When clients retain Columbia Consulting Group, they receive the firm’s commitment to execute the search in a professional manner. They also receive our commitment to fulfill their expectations, no matter what it takes. Because our consultants are intimately involved with every aspect of the assignment, they do not delegate the search to junior associates. And unlike larger firms, Columbia Consulting Group will stay with our client until a successful candidate is hired.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
CONFIDENTIALITY
Organizations making strategic management changes often desire that the search be confidential. At the same time, executives being considered for the position must also be highly discreet as they negotiate with their potential future employer.
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH
Our executive search practice is based on an international consulting network supported by in-depth research into the dynamics of the client’s business, markets, competition, and environment. We do original research for each assignment, identifying sectors, companies, and sources within the target industries or functions to fulfill the client’s needs. We also maintain contacts with attorneys, accountants, industry analysts and professional associations, and consultants connected with the target industries. These research activities are handled by our industry-experienced staff members who are committed to quality and confidentially. We are looking for the top talent, who are currently successful and not often looking to make a move, and convincing them to consider our client’s opportunity.
GUARANTEE
Columbia Consulting Group will guarantee any individual hired through our assistance, for a period of one full year, so long as the position for which the candidate was hired does not materially change, at no cost to the client organization other than the candidate and consultant expenses. This guarantee will only be honored if all invoices submitted in connection with the original search have been paid in accordance with the terms stated thereon.
OFF-LIMITS POLICY
Columbia Consulting Group will not recruit from a client for two years following the completion of the last search assignment, and will never recruit the candidate hired by our client.
ETHICS AND STANDARDS
Columbia Consulting Group follows the best practices of The Association of Executive Search Consultants, Inc. (AESC), which is the preeminent professional association representing executive search and leadership consulting firms worldwide. These standards govern all consulting work conducted as we strive, every day, to be trusted advisors for our clients.
Integrity – conduct ourselves and our business activities with absolute integrity and are at all times open, honest, and worthy of trust.
Excellence – focus on our clients’ unique business needs, providing high quality service and using rigorous results-focused methodologies.
Objectivity – serve as trusted advisors, exercising independent, objective judgment.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest – avoid conflicts of interest with clients and candidates. Where a potential conflict may exist, members disclose and resolve those conflicts.
DIVERSITY CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT
When it comes to the subject of proactive diversity and inclusion, Columbia Consulting Group has an excellent track record. Since 1998, when we began tracking this type of data, 25% of our searches have been completed with the engagement of diversity candidates. To accomplish this, we have developed an extensive diverse database of highly qualified individuals with whom we continuously network.
Growing competition in the marketplace has driven organizations to develop marketing strategies that appeal to a diverse range of customers –whether selling a product or recruiting an executive. Their success, particularly in the consumer arena, goes straight to the bottom line. When it comes to recruiting and retaining quality talent, savvy employers no longer believe that a diversity initiative is simply the “right” thing to do; they know it is a business imperative.
The desire for a diverse workforce is a growing challenge. In their quest to find executives who reflect the communities and markets they serve, today’s hiring managers are skillfully leveraging the diversity of their organizations’ talent to increase recruitment success and retention goals, and increase employee morale.
Columbia Consulting Group’s growing Diversity Practice is a direct result of our clients’ recognition of the power of a diverse workforce. In recent years, CCG has been asked to recruit Chief Diversity Officers, as well as executives for consulting firms which specialize in diversity and inclusion. More profound is the growing mandate by our clients to see a diverse slate of candidates. As such, our databases of candidates, referral sources, and organizations which focus on diversity reflects a comprehensive array of relevant resources.
Our policy is to strive to develop a diverse slate of candidates for every search for which we are retained. Columbia Consulting Group regularly interfaces with diversity-focused organizations, such as, the Asian MBA Association, American Women in Government, National Association of Female Executives, American Association of People with Disabilities, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, the Hispanic MBA Association, the Leadership Forum and a host of other affinity organizations during the course of a search. Our firm recognizes that diversity includes more factors than race, sex, and age – we understand the breadth of diversity elements and the need for all of these elements to be respected and valued as vital to the health of organizations in today’s society.
Overall, Columbia Consulting Group has a strong reputation for networking extensively to ensure a diverse pool of candidates is considered for each search engagement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY
Columbia Consulting Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. It is our policy not to discriminate against any employee or candidate for employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, disability or genetic information, or veteran status. This policy, to not discriminate in employment, applies to the internal hiring practices of Columbia Consulting Group and in dealings with our client companies.