About SearchSpecifics
Message from the Founder and Managing Director
By 2005, I had spent quite some time in executive recruitment, and had become aware of some acute issues – both specific to South Africa and general to the search industry – which affected how and whether the industry was meeting the needs of clients and candidates. Simply put, there was a gap between what clients and candidates expected and what the industry was actually delivering. It is this that pushed me into founding SearchSpecifics, with the idea that we can do more and we can do it better. This commitment crystallised in my mind.
I was determined to create an executive search practice that:
- Provides clients with the highest quality and calibre of talent
- Leads the market in providing in-depth and current research
- Adapts to changes in the marketplace to accommodate our clients’ needs
- Prioritises playing an active role in managing the careers of candidates
- Works to achieve the goals of transformation
- Maintains its South Africa roots while having a global reach, and on the continent
- Upholds the highest standards of ethics, confidentiality and professionalism
- Consistently enhances the image of Executive Search firms as adding value to clients and candidates
- Use in-depth research methodology and leverage our extensive network, locally and globally to produce results for clients
- Implement a robust social investment programme that adds value to the recruitment industry
Years later, SearchSpecifics has grown to be one of South Africa’s leading executive search firms. We have achieved this by living the mantra of doing more and doing it better, and striving for the above goals. We are committed to excellence in service delivery and this is reflected in our continued success, repeat business and positive comments from both clients and candidates that we serve.
From our Parkmore offices, we use research-based methodology, an extensive depth of networks and cross-industry knowledge to provide world-class executive search services to our clients, who view us as trusted advisors and strategic partners for their executive, management and human capital needs. Our approach is underlined by a commitment to developing long-term relationships with our clients and candidates so that we are able to anticipate needs and respond proactively.
To our clients
Our search philosophy recognises that your organisation’s people play a pivotal role in achieving success. We understand that human capital drives wealth creation, and that adopting the correct approach to executive recruitment is a strategic priority for you. Our expertise allows us to thoroughly assess your organisation’s needs, challenges and opportunities, then identify – using our research-based search techniques – the individual whose talent, experience and personal ambition best match your organisation’s goals and objectives.
To our candidates
Because of your qualifications, experience and knowledge, you are probably bombarded daily by offers of the moon and the sun. They are no doubt tempting, but foremost in your mind is the question: will making the move help me achieve my long-term career goals? At SearchSpecifics, we have guided many successful executives and have the industry expertise to not only help you answer that question, but also counsel you on your overall career objectives. It is of the utmost importance to us that we place you in an organisation where you can grow and excel.
I encourage you to explore our website where you will learn more about the benefits we provide to clients and candidates, the services we provide and what our clients say. You can also contact me or one of the members of our team here.
About Our Clients
We provide services to clients in both the public and private sector. Our niche industries include petroleum, mining, financial services, fast-moving consumer goods and telecommunication, however our reach and expertise extends to a broader range of industries. Our clients are among the top 100 in their sectors and are often considered industry leaders.
We aim to play an integral part in our client’s successes by using our knowledge and expertise to supply them with the highest calibre of senior managers and executives. We are committed to transformation and are the market leader in the areas of black empowerment and gender professional placement.
Links:
- Click here to read more on the benefits we provide to clients and candidates
- Click here to read what our clients and candidates have to say about us
Our Leadership and Team
Zinhle holds a Bachelor of Social Science acquired from Rhodes University. She later qualified with a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management.
Her career began with a Global Executive Search Firm where she served as a researcher. This exposure gave her extensive knowledge and understanding of a range of industries and disciplines. She also learnt about the global and standard processes of the search industry. It also provided an excellent grounding for her future role in the search industry. Zinhle was later headhunted by another South African search firm into a senior role as an Account Executive. In this new role she was responsible for developing business throughout the South African market. It was in this period that her passion for the industry flourished as she bagan to perfect her skills in the processes and saw the potential to improve on the offerings by establishing her own executive search firm
Zinhle has extensive experience in search and selection for Executive Directors, non-Executive Directors, Middle and Senior Management across a wide range of industry sectors both locally as well as internationally. Whilst she is responsible for giving strategic direction to the team, positioning the company locally and globally she also runs a very profitable desk alongside the rest of the consulting team. Her expertise have become so widely recognised that she is often invited to participate in panel discussions in the media relating to the Executive Search industry and generally participate in topical discussions on employment and recruitment matters in South Africa and Globally.
Links:
- Click here to contact a member of our team
- Click here to read what our clients and candidates have to say about our team
Our Services
We provide executive level and management echelon recruitment services. We do this through using executive search and placement, advertised selection and networking.
Executive Search and Placement Process:
Market Research:
We meet with our clients to take a comprehensive brief, and then use distinct methodologies to identify suitable candidates, including in-depth research as well as networking.
We then present our client with a detailed research report that identifies the industry leaders and niche specialists in their market segment.
Headhunting:
We then confidentially approach and screen candidates on a one-on-one basis before presenting a detailed shortlist of candidates together with their CVs and interview notes. Finally, we facilitate interviews between our client and the candidates for the final selection.
Advertised Selection:
We identify top management talent through electronic and print media, screenings and one-on-one interviews. We also have an extensive network – built up over many years of close, collaborative relationships – which we can tap into to fulfil our client’s human capital needs.
Board Appointments:
We also offer our clients a service to identify suitable candidates for board appointments. This will also include identification of committee members for specialised areas like Risk and Audit, Operations, HR, etc.
Candidate Prepping:
Before candidates meet the client for an interview we undertake an extensive process of preparing the candidate. This will involve briefing the candidate on the company, the division they are being considered for and the company culture. Also general issues like self presentation, communication. In addition the standard rules relating to the do’s and don’t of an interview.
Value Adding Services:
To ensure that the preferred candidates to be placed have correctly represented their accomplishments we also facilitate the verification of their information. This includes the following:
Identification
Checking that the Identification number matches the candidate
Credentials/Qualifications verification
Psychometric Testing
Should the client also need psychometric test to validate the competencies and personality attributes of the preferred candidates, we will recommend and facilitate such service providers whose services we often utilise.
Referencing
As part of the process in-depth references are conducted from three referees provided by the candidate.
All these steps will ensure that when the ideal candidate is placed the information supplied has been verified and is a correct representation of the candidate.
Links