meaning that your part is guaranteed to work when it reaches you as it is tested thoroughly prior to leaving the warehouse, also you can find stores that will offer free shipping on your Acer motherboard and a variety of payment options including PayPal.

With all these benefits available to you on top of a professional and friendly service and the ease of contacting the company for any queries pre or post sales you can rest assured that there is no need to take a gamble on sites such as EBay when you buy your Acer motherboard replacement.

Computer Repair Centers 101

Computer repair centers are invaluable for people who have broken PCs, desktops, laptops, Macs, and so forth.

Computer repair centers serve 3 functions:

1) Fix hardware problems
2) Fix software problems
3) Serve as a training center for computer technicians and computer support personnel
These repair centers for laptops and desktops are incredibly helpful because they:
1) Are generally cheap and inexpensive
2) Will solve 99% of problems thus saving you time and hassle
3) Are very experienced in dealing with the most common issues (eg, broken monitor, failing hard drive,
slow computers)

You should first do computer troubleshooting on your own - click here for some key advice.
To find the right computer support shop for you, you should use a Google Search for terms such as:
-Computer repair center
-Computer support center
-Local computer technicians
-Online computer support

These are just a start. It's best to find something local - area computer experts are generally more convenient should there be any hassles in fixing your desktop or laptop.
In this article, I will cover a few key things you should know about PC repair and support stores - including pricing, timing, warranties, and the like.

Pricing
These repair shops are generally affordable, but make sure to get a quote upfront. This is vital to protecting your assets and your pocketbook. If it's a broken hard drive, have a cost estimate by doing online research. So forth for any problems - including software and hardware. Pricing should usually run by the hour - technicians and support people are paid hourly. In general, like car repair, there will be a parts fee and a labor fee. Make sure to doublecheck the computer parts fee to make sure the price is reasonable.
The computer labor fee is generally an hourly wage to technicians and repair people, which should run $20-$50 depending on level of expertise.

If you have a desktop PC, it's generally easy. Laptop PCs are more expensive because hard drives are smaller, motherboards are tinier, and monitors are specialized.
If you have a Mac, take it to an Apple Store - the geniuses will generally help solve all problems.
Timing

Generally computer repairs shouldn't take more than 2 weeks tops. It may take some time to order hardware parts, but that won't take longer than 2 weeks at most.
Most problems - such as a broken motherboard or lack of RAM - should be fixed within 24-48 hours.
Make sure they know it's an urgent computer problem - this will help them fix your laptop faster.
Warranties

Whether you have a Dell or an IBM, an HP or an ACER, be very careful about voiding warranties. By taking your precious Thinkpad to a local laptop repair center, you could void the hardware warranty. This means that if your laptop dies, IBM won't replace the Thinkpad for you - you're on your own.
The same applies for Dell Latitudes, Acer laptops, Hewlett Packard models, pretty much any desktop or laptop PC brands. Call customer service to verify warranties and where/when you would void any insurance.
Final issues

Finally, be sure to do diligence on local PC repair shops. You never know the quality of work you'll get - read reviews on computer shopping sites, ask technician friends and computer experts, call your laptop manufacturer to get recommendations.

With something as important as your computer, before you take it into any shop, do your research. Backup all files if you can - and also make copies and write lists down of key hardware and software components so you know exactly what you're giving them and what was in it You don't want to have to worry about stolen hardware parts or stolen data files. I hope that helps! Best of luck fixing your computer at the local repair center. Cheers.

How to Spot an Inexpensive Laptop Online

Laptops have slowly been considered an essential in the workplace. You don't need to haggle for the last PC user or spend long hours in the office when you can finish an important PowerPoint presentation at home. However, with their fame and demand, laptops may be expensive and may demand a large portion of your budget. As a principle, the more features it has and the smaller it gets, the more expensive it becomes. You don't need to file a loan in the bank as there is a cheap laptop sold online. Here are some tips to find your dream laptop computer:

• Know exactly what you really want in a laptop. Try writing a list before buying. Also, check the pc's specs and decide whether you really wanted the latest, expensive version for your needs.

• Before buying, try window shopping first and compare prices at least a month before buying. Visit websites and look for promos. You may also use Google in finding images for the latest laptop models like the acer laptop or Toshiba laptop.

• You can also look into newspapers or leaflets for some community stores. Maybe, they also have promos and limited stocks of laptop models.

• Take time to watch videos or demonstrations of a company's agent on how he/she used the laptop. Be particular for slight fan sound or the keyboard efficiency. Check whether the model is user-friendly.

• If you have chosen a laptop, also consider other benefits of the online store. Check if they give freebies and other laptop essentials like laptop bags. Also be particular with the warranty and repair services that they offer. Also check whether the company's prescribed shipping fee is justifiable or not.

• If you decide to buy a second-hand laptop, check its parts carefully. As much as possible, you can schedule for a personal meet-up of the seller.

Be careful. Be open-minded and be practical. Finding a laptop should not stress you that much. Carefully weigh down the pros and cons before buying and ask for a second opinion when needed.

Recovering Deleted Files - How Can I Retrieve Deleted Files on My Computer Hard Drive?

Do you wonder how to retrieve deleted files? A recovery software application could be the right way to do it. It makes the process of recovering lost files not just easy but extremely quick as well.

There are umpteen reasons why a file could be deleted by accident. Some of them include careless deletion, crashing of system, failure of software, sudden shut down of system, virus infestation, corruption of drives and so on and so forth.

But with a feature laden software application at hand you can stop worrying about how to retrieve deleted files. You will be having the power to restore files that have been deleted even from the recycle bin. Not only that you can restore files like data files, audio files, video files, zip files, emails and more.

In such an application, the algorithm used would typically look for original file contents that are still intact on the designated drives (without being over written with other content) and then would rebuild the same to bring out the file as the recovered file. It could even have the ability to partially reconstruct deleted and over written content.

It would be great if this sort of recovery application is available at a reasonable cost. If the amount would refunded in case you are not fully satisfied with the product, it would be an added advantage to buyers. A trial version that would help understand the nuances of the product would be welcome too.

A good recovery application will not take up much space on your system. It would be easy to install and have simple and advanced options to handle all kinds of file recovery. Some of the feature highlights that could make this sort of tool popular among home as well as professional users are:

o Ability to recovers files/ folders from all kinds of media including fixed drives, floppy drives and hard drives
o Capability to scan for files that are ready for recovery in a matter of minutes
o Answer to people who want to know how to retrieve deleted files 
o Able to look for files by using file names partially or fully
o Batch recovery that should let you restore files in bulk
o Disks with bad sectors should be handled
o Drives larger than 8GB should also be supported
o Should run on IDE/ATA/SCSI hard drives as well

Just go to the link shown below to download and learn how to retrieve deleted files.