The Candidate's Bill of Rights

CoolAvenues is the only firm in India to follow Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) recommended 'Candidate Bill of Rights'. This means that we subscribe to a code of ethics that states that the relationships with individual candidates should be characterized by honesty, objectivity, accuracy and respect for confidentiality.

Furthermore, we believe that the most successful executive searches involve a three-way partnership, whereby the candidate, the search firm and the client fully understand their rights, duties and obligations to each other during the search process. As such, we believe that all search candidates have a right to:

1. Confidentiality
2. Full Disclosure
3. Timely Communication
4. Feedback
5. Professional Treatment
6. Adequate Process Details
7. Respect for Your Time and Position
8. Consistency between CoolAvenues and its Clients
9. No Pressure
10. A Trusting Relationship I. Confidentiality
    When you become an executive search candidate, you put yourself at a certain amount of risk with your current employer. For that reason, you are entitled to the highest levels of confidentiality from the search firm and the client organization. To safeguard your confidentiality CoolAvenues would:
    • Following a meeting (or telecon /email exchange), to discuss your candidacy, obtain your authorization before submitting your name and a report on you to the client organization.
    • Upon your request, contact you directly rather than through your assistant or anyone else in your current company.
    • Not contact references provided by you without your permission.
    • Not discuss your potential candidacy with anyone outside the search firm, and ensure that all employees of the firm abide by the same rules.
    • Caution the client to also safeguard your confidentiality.
    
    It is important to remember that you do not become a search candidate until CoolAvenues has conducted an initial evaluation of your suitability for the position and you have expressed an interest in it. If either of these two criteria is missing, you cannot be considered a candidate for the position. However, even if the position about which you are being contacted is not right for you at the present time, you may still benefit from conversations with CoolAvenues by being kept up to date with the market for your skills and experience. Candidates not selected on one search may be selected on another.
    
    II. Full Disclosure
    In order to make the right decision, you need to know as much as possible about CoolAvenues, the position and the client organization. This ultimately requires full and open disclosure regarding:
    • The nature and requirements of the position
    • The compensation package (whenever client shares this information with us)
    • Whether relocation is required
    • Pertinent information regarding the client organization
    Be aware, however, that during your first conversation, when you are still being evaluated as a potential candidate for the position, CoolAvenues is under no obligation to divulge confidential information about the position or the client. Only after you have been identified as a legitimate candidate should you expect get more than the most basic information. Even then, there are times when certain information about the client must remain confidential until the final stages of the search process.
    
    III. Timely Communication
11. The completion of an executive search assignment can often take several months, with many steps between initial contact and the ultimate hiring of the successful candidate. Once you become an active candidate, CoolAvenues will communicate with you in a timely manner at each and every step of the process. This means proactively updating you on the progress of the search as well as responding in a timely manner to any inquiries initiated by you.
    
    Important Note: While CoolAvenues makes every effort to provide timely information to all the members on the developments related to their candidature for various opportunities, the delay may occur due to lack of progress /information from the company's (client's) end.
    
    IV. Feedback
    Based on our understanding of the position and the client's needs, CoolAvenues will give you an honest appraisal of where you seem to fit the opportunity and where you do not seem to fit. If at any point in the process the client decides not to proceed with your candidacy, CoolAvenues should provide as complete an explanation of the client's decision as possible.
    
    V. Professional Treatment
    CoolAvenues will make sure that you receive professional treatment from our consultants. All our consultants are qualified people with very good understanding of client needs and assignment. Professional treatment means that all our consultants will:
    • Have a clear understanding of the position and the client's expectations for it
    • Conduct an organized, well thought-out interaction with the candidates.
    • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the market and the client
    • Answer all your questions in an honest and forthright manner
    VI. Adequate Process Details
    CoolAvenues will keep you posted on the further process and expected time frame. However sometime our ability to do may be limited in absence of information from the client end.
    
    VII. Respect for Your Time and Position
    CoolAvenues understands that, as a busy executive, your current position demands your full time and attention. When scheduling appointments and interviews, we will demonstrate the utmost respect for your time, your position and your responsibilities to your employer.
    
    VIII. Consistency between CoolAvenues and its Clients
    CoolAvenues will always do its best to be on the same wavelength as client in terms of the information they present to you. Keep in mind, however, that while CoolAvenues represents the client organization, we do not have complete control over the client's communication with you during the process. If changes occur that contradict the information given to you by us, you should ask for clarification.
    
    IX. No Pressure
    The best executive search placements happen when the candidate has the time to make a measured, well-thought out decision. For this reason, CoolAvenues will never try to hurry your decision or put undue pressure on you to accept an offer. However, we will keep you informed of any deadlines imposed by the client and the implications for not making a decision prior to those deadlines.
    
    X. A Trusting Relationship
    Based on our conduct and guiding principles, you should naturally develop open and trusting relationship with CoolAvenues. Conversely, if for any reason you do not feel you can us, you would be well served to withdraw from the process. Keep in mind that CoolAvenues strive for more than just filling the position for their client; we want to help you make the best decision for you, your family and your career.
    
    Concluding the Search
    If the client decides to hire you to fill the position, you have arrived at one of the most important stages of the search process: negotiation of your employment agreement. This can involve highly sensitive issues in which CoolAvenues can play a crucial role of intermediary to ensure open and effective communication between client and you. Use this 'honest broker' channel of communication to candidly express any concerns or special requirements that you may have on terms and conditions.
    
    When the search process is completed and you have signed on the dotted line, feel free to contact CoolAvenues with any concerns that arise. We may well be able to help sort out problems, and the client will normally not resent diplomatic intervention by CoolAvenues.
    
    If your candidacy does not result in a hire, CoolAvenues will want to keep you in its pool of candidates for future assignments. We may contact you from time to time to maintain the relationship and keep you appraised of any upcoming assignments. We may also use you as a resource to help identify candidates for assignments that are not a good fit for you. If you trust the relationship with CoolAvenues, you may want to take your own steps to maintain the relationship as well.
    
    Regardless of the outcome of the search, CoolAvenues may not use your name or the results of the search as testimonials without your permission.
    
    Putting Your Best Foot Forward
    The executive search process is not a one-way street. Although you have a right to expect courteous, professional treatment from us, there are a number of things you can do to facilitate the process and advance your standing.
    • Be honest. Under no circumstances should you inflate your resume, misrepresent your work history or "hold some cards back." Also, be genuine about your interest (or lack of) in the position. Complete and accurate disclosure by the candidate is an essential element in the search process.
    • Be flexible. Make every effort to fit appointments and interviews within your schedule.
    • Educate yourself. Conduct your own due diligence on the search firm and the client organization, and understand the unique value of retained executive search consulting.
    • Have realistic expectations. Understand that the process takes time and that you will be one of several qualified candidates.
    • Negotiate in good faith. Do not lead client (or us) to believe you are negotiating only with them if you are considering offers from more than one organization.
    
    
    Above all, do not think you have a "done deal" just because you develop a close relationship with CoolAvenues. Remember that our job is to present several qualified candidates to the client, and it is the client who makes the ultimate decision.
    
    Making the Connection
    How do you get on the "radar screen" of leading companies? One of the best ways is to register with CoolAvenues. Doing so will raise your visibility with the most appropriate companies in an efficient, economical and confidential manner.
    
    In the meantime, remember that the most successful executive searches involve those where you, the client and us know your rights and obligations within the search process and adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct.