Here at WeConnect Energy, one of our most experienced consultants in this area is Scottish-born but now UAE-based, Andrew Pretswell.  In this blog article, the WeConnect Marketing team and Andrew layer their experiences and insights into the world of executive search.  

Three months since he made the international relocation Andrew reports that he is loving his time in the UAE. He notes the obvious differences – finally feeling the warmth of a blazing sun, and he is relishing the fact that he can be outdoors in a t-shirt at any time of the day! Andrew was also keen to mention the hospitable culture, cars the size of buses, and the impressive infrastructure throughout the UAE. What’s more, he’s enjoying liaising with WeConnect Energy’s extensive network of professionals in the region, and he is impressed by the volume of high-value corporate opportunities available to jobseekers. He mentioned that there is a thriving and energetic international community, which contributes to the overall growth and dynamism in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

What is Executive Search?

`Executive search, also known as headhunting, is a specialised recruitment service tailored for sourcing top-tier executive talent. This service can be critical for organisations seeking to fill senior-level and executive positions, where the impact of leadership is profound on the company's direction, culture, and performance. It’s a market that is seeing considerable growth, and one driven due to a plethora of global issues – post Covid-19 uncertainty, inflation/cost of living crisis, a lack of top talent combined with time to hire issues have left this market with many volatile influences. The market for executive search recruitment in 2023 in the UK was approximately £1.7 billion. Additionally, according to a report published just this year by Technavio, the global executive search services market size is forecast to increase by £21.7 billion, between 2023 and 2028.

Executive search involves the proactive reaching out to professionals who exemplify leadership, strategic thinking, and the skills and mentality necessary to operate in high-stakes roles. A search assignment is not simply trawling through profiles to find someone who is held a certain role in a certain industry for 15+ years. So, how is it done then? Well, our executive search consultants delve deep into the industry, leveraging their connected networks and insights to identify potential candidates. Andrew states that ‘more than often we find those who are not actively seeking any new opportunities, but whose expertise and attitudes perfectly match with those of our clients.’ When the majority of candidates are employed and not actively looking, this adds a new layer of complexity to the hiring process. Not only do you have to sell the role, but you also have to convince the candidate that this new opportunity is too good to miss.

Andrew continues: “this recruitment service requires us to be able to connect the dots, as we can only be successful if we have a thorough understanding of the client's organisational ethos, the demands of the role and also the team in which we will be placing the candidates into.” The aim is not to simply fill a vacancy but rather, to build a day one strategic alignment between the executive's vision and the company's long-term goals. We take the time to understand the team dynamics and the individual characters within the immediate team where we will place the candidate. By going the extra mile, we ensure that both the client and candidate are fully satisfied and that the chances of success are increased. Andrew states that given the level of responsibility and how most of our candidates are placed in leadership roles, this soft fit, personality fit, is absolutely vital for success – they need to be able to manage change not just from a personal level, but also their team.

This holistic approach ensures the integration of leaders who not only flourish within the client company, but importantly, foster a cohesive corporate culture that ensures both parties are satisfied, ultimately this is what a successful engagement looks like for WeConnect Energy.

This is what we excel at in WeConnect Energy, specialising in sourcing top-tier talent across the energy sectors, from Upstream, Low Carbon and Renewables, and Corporate. We have successfully placed experienced corporate professionals for a broad range of disciplines, roles including a Group Chief of HSE and Executive Vice Presidents.

What are the benefits of executive search recruitment?

One of the foremost advantages of engaging in our services is that our executive search function offers unparalleled access to a pool of top-tier talent. Thanks to over 15 years of networking, we have an established network of high-calibre professionals, including those not visible or accessible through conventional job markets. This capability is crucial for roles where not just any candidate will do, and where the unique blend of skills, experience, and leadership qualities can significantly influence your company's trajectory.

“Having a nuanced understanding of the leadership qualities that drive success in specific areas of the energy sector is business critical for success,” states Andrew. Our expertise goes beyond just the recruitment piece; our team has a keen sense of the market dynamics thanks to the experience level of our employees.”

One component of understanding the market is knowing what skills are important for what roles, something which can only properly be gained through experience working the market. Andrew points out that the clear shift to a skills-based approach to hiring after years of emphasising the importance of degrees can be challenging for many organisations. This skills-first view is an approach many recruiters and their clients are taking, with 73% of professionals saying hiring based on skills is a priority. Andrew then spoke about the significant benefits this prioritisation can bring to a company. Beyond degrees, our executive search approach strongly focuses on the alignment of a candidate's vision, values, and leadership style with the client organisation's culture, vision and strategic objectives.

On a final note, one standout difference in this hiring process is the level of secrecy and confidentiality that needs to be maintained. The executive search process is inherently discreet, this offers companies the ability to scout for potential candidates without unsettling internal dynamics and team culture or worse, tipping off competitors. This level of confidentiality is especially vital when recruiting for roles that could significantly impact the market perception of your company, or when looking to replace current leaders without causing disruptions. It’s worth noting that one of the key benefits of partnering with a competent company like WeConnect Energy is the speed at which roles are filled. A standout USP of WeConnect Energy is our impressive time to hire rate. While the market average hovers around 150 days or more, in general, we are able to deliver significantly quicker than that.  

How do we improve on the traditional recruitment process?

“In my opinion, WeConnect Energy has a cleverly layered approach to finding that perfect fit, combining just the right mix of psychometric and traditional interview stages”, Andrew suggests. He also emphasises the importance of thorough interview preparation as part of these stages, stating that this is a critical component to ensure both the client role and candidate are the perfect fit.

“The closest anyone ever comes to perfection is how they present themselves in their résumé.”  Stanley J. Randall

As the experts involved in sourcing your company’s next leader, WeConnect Energy plays a crucial role in coordinating the interview process. We ensure that both candidates and clients are well-prepared and that interactions are a mix of testing and constructive. We act as strategic advisors, aiding our candidates by providing detailed assessments and comparative analyses of the final candidates.

What benefit does this multi-layered approach serve? Well as Stanley J. Randall, author, and philosopher sums up, one big issue is that: “The closest anyone ever comes to perfection is how they present themselves in their résumé.” Andrew suggests that the reason WeConnect Energy conducts such a comprehensive review of each person is to truly gauge a candidate's suitability beyond their CV, ensuring they present a true version of themselves. This evaluation should help ensure long-term success by allowing the client to understand who they are hiring, while preparing the candidate to effectively tackle their new role.  

As part of our comprehensive evaluation process, candidates undergo a robust series of assessments. Andrew points out that this includes pre-screening calls, detailed discussions on remuneration and benefits, interview preparation (for which our candidates are always grateful), reference checks, and psychometric tests when required.

These steps help us gauge not only their experience and skills but also their soft skills and compatibility with the company's culture and values. This thorough vetting ensures that only the most suitable candidates are presented to the client, saving time and resources for everyone involved. We also maintain frequent follow-ups with candidates at each stage and keep a clear line of communication open to address all their questions throughout the process.

Andrew notes that candidates are generally very thankful for this level of support and for the constant updates our team ensures to provide.

The conclusion of successful interview stages involves negotiations regarding compensation, benefits, and other terms of employment. WeConnect Energy facilitate these discussions to help ensure a satisfactory arrangement for both parties.  

On a final note, it is important to highlight that a well communicated and appropriately managed hiring process plays a crucial role in the overall brand experience for both WeConnect Energy and the hiring client. Andrew notes, “In my experience, the way candidates feel about the hiring process has become a critical deciding factor. I have seen firsthand that even in this challenging job market, candidates are being selective. The communication during the recruitment process, how the recruiter managed it, and how candidates were received by others in the hiring organisation, are given greater weight than ever before. One of our main USP’s is that WeConnect Energy manage not just the process, but that overall candidate experience.”

Why choose WeConnect Energy?

Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of what Executive Search is, and how we can help you. Our approach is straightforward and partnering with us provides you with that peace of mind and a reassurance that you are dealing with talent matchmakers. We provide efficient executive search solutions for C-level and senior leadership appointments. Whether you require technical, commercial, or executive search services on a permanent recruitment or a consultancy arrangement basis, we provide the right solutions to meet your needs.  

If you are looking to hire a new executive in the near future, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. If Andrew can help you land your next role in the energy industry or perhaps can help you with your hiring needs, then please feel free to contact him directly – he would be delighted to assist.