All our candidate material and advertising include words to the effect of ‘For a preliminary, confidential conversation, please contact…’ The same will be true for other recruitment companies working on senior leadership appointments.
We take the view that preliminary conversations are often essential.
It may be interesting to know what we say to client schools about this part of our service: ‘These conversations are at the heart of a good search. They are a space for candidates to explore confidentially whether a role is for them: sometimes we will talk to an individual several times before they decide it is, at other times we will discourage those for whom it is not.’
Potential candidates sometimes come into these conversations with only the most tentative interest in a role. They have seen a role advertised that they may otherwise have skipped over – it’s in a country they have not considered, it’s not the type of school they have typically worked in, they may be a year away from leaving, it may be too big a step up. But they see we are supporting the appointment. They know us, and know they will get good advice. By the end of a first call, they may be thinking very differently – this could be for them.
Or it might not be. And that is absolutely OK. They have saved themselves time and energy, and they won’t regret not having followed up. There could be other positives: the conversation may cause them to think a little differently about their options, and we will be updated on what they are interested in.
Sometimes, the initial interest may be more substantive – actually, we may well have approached the person about the role. There are any number of issues that might be discussed. It could be digging down into the challenges and issues facing a school or the opportunities for growth and development ahead. We want to give the candidate as realistic an understanding as possible.
At other times, it could be more practical – the package, visa restrictions, accommodation arrangements, schooling options. Jean Sullivan, our Head of International Search, may be exaggerating a little when she lists dogs as the most common issue, but only a little.
The conversation is your opportunity to explore whatever is important to you, to help you make up your mind. We want to be having these conversations, and we don’t mind if it takes several calls before you decide. If you do apply, we want you to feel confident it is a role for you. It should also mean you can write that really compelling application letter! There will still be plenty to cover during the process, but you are off to a strong start.
And if you decide against – or we suggest maybe not – nothing is lost. There are candidates who tell us they appreciate that we will always be honest and straightforward if we think a role is not for them.
So, never hesitate to take up the option of a confidential conversation. It really can be helpful in so many ways.