Local and global knowledge

InterSearch is an international organisation for executive search and selection that operates in more than 40 countries around the world. InterSearch has been based in Finland since the year 1989. Our Offices are located in Helsinki and Turku. Executive Search at InterSearch is carried out through compact country-specific organisations characterised by entrepreneurial spirit.

Keeper of confidential information

In its use of Internet technology, InterSearch is a global forerunner. Working processes are considerably speeded up by the global IS-InfoCentre and our own database system. Our information systems have been approved and validated by the Office of the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman.

Worldwide training in InterSearch Academy

Our consultants participate annually in training programmes arranged by the InterSearch Academy. During the training, they learn about methods of international recruitment and establish personal contacts with colleagues from other countries.

Quality development and memberships

The SQC (Standard & Quality Committee) has created an exclusive, internal quality system for InterSearch Worldwide, which has been used for standardising working processes. The tasks of the SQC include guiding and supervising the member companies, as well as active intervention if professional principles or methods agreed upon are neglected.
We are a member of The Finnish Management Consultants Association (LJK). We have thus committed ourselves to following the best practices in our field of operations.

Skills of our consultants

Our consultants possess unique combination domestic and international labour market knowledge, behavioural science and commercial education, management work experience and many years' experience in actual expert functions within the field of human resource management.

We are particularly specialised in

• Food manufacturing industry
• Pharmaceutical and health care
• Insurance
• Metal industry and
• ICT-sector

Consultant's responsibilities

As a provider of management consulting services we have described our core professional responsibilities as follows:

• A consultant must understand the initial circumstances expressed by client, and make sure all bids and actions are suitable for that
• A consultant must keep to the agreed schedule
• A consultant makes sure that interaction with customer, as well as with candidates, will be as frequent as required by circumstances
• A consultant must be able to responsibly deal with confidential information gathered from different sources
• A consultant represents his or her client in all stages of the project -behaviour, public appearances, know-how and knowledge must be in harmony with this principle
• Primary function of a recruiting consultant is to find suitable candidates
• A consultant must be able to reliably evaluate candidates' capacities which requires employment of all-round assessment tools
• While carrying out an assignment, conditions of contracts will be carefully followed -bearing in mind all ethical rules of this profession
• A consultant shall monitor the success of selection, and take full responsibility of tasks carried out

Practice of contracts and fees

Our bids and contracts are based on general domestic and international sets of contractual practice. Usually, principle in executive and specialist search is charging a fee equaling 30 to 35 per cent of annual salary of the selected person.

Observing these general principles we are working on the basis of making agreements only in writing. Only a signed consulting contract mandates us to represent our client in the specific recruiting project.

In accordance with our contracts we follow a policy of fixed fees, which is based on the previously mentioned general pricing practices of this sector. No surprising costs that are not included in the contract are charged to the client. Also possible situations of discontinuance are taken into account in terms of contracts. Our executive search contracts include without exceptions a psychological test for suitability of candidates on the given positions. We also have a 12-month guarantee of monitoring the success of assignments completed by us.

Executive search

Executive Search is particularly useful as a means of recruitment at executive and expert levels.

• The number of potential candidates is limited. They can be identified through research in other ways, and their interest in seeking alternative employment can be revealed through confidential contacts.
• Potential candidates may be found in several branches of business, they may be geographically scattered, and consequently, it is impossible to focus on a particular target group through advertising.
• A company is in a vulnerable stage of development, or the situation within the company requires an inconspicuous way of working. This may result from a take-over bid, the initial stage of re-organisation, a merger or another similar situation.
• New business activities are launched and the company is unwilling to disclose its plans to outsiders (the need to keep a low profile)
• The candidates of interest are employed at such a level or in such an organisation that contacts are undesirable for reasons of discretion.