Virtual appointment of a CEO to lead a PE backed investment
This week Allura Partners successfully completed a virtual executive search engagement to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead a private equity (PE) backed investment. The entire process was completed via Zoom; from the initial interview with Allura Partners to first, second and third round interviews with the board, to the final strategy presentation and then the offer. The successful candidate did not personally meet anyone including the Board and his new management team. He will be virtually on-boarded in the coming weeks and will commence working from home!
On the back of this process that is shaping the norm of current recruitment processes, we asked the executive to detail his experience. Below is what he said:
I recently experienced an entirely virtual employment process for the CEO role to lead a Private Equity backed investment.
As I’m sure you can appreciate in almost every respect the actual process involved was identical to what we have all come to expect. Screening conversations and interview with the search executive, initial and subsequent meetings with hiring team, presentation of a formal and detailed strategic plan, meetings with various key stakeholders, reference checks, personality tests etc. Except of course for the simple fact that at no point did I physically meet anyone of the participants involved all of whom are based interstate.
Upon reflection I think this is just another example of how quickly we are seeing entire industries transform literally overnight off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic and just another small example of what we can achieve if and when we have to.
From my perspective, the risks associated with not meeting the hiring team in person was something I was very conscious of. We are all taught the need to make a good first impression, to build and establish rapport in those vital few seconds of meeting a new person. Not to mention the ingrained and now subconscious steps we all take to ensure a good firm handshake whilst making eye contact. In the world of videoconferencing none of these tools and techniques we rely on in our everyday life are available to us.
Then of course there are the risks related to the technology, your familiarity with it as well as your physical environment. Video cameras can be tricky things, they love and need light but not too much or the aperture closes up and you’ll look all dark and gloomy. What else can the camera see? How much of your surrounds will be visible to the interview panel? What about background noises, what’s your plan if your neighbours gardener rocks up to mow their lawn?
Now if you are a frequent video conference user as I’m sure many people are then that’s great, however if you are relatively new to it then preparation and practice is key. You do not want to be fumbling around not familiar with how to unmute your audio or video, or unable to share your screen. In my mind some of these basics form aspects of first impressions in this new virtual world.
Other considerations I pondered during my own experience is what to wear. Now in my field of work the face to face interview would have involved a suit, business shirt and perhaps a tie. As it happened I elected to go for a business shirt with no jacket.
Other important considerations of course are identical to the traditional face-to-face experience. Turn off your mobile phone, have glass of water, prepare your thoughts/ questions accordingly.
Another thing worth noting is presentation style. Obviously for the most part you will need to be seated during the presentation which is not necessarily the case in a face-to-face board room style presentation to a larger audience. As such you need to think through how you will create that same or similar presence. In this regard I think its all about the energy you can create and as such would strongly encourage you to be yourself. If you tend to talk with your hands then do so, if you are generally energetic and animated then go for it.