Use recruiting firms

As a human resources professional, the search for a new county chief executive officer seems flawed to me. The county placed ads in numerous newspapers throughout the country. How were the states and newspapers selected? Did we get the best of the best? How many qualified current CEO candidates are scouring the want ads looking for this type of position?

Why not use a professional recruiting firm? Having been involved in a CEO search, we found the use of an outside firm invaluable. Their task was to find the best candidates out of a nationwide search for our board of directors to interview and select from. This is more expensive, but also more thorough if you’re using a quality firm.

If they specialize in government, they know the top candidates. On the downside, these firms get paid whether the client selects one of their candidates or not, but if they didn’t supply excellent candidates they wouldn’t be in business very long.

The county’s process may produce good candidates but it’s open to criticism and may appear as going through the motions. And no, I’m not a professional recruiter.

Jim Boggs

Spokane