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Winning Over Top Talent: Creating a Memorable Candidate Experience

Even today, it remains a highly competitive job market, and recruiting top talent can be a daunting task for companies. 

With the latest news of large corporations – especially tech – going through massive layoffs, it might seem like employers hold all the cards. However, the reality is that the best candidates, or as we refer to them individuals, in any industry are always in high demand, and their expectations and standards are only increasing due to market changes. 

To attract and retain top talent, companies need to offer a white-glove hiring experience. As someone who has been in the executive recruitment industry for almost 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand how intangible considerations can make all the difference in winning over a candidate. 

Imagine you’re a talent scout for a major record label, and you’re courting the next big music star who just finished a sold-out tour. You would treat the artist with exceptional care and attention, going above and beyond to make their experience with your label memorable. This would include a personalized tour of your state-of-the-art recording studio, arranging meetings with key executives, and providing them with an opportunity to connect with other successful artists on your label. You would be part of the experience, personally guiding them through the process, rather than delegating it to one of your assistants or A&R reps. 

In this blog post, I’ll explore some timeless tips for creating a “white glove” hiring experience that can set your company apart from the competition and make a lasting impression on candidates. It all starts with treating your candidates the way you treat your team members, showcasing your company culture, and providing an outstanding candidate experience that makes them want to join your team.

1. Take care of all costs up-front 

When inviting a candidate to your company’s HQ, make sure to take care of all necessary costs up-front. This includes flights, hotels, and any other travel expenses. By eliminating the need for candidates to open their wallets, you can make them feel well looked after and appreciated.

2. Provide a personalized package overview 

Create a personalized package for each candidate that outlines what they can expect during their visit. This should include a detailed timeline, travel information, hotel accommodation, and an overview of the interviews they will be participating in.

3. Pre-check them into their hotel and provide branded gifts 

Ensure that your candidate’s hotel accommodations are ready and pre-checked before their arrival. Consider providing branded gifts, such as company swag or an appropriate product, for them to enjoy during their stay.

4. Meet them for breakfast on the first day 

On the first day of their visit, meet your candidate for breakfast to review the meeting agenda and introduce them to a designated point person who will accompany them to each interview. 

5. Provide access to a private room for working between interviews 

During their visit, provide candidates with access to a private room where they can work between interviews. This can be a quiet space where they can check their email, make follow up calls, gather their thoughts and prepare for the next interview. 

6. Plan coffee breaks and lunches into their agenda 

Include coffee breaks and lunches in their agenda and check for any dietary preferences ahead of time. 

 7. Cater the interview process to their needs 

Ask candidates what they need to get out of the process and structure interviews accordingly. This will help ensure that both you and the candidate are getting what you need from the process. 

 8. Plan questions carefully to avoid duplications 

Carefully plan questions to avoid duplications across interview stages/meetings. This will help ensure that candidates are not answering the same questions multiple times unless your strategy is to ensure consistency in answers. 

 9. Close each day with a wrap-up of next steps 

At the end of each day, provide a wrap-up of the next steps to ensure candidates are feeling comfortable and supported throughout the process. 

10. Provide honest feedback 

If you determine that a candidate is not a good fit, let them know as soon as possible with honesty. Additionally, proactively solicit honest feedback from applicants to continuously improve your white-glove experience. 

Incorporating these tips into your hiring process can help elevate your company’s hiring experience and make a lasting impression on potential team members.

Remember – the little details can make all the difference.

Our Impact

In 1995, our founders embarked on a journey that would disrupt the status quo of the executive recruiting industry. We have been transforming companies and lives ever since.

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9,395

First Round Interviews

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3,000+

Total Placements

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47%

Diversity Placements

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$700M

Economic Impact

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Brent Albertson

CEO, Zing Zang LLC

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“ Our experience with Protis Global has been very positive. They have strong multi-industry CPG experience and understand our business model and standards. They know the difference between an “A-player” and a “B-player” in several functions, and the honesty around that standard helps us move faster. Mike and team set up a great process, especially in early canvassing and vetting that helps our leaders engage at the right time and make decisions fast. ”

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Colin Nolan

Executive Vice President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“Protis Global’s approach to talent acquisition is marked by diligence, transparency, and a genuine dedication to client satisfaction. Their strategic insights and personalized service have made a substantial impact on our organization, ensuring that we always have the best professionals driving our initiatives forward. The team at Protis Global demonstrates a keen ability to identify individuals who not only possess the requisite skills but also align seamlessly with our company culture.”

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Hilal Tabsh

Chief Revenue Officer, Glass House Brands

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Cannabis

“Over the last 10+ years my experience with Michael Bitar and the Protis Global team has been exceptional across multiple industries. Michael and his team work to get to the true needs of my hiring plan and partner with us throughout the process. They understand our business, company culture, what success looks like, and then propose candidates that will produce results while also fitting into our team dynamic. Overall it’s a great team and experience and I would recommend to anyone looking to hire top-notch quality candidates reach out to Protis Global and Michael Bitar.”

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Peter Iglesias

Chief Executive Officer, Bespoken Spirits

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

“I highly recommend Protis Global as a top-notch recruiting agency. I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past 15 years, both as a candidate and employer in the Spirits and Wine industry. In my 25 years of experience, I have found Protis Global to be the most efficient and effective recruiting agency I have ever dealt with. Protis Global has consistently come through for me in the clutch, providing exceptional professionalism and execution in job searches and placements. Their dedication to finding the right fit for both candidates and employers sets them apart from other agencies. I have always been impressed by their ability to understand the needs of both parties and successfully connect them in a timely manner.”

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Soley Van Lokeren

SVP, People

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“I have been in the field of human resources for over thirty years, in executive level roles both in-house and in outsourced positions. Michael Bitar is my favorite talent acquisition professional with which I have ever worked. He cares deeply about building a relationship with his clients, learning their business, culture, challenges, and truly understanding the needs of a role requisition. His approach is mirrored by the rest of the Protis team, who are courteous, thorough, and who make you feel like you are their only client. Protis successfully delivered hires for our Chief Commercial Officer role and for three key challenging roles (in both Marketing and Sales). They are simply – the best!”

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Brian Kuz

Chief Sales Officer

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“Protis is unique in their go-to-market strategy in that they not only find the right candidate for the role, but they find the right opportunity and company for the candidate. Protis Global looks for people who are ready to make a change...I will continue to recommend Protis Global as one of the best placement agencies in the World, as I have worked on every continent and have dealt with the big executive placement firms and the boutique ones. Protis shines above all, and as long as I am hiring, I will continue to go to Protis Global first, if not exclusively.”

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Chris Hall

CEO, poppi

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Partnering with Protis Global has been a game-changer for poppi. They understood our vision and the unique challenges we faced as a rapidly growing brand. Their expertise in executive search helped us find the right leaders who not only fit our culture but also brought the skills and passion needed to drive accelerated growth. The Protis Global team actively took our feedback and adapted the search so that we could focus on what we do best – creating innovative, healthy beverages that our customers love. They’ve truly become an extension of our team, and we couldn’t imagine achieving our success without the team members they helped us to bring aboard.”

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Chad Palma

President of Sales, Spindrift

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Michael Bitar and the Protis team have been such a pleasure to work with over the years. Not only do they do amazing work with recruiting but we have also developed a partnership between our two companies. Michael and his team provide a crucial role in reviewing my hiring needs at the beginning of each year. Once the review is complete, Michael begins searching for quality candidates that fit the role and culture for Spindrift. He and his team do an outstanding job of finding the right candidates for the position in need. I highly recommend Michael and the Protis team for your hiring needs.”

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John Sacksteder

President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“From the start, the relationship with Protis Global was different than other recruiting firms.  The team had a deeper level of commitment and desire to learn about our business than I had experienced with other firms. Our company was experiencing a time of exponential growth and our staffing needs were complex. We needed very experienced people across every possible function in the Operation and Supply Chain Teams and we needed them in a hurry. The Protis Global Team mobilized quickly and established a methodology to identify strong candidates and work them through the interview process in a professional and timely manner. Their grit, determination, understanding our needs and culture, sense of urgency and drive to exceed our expectations set them apart from the pack.”

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Kathleen Hutchison

Senior National Account Manager at Arla Foods

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

Kayla was awesome and very thorough in her vetting of candidates. She understood our brief as we were looking for candidates and helped to weed through those who were not a good fit for the role. 

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Thomas Frisch

Chief People Officer at IJW Whiskey

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“The team worked quickly and efficiently to find a unique position.”

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Kim Nguyen

VP of Supply Chain at Lallemand

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

Everyone involved was extremely helpful - Gary, Michael, Ben - thank you!! The team didn't only search for candidates based on the job description, but also the qualities that I look for in candidates. 

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Shashank Gaur

VP of Product Technology & Innovation

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The interview process was smooth and extremely professional. Ben and team represented me as much as they represented the company. 

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Jeremy Schulman

Regional Business Manager - Foodservice

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

Consistent communication, updates, and detailed knowledge of the client. The whole experience was top notch!

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Blake T. Bermingham

Supply Chain Manager

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

Very simplistic process finding the right role for the right candidate...keep up the great work! 

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Don Stohrer Jr.

CEO, Arla Foods USA

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“We’ve been a Protis Global client for eight years, and during this time have always appreciated the thoroughness of the recruitment process, as the candidates brought to us have been well-vetted, not only from a competency perspective, but more importantly from a [cultural] fit dynamic. Mike and the team have always been highly engaged to ensure they bring us candidates that match our culture. That’s been critical to the success of the candidates that have landed here by way of our relationship with Protis.”

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