Lessons Learned From Leading A Search Committee

One of my favorite clients asked me to lead their search committee for a new Executive Director to serve their membership association into the future.  The Board’s Executive Committee, current Executive Director, and I picked people to serve on the search committee that would represent the past, present, and future of the organization as well as all of the different types of members.  Our first asks all agreed!  Somehow, within our busy travel schedules, hectic lives, programming efforts, and personal lives, we have met, decided how we want to work together (mostly asynchronously with google sheets docs, on a shared drive, make decisions through consensus, approved an ad (and where to post the ad), job description, timeline, and search process.  We are two or three weeks into receiving application forms, cover letters, and resumes for the position, and WOW, I have already learned a lot. 

If you are job searching and/or interested in the position, click here.

If you are job searching, running a search, or know someone who is, I hope this is helpful. I am learning so much as we go along this process, and, ideally, I want to inspire you to be more successful as you move through a search process.

Lessons Learned:

• Read. Follow Directions. This seems obvious, but I am now spending a lot of time each day telling grown adults to click on a link or QR Code to apply for the position.  Perhaps it is easier to email attachments, but there are questions in the application that are very relevant to the position.  It is also the case that these forms are then exported into a shared spreadsheet so that nine search committee members across multiple time zones can asynchronously review and score complete applications.
• When reading all the information that anyone could ask a candidate to do, the choices made likely have a reason that is highly prioritizing desired comfortability and skill sets, so complete all questions and add all information.
• Social Media platforms make it super easy to reach out to board members, the existing Executive Director (who is not on the search committee), and others to make connections. This can come off as aggressive, and you will be redirected to follow the links and directions to apply for the position.
• If you have any direct connection to anyone on the search committee, they should recuse themselves, from your application review, so it isn’t a leg up.
• Proofread your application materials. This isn’t the most important element in the world, but it is an opportunity to avoid making a bad impression.
• Oddly, the search committee members will be reviewing your documents in print, on their phones, or on their computer screens, so it is important to make the font sizes legible.
• There are unknowable questions that the search committee members may want to know about a candidate that is not legal to ask (will they get along? What is their credit score? Will they stay for a long time?), and there is information that candidates may need to share to feel comfortable applying for the job (is this organizational culture in line with my politics? Will my partner be welcome at events? Do I need to tell them why my last boss (ugh) isn’t on my reference list?). Both parties are interviewing the other.  This is a delicate balance, and directions need to be followed.
• When an application asks for references – that is the request.  Don’t say available upon request – they are being requested.
• Save your attachments with your name in the title for easy sorting.  Most of the attachments are called FinalCoverLetter or NPResume.  Don’t waste this opportunity to make it easy for the person sharing materials with the search committee members.
• Don’t confuse excitement for qualifications for a position.
• Likely, a diverse committee from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences will view your materials from their lived experience and it takes all of us to balance out the positive and negative biases.
• If you have to submit a video or something visual as part of your application, be mindful of your background in the video.