Tokyo Executive Search: Battle for the Best By Rosanne Vitola
There's a corporate battle brewing. Boardrooms will become bunkers; offices the trenches. The battle will not be about capital, strategy, or R & D. A recent exhaustive study involving 77 American companies and almost 6,000 managers and executives revealed the commonly held belief that talent, people who are technologically literate, and globally savvy, will be THE most important resource over the next 20 years.
As technology advances, jobs will outnumber applicants, and filling these positions will become a battle for the best. New economy businesses setting up shop in Tokyo, as well as Japanese companies restructuring, are quickly learning the value of Tokyo's finest executive search firms. (105)
What separates the true consulting firm from the get rich quick, resume-churning cowboys proliferating in the field?
Simon Childs, Managing Director for CDS Consulting says, "We offer true consulting-based services to clients, partnering with them to understand the key differentiators and success factors for their company and relaying these to the best talent on the market."CDS Consulting focuses on key managerial and board level positions for pre-IPO start-up and blue chip IT companies.
Jason Dacaret, Director, Consulting Services explains the CDS criteria for a candidate. "We try to think beyond a proven track record and high level of professional achievement, which many candidates have. Good candidates articulate their ability to identify problems and come up with creative solutions. They are 'individual team players' that aren't afraid to take calculated risks."
CDS distances themselves from the 'body shop' search firms where resumes and clients are shuffled in pursuit of a quick sales close. CDS, Childs says, "Is offering real consulting, in-depth advice and guidance aimed at long-term partnerships, repeat business, and the creation of a strong referral network."
"Our client selection process," Dacaret explains,"is very thorough, and ensures we understand our client's business models and the markets in which they compete."
With an emphasis on quality rather than quantity, CDS, entering its fourth year of business is working largely on referrals. To date they have close to a 100% success record on retained searches. (218)
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