Expert Sourcing: Q&A with Conni LaDouceur

Conni LaDouceur trains executive search consultants and research associates, challenging our fundamental assumptions about information gathering. Previously with Heidrick & Struggles, Conni will be speaking at the AESC Researchers' & Associates' Forum in Singapore, on best practices in sourcing and recruiting, sharing her passion for matching people and opportunities by blending art and science. Conni answered a few questions on how the industry is changing and what the future holds for the profession:

How has candidate sourcing changed in recent years?

The rise of the internet and the revolution of social media and mobile technology has advanced candidate sourcing tremendously, delivering data instantly and quickening the executive search process.  As a Research Associate or Associate, we access these sites and search for potential candidate based on experience, skills, certifications, geography and other criteria.  We can initially vet candidates before initial contact, making the process much easier and more efficient. Social media as a sourcing tool is on the rise. In 2015, 26% of recruiters hired someone they found on Facebook and 14% hired from Twitter. Social recruiting in 2016 will bring a major change, possibly even integrating social media directly with CVs and profiles all in one place.

Have technological solutions replaced telephone sourcing?

Beware the seduction of the Internet. It promises an easy shortcut but it's a false promise. The Internet relies on what people have said, about themselves or others, and can be misleading. It enables speedy sharing but the human intelligence, the on-the-ground research gathering still delivers advantageous analysis for selecting the best possible candidate per a client's needs.  There is a level of inaccuracy on the web that will always require phone verification. Many believe technology can deliver the most qualified talent but research professionals who do not supplement online research with telephone intelligence risk missing qualified talent that chooses to keep a low online profile, particularly those in in-demand roles.

What is the single biggest issue facing executive research professionals?

The temptation to cut corners is great, especially when a few web results prove satisfactory. Now that everyone has access to the same data and the playing field is leveled, how can you distinguish your results? Phone research and outreach continues to distinguish great search professionals', and more importantly their client companies', candidate quality results. Learning the efficient, metrics-driven process to recruit the best candidates online and by phone is empowering.

What are the key learning objectives for attendees during your session? 

• Reel in truly passive talent
• Increase candidate quality and place the most-qualified talent, not the most easily findable
• How to prepare for the cold call to include "real" calls, both successful and challenging, and how to control calls utilizing NLP/Neuro linguistics programming
• Add value to the search team beyond presenting candidates, improve your individual ROI in your firm and build your personal brand as the "Deliverer of Results" via this fun, fearless formula for success!

Click here to find out more about the AESC Researchers' & Associates' Forum in Singapore.