Case Study: How Heller Search uses Clockwork to streamline their process and drive search growth

Heller Search is a boutique executive search firm specializing in technology leadership and talent for the new data economy. Before embarking on a period of sustained growth, they were working in an outdated software system that cost their team time throughout the search process.

To improve their efficiency and foster a better client experience as they grew, Heller Search needed more innovative tools.

• Losing time to fully-manual processes: Their outdated previous system lacked automation potential, which limited their capacity to implement time-saving measures.
• A lack of day-to-day transparency with clients: Heller Search wanted to deliver an exceptional, high-touch experience to their clients, but couldn't use their software tools to collaborate with them.
• Limited reporting capabilities to show value: In order to share progress on a search, the team had to rely on outdated reports that they had to prepare manually and send to clients via email.
  

That's where Clockwork came in.

Clockwork is executive search software purpose-built for boutique retained executive search firms. Grounded in proven methodology, Clockwork equips teams to run an efficient search process, deliver an exceptional client experience, and grow their business exponentially over time.

"Clockwork makes our day-to-day a lot easier. It helps us go through searches more efficiently than we used to, because everything that we use throughout a search is readily available in a single system. Being able to push searches along quicker results in happy clients and a happy team. And that's great for us."

 

- Meagan McEachern, Associate and Search Operations Specialist, Heller Search

How Clockwork helps Heller Search boost efficiency and increase their search volume:

1. A Smarter Database for Quicker Searches

   Clockwork has enhanced how the Heller Search team handles the research and candidate identification stage of the search process, enabling them to enrich candidate profiles with accurate contact information without having to manually pull from other sources. And with a database that gets smarter over time, they can surface best-fit candidates faster.
   
   Example: When starting a new search project, they can draw from a pool of highly-qualified candidates with complete profiles rather than start form scratch.
   
   

2. Easy Client Collaboration and Search Progress Reporting

   Heller Search has embraced client collaboration and automations to take their search process to the next level—leveraging Clockwork's Client Portal to share results in real time and make the value of their expertise apparent at every stage of a search project.

   Example: Clients can log in at any point and see high-quality candidate profiles that have been added to a search, along with insightful notes from the Heller Search team to put those candidates in context.

3. Ongoing Partnership with a Responsive Team

Referring to Clockwork as the best support experience she's had among all the software tools Heller Search uses, McEachern has appreciated the 1:1 consultation and partnership she receives from her Clockwork Account Manager and the responsiveness and effectiveness of Clockwork's support team in addressing any challenges that arise.

Example: McEachern meets with her Account Manager every month to discuss product updates and solutions enhance the Heller Search team's process.

"Each year since we started using Clockwork, we have increased the number of searches we've signed and closed. Our team can only perform as well as the tools we supply them, so there's a direct correlation between our performance and having Clockwork as one of our systems. It shows that we're moving in the right direction."

What results has Heller Search reached through using Clockwork?

• Below-average average time to placement

Heller Search's projects reliably close below the global industry average of 117 days to placement.

• Sustained year-over-year search growth

With more effective day-to-day team and client collaboration, their growing has won more and more new projects—consistently increasing their YOY search volume for the last 5 years.

• Measurable gains in team efficiency

With team-wide visibility into projects, Heller Search has seen more quality candidates being added to searches over time.

"It's great to see that we can integrate the steps of our process with Clockwork. It makes it easier to onboard new hires, and easier for the whole team to successfully do what we are hired to do, which is very rewarding. It's exciting for us to continue to improve, and as we change, Clockwork enhances their features too—which all ties together beautifully."

Make your firm's value visible to clients from day one, without adding to your workload.

Give your team the tools to present better candidates, close searches faster, impress more clients—and make your firm unbeatable.