Entry-level positions for aspiring Executive Search Analysts
Entry-level positions in executive search, such as "analyst" roles, are available straight out of college, requiring only a willingness to work hard and help others find "their dream jobs". Prior recruitment or sales experience is beneficial, but internships offer a valuable "taste" of the research involved, enabling students to explore a career in the field.
Entry-Level Jobs, Networking, Recruiting, Sales, Internships
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
David Xie
Executive Recruiter / Executive Search Associate
Forbes Top 5 Executive Search Firm
University of California, Santa Barbara - 2017
NA
International Relations & Affairs
Recruitment, HR & Related Professional Services
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level analyst positions are available at executive search firms, often recruiting directly from college graduates with little to no prior experience.
2. Summer internships are becoming more common, offering students a chance to explore executive search and gain valuable experience before committing to a full-time role.
3. Prior experience in recruitment or sales can be beneficial, though not always required, as transferable skills from other fields can be valuable in this career path.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I would say two things. One, there is a full-time position, a level below me. I'm currently an associate at the firm, so there's an analyst level. Analysts are folks who are recruited straight out of college.
You can come into this space with zero experience. If you're willing to work hard and want to help people find their dream jobs, there's a great opportunity for you to potentially join a firm like Spencer Stuart at the analyst level.
There's also been an expansion on providing summer internships for prospective seniors, and maybe even juniors in college. If you get a whiff of that, that's another great opportunity. You can come here, work for the summer, and get a taste of the research you'd be doing.
This can help you sense if this is something you'd want to pivot into after college. Otherwise, if you don't have those opportunities, any kind of recruitment level experience prior to this will also give you a leg up.
I didn't come from recruitment; I came from sales. So, there was certainly a level of adaptation that I had to make. Some of my colleagues who've come from recruitment have been able to hit the ground running faster than I have.