Ever gotten to the end of a search only to have your favorite candidate turn down your offer? Ever get tripped up by a late entry of an internal and unqualified candidate? Ever find yourself throwing a life jacket to a candidate drowning in third party reference gossip? Executive searches are landmines ready to explode; with candidate pools larger than ever, search committees need to work harder to navigate the minefields. Let two expert recruiters help you anticipate and avoid common pitfalls.

1. Avoiding Common Pitfalls of
Mission-Driven Recruiting
Laura Gassner Otting, Founder and President
Alison Falk, Vice President
Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group LLC
October 6, 2010
Use Twitter Hashtag #npweb
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3. Today’s Speakers
Laura Gassner Otting, President
Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group
LGO@NonprofitProfessionals.com
617-527-9661
Alison Falk, Vice President
Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group
Alison@NonprofitProfessionals.com
978-890-7053
Hosting: Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
Assisting with chat questions: Chris Dumas, FirstGiving

4. When Good Searches Go Bad
Avoiding the Pitfalls
Overview
Hiring in a Hurry
Unrealistic Expectations
Death by Rumors Breaches of Confidentiality
Looking through Rose-
Bride or Bridesmaid? Colored Glasses

5. Pitfall: Hiring in a Hurry
Pitfall
#1
Watch out for:
Letting Urgency Overshadow Strategy
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Develop a strategic roadmap
• Determine who you’re looking for
• Involve staff and key constituents

6. Pitfall: Wearing
Rose-Colored Glasses Pitfall
#2
Watch out for:
Ignoring Market Perception
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Identify and understand market perceptions
• Develop compelling position descriptions to
address recruiting obstacles
• Mutual courtship

7. Pitfall: Bride or Bridesmaid?
Pitfall
#3
Watch out for:
Mishandling Internal Candidates
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Don’t encourage non-viable internal candidates
• Include staff and key constituents in construction of
position description
• Create an even playing field

8. Pitfall: Staff Role Confusion
Pitfall
#4
Watch out for:
Not Setting Clear Expectations for Staff
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Consider the staff’s point of view
• Give staff a voice in the search
• Set expectations at launch of search
• Communication is a powerful tool

9. Pitfall: Digging for Dirt
Pitfall
#5
Watch out for:
Distinguishing References From Rumors
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Designate point person to oversee references
• Counsel the search committee
• Conduct ethical “on” and “off list” references
• Understand the complete story with negative references

10. Pitfall: Spilling the Beans
Pitfall
#6
Watch out for:
Breaches of Confidentiality
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Set expectations at start of search
• Search Committee Confidentiality Agreements
• Collect materials after meetings
• “Scare them straight”

11. Pitfall: Expecting Sacrifice
Pitfall
#7
Watch out for:
Unrealistic Ideas About Compensation
Ways to Avoid the Problem:
• Discuss compensation expectations throughout
the entire search, at every stage
• Figure out creative ways to enhance total
compensation packages if necessary
• Communicate!

12. When Do You Need Help?
Hiring a
Firm
Using a Search Firm vs. Going it Alone
• Consider your organizations history with external searches
• Identify potential recruiting obstacles
• Consider staff support
• Research different consultant offerings

13. Resources: Please see our Article Library at:
http://www.NonprofitProfessionals.com

14. Find the listings for our current season of webinars
and register at
NonprofitWebinars.com
Chris Dumas
Chris@NonprofitWebinars.com
707-812-1234
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