Clients
10 HELPFUL QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE ENGAGING A SEARCH FIRM
Listed below are 10 questions you should always ask BEFORE engaging a search firm who “specializes” in renewable power; we have provided our answers to assist you in your decision making process when vetting renewable power search firms.
1. Question: Have you actually completed a search for a renewable power development company?
Our answer would be: Yes. A sampling of our clients includes Solar Manufacturers (CoolEarth, FirstSolar, Prism Solar and ET Solar), Utility Developers (FirstSolar, LS Power, and UPC Solar), Integrators (Tioga Energy and Borrego Solar) and various “under the radar” startups.
2. Question: Can you offer references from all of these companies?
Our answer would be: Yes. A sampling of our references can be viewed here: Our Testimonials.
3. Question: What are the titles of renewable searches you have conducted?
Our answer would be: A sampling of some of our searches include Solar Manufacturers (Director of Module Sales, VP Product Development, Both Mechanical and Optical Principal Engineers, VP Manufacturing, Director of R&D, CFO, Director of Sales), Utility Developers Wind and Solar (Director Project Development-greenfield to finance handoff, Director Transmission, Director Land Management, Director R&D, Director of Operations, VP Operations), Integrators ( VP Sales, Director of Sales, Commercial Sales Manager, Director of Solar Engineering, Manager of Engineering, Solar Design Manager), EPC Companies (Director of Construction, Director of Engineering, VP Finance, Director of Finance, Controller, VP Engineering, VP EPC Services).
4. Question: How much of your company’s resources are directed toward renewable power?
Our answer would be: 100%. Our firm has as many as 25 searches at any one time all within the renewable power industry.
5. Question: Do you know what CAISO is? How about WAPA? SEPA?
Our answer would be: Yes, yes, and yes. In fact, we have met with several members of CAISO and toured their Folsom, California facility. We also arranged for one of our CEO clients and our President to meet a senior member of the Western Area Power Authority to discuss land lease opportunities. We are currently a member of SEPA.
6. Question: Have you ever attended the largest solar event in North America and can you name it?
Our answer would be: Yes, we have. In fact, we will be attending this year’s conference. For more information follow this link: http://www.solarpowerinternational.com/
7. Question: Have you been retained for multiple searches by one of the largest domestic thin film solar manufacturer in the US when it launched its Utility Development Division and did you actively participate in the organizational development of that group and provide salary and talent surveys?
Our answer would be: Yes. Here is what Richard Gruber, VP Development, First Solar had to say about Elite Search International; "We retained ESI to fill multiple roles within our Project Development, Americas group. As a result of ESI's extensive search efforts, they were able to deliver several highly qualified candidates for each of the roles, well within the desired time frame. We quickly identified our number one (1) candidate for each position and we were able to successfully extend & negotiate offers of employment, gain acceptance, and relocate as necessary. All-in-all, the ESI team did an outstanding job."
8. Question: How long has your firm been in business?
Our answer would be: Over 10 years. ESI was founded in July of 1998.
9. Question: Does anyone outside of your firm view you as an expert in executive search?
Our answer would be: ESI management was sought out and quoted about possible leadership changes at Fortune 100 Companies by both Dow Jones Newswires and StreetInsider.com.
10. Question: How do you find, recruit, and present top talent when it is so hard for us to do it?
Our answer would be: Our diligence and reputation allow us to have hundreds of conversations every week with the players in our industry. We seek to identify, coach, and mentor the A+ talent on a daily basis using our tried and true formula of “hard work!” We have created a proprietary database of thousands of contacts which allows us to network with the knowledgeable players in our industry to know what’s happening before it happens.
Elite Search International works diligently to meet your executive recruitment needs:
- We understand our client’s critical and urgent executive hiring needs.
- We provide realistic executive job specifications and descriptions through service to our clients and prospective candidates.
- Our executive search process is ongoing. We never stop looking for the best executives.
- We assist our clients in maintaining a timely schedule throughout the executive search process, including through negotiations.
- We eliminate candidates not suited for our client’s needs.
- We offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits, ongoing training, career growth opportunities, and enviable working conditions to our executive recruitment specialists, thereby employing and retaining the best recruiters to serve our clients.
Executive Search & Recruiting Fees
All Executive Search Fees are based on the level of service needed to fit your needs. Our fees are highly competitive and are set on an individual basis.