Search Firms See A.I. Supplementing Most Of Their Marketing Efforts

Thaddeus Andres July 30, 2024 4 mins

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI (ChatGPT) and Automation over the past year have evolved at a rapid pace. To gain a deeper understanding and the future evolution of AI’s role in the executive search process, Clockwork surveyed 179 executive search firms across the globe over a 6 week period at the end of 2023. The purpose of the survey was to identify key areas of opportunity for AI to support the search process, and gather insights around market demand for future growth for AI. This is an excerpt below on A.I.'s impact on marketing and business development for executive search firms.

Search Firms Want AI To Generate Leads By Leveraging Their Own Market Intelligence

63.4% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically tracking and notifying them of candidate turnover.
59.4% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically suggesting target contacts based on their past search work.
59.0% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically predicting when future executive departures, skills and leadership gaps will appear.
57.4% are very interested in AI notifying / alerting of a placed Candidate’s anniversary / tenure.
54.5% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically suggesting target companies to approach based on their past search work.

These key areas around candidate mobility, tenure and predictability are the exact insights that a search firm uses to create opportunities and find new leads and search work. But nearly 40.0% of search firms struggle with executing this and capitalizing on this data intelligence. The majority of search firms are very interested in AI solving for lead generation by tracking and using their own market intelligence, relationships and networks to discover and find work. In this stage, there is strong demand and opportunity for AI to automate task-based marketing campaigns and operations and escalate these leads to the Partner level, for business development in Stage 1 (Find Work).

Outbound Marketing Is An Area For Growth For AI In Stage 1 (Find Work).

54.5% of search firms are very interested in AI generating marketing materials such as blog articles, marketing email campaigns, social media posts.
43.6% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically triggering and sending MVP marketing email campaigns (matching a high quality candidate to a prospective client).

When it comes to other outbound pieces within the marketing strategy such as thought leadership, blog articles and social media posts, 54.5% of search firms are very interested and comfortable with AI handling this. Executive search firms are aware that having a strong thought leadership presence is key to demonstrating their value and personal brand, but often struggle with producing this content. The real challenge that AI and generative AI will face here is being able to summate, articulate and deliver valuable insights within this content, such as the ability to draw conclusions, make inferences and surface advisory level insights. Since search firms are not producing a high volume of valuable thought leadership content currently, generative AI does not have many examples to use or repurpose to create an impactful or useful piece of content that brings value at that deeper Partner or trusted advisor level.

Download and read the full report here: "A.I. and Its Impact On Executive Search".

The Eight Stages of Successful Retained Search

To learn how The 8 Stages of Successful Retained Search are incorporated and supported in Clockwork, read our support documentation. To see it in action, view this playlist of videos.

Topics: Executive Search, The Eight Stages of Successful Retained Search, Best Practices, Business Development

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Thaddeus Andres

With nearly 13 years of experience within executive search and recruitment, Thaddeus has held several marketing roles at various industry associations, networks and companies where he was responsible for implementing, leading and driving key marketing strategies and initiatives.

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