Since the corporate boom of the early 20th century, Chicago, Illinois has served as a hub for large corporations and non-profits. More recently, successful startups experiencing explosive growth have set up headquarters in “The Windy City.”
However, the influx of growing companies in a vast number of industries can make executive search a challenge. In Chicago, the competition to attract the right C-suite candidates is fierce, and if executive search and retention is done in-house, it can deplete vital resources and create significant expenses.
The top executive search firms in Chicago can save you time and money, uniquely approach your C-suite candidate searches, and access deep networks of the right talent to align with your company’s mission and values. Successful executives are inspiring leaders who can propel your company’s growth for years to come.
When it comes to recruitment and retention of C-suite talent who align with your culture, the personal qualities of a top executive candidate matter as much as bullet points on a resume.
Chicago’s top executive search and recruitment firms will match you with passionate and purpose-driven candidates who can lead you into a successful future.
What to look for in an executive search firm
Whether your company is a family-owned small business, a nonprofit, or a large corporation, you need a top executive search firm in Chicago that can customize your candidate search and take care of the vetting and interview process for you.
If you’re considering a partnership with a top executive search and recruitment team, you should look for the following:
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- Adaptability:
The right firm will adapt to your specific executive role requirements when searching for the right candidates to fill your C-suite openings. Customized strategies and thorough candidate research help top firms to efficiently find your ideal executive matches.
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- Clear Communication and Collaboration:
The right executive search firm will treat you like a partner. This means that search team members will clearly communicate with you through every step of the process, thoroughly get to know your existing leadership team, and collaborate with you on search strategies.
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- Extensive Network:
The top executive search firms in Chicago offer national or global resources that allow you to retain talent from a vast network. An extensive network provides a wide array of candidates who can immediately contribute to your organization.
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- Industry Expertise:
A top executive search firm will utilize expertise from team members who represent a wide variety of industries, a knowledge of industry trends, and a proven track record of successful placement.
For example, if your mid-sized healthcare company is looking for a new CIO (Chief Information Officer), you might look for an executive search firm that has an established presence and specific know-how in healthcare.
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- Proven Track Record:
The best executive search firms often feature successful placement and retention rates on their websites. You should look for a firm with demonstrable success and with long-lasting client relationships.
Top 10 Executive Search Firms in Chicago
The top executive search firms in Chicago are both boutique firms that focus on national or local placements and large corporations with multiple offices around the world. However, each firm is uniquely positioned to help their clients maintain a competitive advantage.
These ten firms successfully find ideal executive candidates who can make an immediate impact on organizational culture and lead companies into stages of innovative growth.
Y Scouts
A small but mighty, purpose-based boutique firm, Y Scouts takes a comprehensive and personalized approach to executive search in Chicago. With an extensive national reach, Y Scouts will get to know the “why” behind your company.
In other words, the firm spends time discovering what makes you tick and what values serve as the foundation of your business. Y Scouts uses three foundational pillars, Role Visioning & Success Outcome, Covert Discovery Process, and the proprietary Leadership Model for Hiring on Purpose. These pillars help this top executive search firm to match companies and people to immediately contribute to work that matters.
The Y Scouts team will collaborate with your leadership team to understand the soft and hard skills your next executive needs for success. Company identifiers and job descriptions are omitted from a candidate’s initial, informal interview so that the firm can get to know the authentic person behind the resume.
Y Scouts is established as a consistent leader in the executive search industry throughout North America.
Alexander Hughes DSML
Considered one of the top executive search firms in Chicago and around the world, Alexander Hughes recently acquired recruitment competitor, DSML to extend an already deep global network.
Alexander Hughes has U.S. offices in Chicago, Boston, and New York, and partners with European companies with operations in the U.S. A multilingual executive search team fluent in Dutch, English, French, German, and Spanish help to ensure companies match with C-suite candidates who match the organizational culture of international businesses.
The Christopher Group
Executive search and recruitment firm The Christopher Group (TCG) works with clients in a variety of Chicago industries. TCG focuses on filling HR executive needs and is considered one of the premier HR executive search firms in the U.S.
The firm uses action-based values, including Do the Right Thing, Win Together, Deliver Excellence, Care for the Whole Person, and Connect to inform the executive search process.
DHR Global
DHR Global is a top international executive search firm headquartered in Chicago that conducts searches based on three foundational values: Reach, Resourcefulness, and Relationships.
DHR’s extensive reach spans 22 countries and the firm works extensively in over 20 industries. DHR believes in a customized, boutique approach to executive search and tailors search and recruitment strategies for every client.
Heidrick & Struggles
Founded in Chicago over 70 years ago, Heidrick & Struggles focuses on building lasting relationships with clients and the firm’s vast candidate network. Although Heidrick & Struggles boasts offices on every continent and multiple locations in the U.S., Chicago is home-based.
Through the firm’s Global Diversity Pledge in executive search, Heidrick & Struggles remains committed to a diverse, equal, and inclusive search process.
Keller Executive Search
Keller Executive Search has an extensive global presence and offices in over 48 countries. In Chicago, the international executive search firm focuses on matching companies with candidates who represent the melting pot of cultures and backgrounds found in The Windy City.
With a focus on leadership candidates who can make an immediate and strong impact on a company’s culture and mission along with lasting societal contributions, Keller Executive Search doesn’t charge upfront fees, but does require 20% for a successful executive match.
Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry has operated for over 55 years, serving international companies of all sizes and across multiple industries. As a top international executive search firm, Korn Ferry operates in more than 50 countries and places executive candidates from all over the world.
This global firm focuses on finding transformative leaders who can inspire change and growth. The Chicago Korn Ferry offices work to place C-suite candidates with companies in Illinois and throughout the Midwest.
Recruiterie
Recruiterie is a leading executive search firm in Chicago with a specialized focus on finding executives for small to medium-sized businesses in the financial, human resources, legal, and non-profit industries.
Expertise in C-suite roles in multiple industries helps Recruiterie hone the executive search process to find emerging executive talent to align with your values.
Slayton Search Partners
Slayton Search Partners is a top executive search firm headquartered in Chicago, and with clients across the U.S. The executive search team at Slayton is composed of experts throughout multiple industries, including consumer, financial, and industrial services.
The firm customizes its executive search approach through utilizing the following foundational values: Candidate experience, insight, performance, sophistication, and tech-enabled collaboration.
Spencer Stuart
Over 60 years ago, Spencer Stuart founded his eponymous executive search firm to extend international candidate searches beyond exclusive and geographical borders. The firm operates on 6 continents and has offices in every major U.S. city, including Chicago.
Spencer Stuart also offers succession planning, leadership development, specialized consulting, and more.
Connect with Y Scouts in Chicago
Y Scouts is a top executive search firm in Chicago with a purpose-based, proven approach to hiring the right executives. From CEOs to CTOs and more, we match companies and candidates to contribute to work that matters.
Our unique approach to executive search and recruitment allows us to find the leaders your Chicago business needs to fill your specialized hard and soft skill requirements, align with your why, and immediately make a positive impact to your organizational culture.
Let us help you find the long-lasting, purpose-driven leadership you need. Connect with Y Scouts today.
Do you have a recommendation for an executive search firm in Boston who should be included on this list? Please, tell us! Contact Y Scouts for possible inclusion on this list.
Client Testimonial:
“Y Scouts partnered with Year Up to understand our organization and our goals for new leadership. The Y Scouts approach was exceptionally effective, delivering a slate of candidates who embodied the essential values and experience we wanted. Our outcome was a dynamic and experienced leader who truly embodies our mission. As we continue to expand across the country, we consider Y Scouts a go-to partner in future searches.”
– Scott Donohue, NATIONAL SITE DIRECTOR AT YEAR UP, INC.
Candidate Testimonial:
“The entire process – starting at first contact – was personal, comfortable and engaging. Y Scouts never made me feel like I was part of a transaction; I felt like I was working with a friend and an ally throughout the entire process, who kept my best interests in mind at all times. I felt like my recruiter truly took the time to get to know me, my motivations and what type of opportunity would help me grow and succeed. Y Scouts helped me move into an incredible new role, and I am thankful everyday that Y Scouts helped connect me to an organization and position that align perfectly with my skills and personal passions. I would absolutely recommend working with Y Scouts to any organization with a true commitment to finding the right leaders.”
– Jessica Taylor, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AT GREAT HEARTS ACADEMIES
