The Kick-off: How to Prepare Properly

Kick-off, intake meeting, needs assessment, launch meeting – this first meeting at the start of a mandate can go by many names, but it is crucial to the smooth running of your search process to find the perfect candidate.

This meeting serves not only to introduce yourself to the hiring managers, but also to set the milestones and reference points for the coming weeks. It strengthens your understanding of the mandate while solidifying your credibility in the eyes of your client. It is the cornerstone of your communication channel and will allow you to set expectations while gathering the information you need.

Before this first meeting, here are a few essentials to help you prepare. Upon reviewing the information gathered, you will likely have questions or concerns; the same will apply to the candidates you approach. Your research will serve as a guide to ask the right questions during the kick-off.

1) Visit the company’s website and research the products or services.

First, you need to know the industry and the primary objective of the organization. Familiarizing yourself with the products and/or services will allow you to highlight them better later on.

If you have product or service names, use Google to see what is written in the descriptions. Look for user reviews and customer feedback. Take note of both satisfied and unsatisfied customers.

2) Research all the names you have and understand the company culture.

Find out who the board members, founders, executives, and/or hiring managers are. Have they given interviews or participated in a podcast? You should read, watch, or listen to any relevant content.

Browse the company’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages, tweets, and videos. Look at posts and likes to get an idea of the company culture. Check Glassdoor and Indeed to see what employees are saying about this employer.

3)  News and risk assessment

Consultez les communiqués de presse disponibles et les dernières nouvelles concernant l’entreprise en utilisant Google Actualités. Découvrez également comment ils se portent financièrement grâce à Yahoo Finance, Angellist ou Crunchbase.

Look at available press releases and recent news about the company using Google News. Also, find out how they are doing financially through Yahoo Finance, AngelList, or Crunchbase.

Prepare a list of potential risks and objections you might encounter during your approaches. Be ready with good responses, especially regarding:

• The company’s online reputation;
• Its financial situation;
• Negative press;
• Employer brand.

4) Take your research a step further 

To successfully carry out your mandate, it’s not enough to just understand the company; you also need to thoroughly understand the role you’ll be working on.

Read the job description (in full! 😉), look for people on LinkedIn with the same role and qualifications, and do a Google search related to the descriptions you’ve found. You’d be surprised at how much information you can find online. Prepare a list of role-specific questions and ask who your point of contact will be for more technical inquiries.

5) You are the captain!

Take control of this meeting. It’s for you, after all. It’s meant to prepare and equip you, transforming you into an elite recruiter to represent the company during this mandate.

In your invitation, set and send the agenda ahead of time with discussion topics and meeting objectives. If supporting documents or materials need to be provided by the hiring managers, list them as well. Be mindful of everyone’s time: punctuality and respecting the set timeframe are key.

Start the meeting by briefly introducing yourself and make sure you clearly understand everyone’s role. State (once again) the objectives and agenda, and ensure that everyone understands your role based on the service you provide.

Structure the meeting to create a funnel-like impression. Start with broader topics, then work step by step toward more specific issues.

Industry > Company > Team > Role

Your reputation as a good or bad recruiter isn’t solely tied to your ability to fill a role. It will also be enhanced by the level of preparation you demonstrate.

A well-prepared kick-off will allow you to gather all the necessary information for the success of your mandate. It will give you confidence (and the client too!), even if you’re not very familiar with the role you’ll be working on, and it will lay the foundation for your success!

Good luck with your kick-off!