Executive search is an industry built on finding great talent. But today, the sector faces a unique and growing challenge: finding its own. While firms across the UK remain laser-focused on identifying top leaders for their clients, many are quietly contending with a very real issue: a shortage of experienced, high-performing executive search professionals to grow their teams.
At Carlin Hall, we sit at the intersection of this problem and its solution. As a firm dedicated exclusively to placing talent within the executive search industry, we’re witnessing first-hand how demand is outpacing supply and how smart firms are responding.
The Market is Booming, but so is the Demand for Talent
Executive search firms are in growth mode. Whether it’s expanding sector practices like Technology, Life Sciences, or ESG, or building international capabilities, firms need researchers, delivery consultants, client-facing consultants, and partners who can help meet client demand.
But the supply of experienced professionals simply isn’t keeping up. Why?
- Many professionals have remained loyal to their current firms longer post-pandemic.
- Some firms have not invested consistently in junior talent pipelines.
- Career mobility in search is still heavily network-driven and often under the radar.
Carlin Hall: The Partner Behind the Scenes
We don’t just place candidates we help shape the future of executive search firms. Whether it’s:
- Sourcing delivery-focused consultants for high-growth sectors
- Placing Partners to launch new practice areas
- Building out entire teams in preparation for expansion
Our approach is consultative, discreet and designed for long-term fit.
Talent scarcity in executive search is real, but so is the opportunity. The firms that win will be the ones that invest in finding and developing the next generation of leaders within their own teams.
At Carlin Hall, we help “the finders” find their future because even the best hunters need great partners.
Who Finds the Finders?
The irony is not lost on us: the very firms that help organisations navigate complex hiring challenges are often quietly facing their own. And hiring in executive search isn’t just about headcount, it’s about:
- Cultural fit
- Sector alignment
- Business development potential
- Delivery excellence
It’s a nuanced, high-stakes process. That’s why more and more search firms are turning to Carlin Hall to help them find the right people to grow their internal teams.
What Makes Executive Search Talent so Hard to Recruit?
The best professionals in search are:
- Often not actively looking
- Selective about culture and long-term progression
- Evaluating opportunities based on leadership, autonomy and specialism
This means attracting them requires credibility, insight and genuine career alignment, something we pride ourselves on offering.
Strategic Hiring, Not Reactive Replacements
We encourage firms to approach hiring the same way they advise their clients: proactively, strategically and with long-term goals in mind. That means:
- Building future leadership capacity now
- Creating compelling narratives around culture, values, and growth
- Identifying where external hires can complement internal succession
This is especially critical for firms growing new practice areas or entering new markets.
