DRS: Frequently Asked Questions

We already have access to the DevelopmentAid database. Why should we use a service provider? What is the added value?

With DRS you diversify your sources of candidates, because we host a database of 55,000+ professionals, who are not accessible through your membership. Also, you will benefit from the guidance and advice of our multilingual recruiters, who have deep understanding and broad experience in the development cooperation sector. Last, but not least, it is a matter of work efficiency: you either assign this tedious, lengthy and time consuming task in-house or you externalize the process to us allowing you the opportunity to focus on more important strategic issues (tender preparations, budget alignments, etc.)

What is the difference between a Talent Shortlist and an Executive Search?

The Executive Search is normally used to fill in high level, permanent positions where you, as a client, outsource the whole recruitment process to us: sourcing, screening, advertising, interviewing, negotiation, collection of references and certificates, background checks, etc. The entire recruitment cycle might last between 1-2 months or more, depending on the complexity of the role. The Talent Shortlist is a less expensive option which takes less time to conduct and requires client’s involvement after potential candidates have been identified. The idea behind the TL is to provide the client with profiles that can be further processed in-house and therefore the responsibility for contacting the candidates lies with the client.

Do you offer your services in other languages apart from English?

Yes. Besides English, we can handle search requests in French, Spanish and Portuguese.

 

 

I noticed that you have a rather narrow sectorial distribution of experts in your database. Our sector (energy, health, etc.) is under represented. Will this represent a limitation as to what you can offer?

No. Our database is just one of the many resources we use to identify candidates. Additionally, we use DevelopmentAid databases, LinkedIn, advertising on social media and specialized job boards. In recruitment, emphasis should be placed not only on the quantity of the candidates, but their quality, too. And the quality of the profiles we deliver is what gives us a strong competitive advantage.

 

If we choose a Talent Shortlist and you present us with 3-5 candidates but none of the experts are included in the offer or retained for the position, do you reimburse the cost?

No, we do not reimburse the fee. The idea behind a Talent Shortlist is that we present you with the most interesting, compliant and available candidates for your evaluation. We don’t guarantee their employment. You hold the proprietary rights to the shortlist we provide and can therefore consider and engage those candidates for any other proposals or positions you may have in the pipeline. Thus, you will receive a pool of candidates not simply for one proposal but for multiple positions whose profile they may fit in the future.

What happens if we select the Talent Shortlist service, paying in advance, and DRS do not deliver having been unable to identify any relevant candidates?

Before accepting to work on any request, DRS shall carefully analyze the specified profile and evaluate whether our resources will be sufficient to identify good candidates. Only in the cases where we decide that we have the ability and capacity to deliver satisfactory results will we proceed with accepting the request and start working on it.