Research consulting for executive search is an alternative service for search firms and corporate human resources departments. The benefits of bringing in a research consultant to support the search process are evident in the positive effects they have on the bottom line of the organization.

Simply stated, research consulting is a professional service that can be incorporated as a part of any executive search assignment. The research process works best when conducted in concert with a recruiter or a company's own human resources department. In-house staff and recruiters can prepare themselves for the latter stages of the search while the research consultant identifies a cadre of qualified individuals for the position in the time-consuming early phases of the search. This consists of:

• Targeting appropriate companies
• Generating names of individuals in the specific department
  
• Initial phone screening to qualify prospective candidates

This careful process requires thorough networking and therefore can become a drain on the financial and manpower resources of a corporation or search firm. Instead, this time consuming task is best accomplished by a skilled specialist who can turn an assignment around quickly. Utilizing a research consultant can help keep costs down while giving recruiters more time to concentrate on what they like to do best. The recruiter or corporate human resources director maintains control over the facets of the search process where the recruiter is most visible to their client.

Moreover, a search firm/corporation can instantly augment its research staff by contracting the services of The Continuum Group. As a result, the search assignments do not need to be turned down because of limited staff capability. While confidently gaining the ability to expand the client base or operate on a larger scale, search firms/corporations are also increasing their potential for profitability.