Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (ticker: HSII, exchange: NASDAQ) News Release - 29-Mar-1999
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Heidrick & Struggles Launches LeadersOnline™, A Comprehensive Internet Recruiting Service for Technology Professionals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Silver
(404) 577-0959
jsilver@heidrick.com
Heidrick & Struggles Launches LeadersOnline™, A Comprehensive Internet Recruiting Service for Technology Professionals
New Service Provides a Smarter, Focused Solution for Filling Critical IT Staffing Needs
Irvine, CA March 29, 1999 Heidrick & Struggles, a worldwide leader in executive recruiting and information technology (IT) executive search, today announced a new Internet recruiting service, LeadersOnline™ (www.leadersonline.com). LeadersOnline delivers the only end-to-end online recruiting service with proactive sourcing, applicant tracking/workflow, and background verifications with the ease of use of a Web browser. Combining Heidrick & Struggles' expertise with groundbreaking technology, LeadersOnline provides an efficient means of connecting "emerging leaders" with technology positions at leading companies.
"According to Interbiznet.com and ComputerWorld, the electronic recruiting market is approximately a $4.5 billion industry today growing to $9 billion in 2000, yet there is no market leader," explained Mike Arrigo, president of LeadersOnline. "This is because most Internet recruiting companies focus on quantity instead of quality. Clients told us they wanted a quality service that could deliver candidates via an enterprise-class solution to support the recruiting lifecycle of their company. We currently have satisfied clients that testify to the value of our service."
LeadersOnline focuses on placing professionals in high technology positions in the $75,000 to $150,000 compensation range. "Information systems are the backbone of companies today and the key to their success tomorrow," said Peter Weddle, author of WEDDLE's Newsletter for Successful Online Recruiting. "Having positions staffed by the best people with the right IT skills is critical to a company's survival and future growth."
Linking the Best in Business with Technology's Brightest
LeadersOnline offers an ongoing career partnership for emerging leaders in technology. Becoming a member of LeadersOnline takes less than ten minutes, yet it initiates a relationship that may help individuals achieve long term goals. Candidates may keep their identity confidential and can control how and when companies see their profile. LeadersOnline includes a "profile hits" Web report listing how often recruiters view a candidate's profile, as well as other dynamic content.
For clients, the service augments a best practices approach by starting with the strength of traditional executive recruiting timely searches, long-term relationships with candidates and candidate background verifications. Background checks can be delivered via a secure Internet connection within 48 hours, before the client meets the candidate.
"We've found that almost one-third of applicants we have verified misrepresent their employment records and about one-fourth misrepresent their education," said Dean Suposs, CEO of Avert, an Internet-based pre-employment screening firm. "Verifying background information reduces the risk of hiring unqualified candidates. Companies may then make better decisions when filling critical positions."
In addition, LeadersOnline goes beyond traditional online recruiting service offerings by developing a targeted marketing plan and customized Web site for each client. The site can highlight the company's specific opportunity, location, hiring manager, benefits package, corporate culture and anecdotes from current employees.
LeadersOnline plans to maintain the same high level of quality and service, for which Heidrick & Struggles is known, in its mid-tier IT recruiting solution. "The Internet is a powerful addition to the personal insight and expert advice that our professional staff provides to our clients. LeadersOnline makes us more efficient and leverages our global reach," observed Pat Pittard, president and CEO of Heidrick & Struggles.
About LeadersOnline
LeadersOnline is a leading-edge Internet recruiting service for technology professionals. Developed as a complete end-to-end online recruiting solution, LeadersOnline integrates proactive sourcing, applicant tracking and workflow, and background verifications all accessible via a Web browser. Backed by Heidrick & Struggles, LeadersOnline blends the best of executive search with the best of the Internet to provide a valuable service to both clients and candidates. The service focuses on matching emerging leaders with high caliber IT positions. For more information, visit www.leadersonline.com.
About Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles, Inc., is a worldwide leader in executive recruiting with over four decades of experience serving Global 2000 companies, not-for-profit organizations and private investors in 59 offices on six continents. The key to the firm's success has been to provide quality, expert service that meets a client's particular requirements and a candidate's individual needs. The firm's International Technology practice, established in 1983, is one of the largest in the world, with more than 250 professionals conducting over 1,100 search assignments each year. Specialty practices include Telecom, CIO/Systems, Multimedia and Software. In November 1998, the International Association of Corporate and Professional Recruitment named Heidrick & Struggles the best performing search firm.