Feature Guide: Executive Search Firms

**What Starting Monday gives retained search firms - one page**

Core features

Role-Specific Prep Brief Generator

Generate a structured interview preparation brief for any candidate on any active mandate. The brief includes: target company context, likely mandate framing, probable hiring committee questions for the specific seat, candidate positioning guidance, and suggested talking points. Replaces 2-3 hours of manual research per candidate per round. See a live example at startingmonday.app/search-firms/sample-cfo-brief.

Candidate Readiness Scoring

Before each interview round, the platform scores candidate readiness across four dimensions: company knowledge depth, role mandate understanding, positioning narrative strength, and executive presence indicators. Gives delivery leads an objective basis for "candidate is ready" vs. "candidate needs more prep."

Mandate Command Center

Track each active retained search: candidate pipeline, interview round statuses, prep brief completion rates, and placement timeline. Surfaces mandates with preparation gaps (candidates advancing without completed prep briefs) and timeline risks.

Kickoff Quality Checklist

Before the first client kickoff call on any new mandate, use the structured checklist: position framing, success criteria definition, hiring committee dynamics, search timeline constraints, and competitive intelligence. Ensures consistent kickoff quality across the team regardless of which consultant runs the meeting.

Candidate Activity Visibility

When a candidate is invited to use the platform, delivery leads can see: prep brief review status, confidence trend, activity since last touchpoint, and any questions or concerns the candidate has flagged. Reduces the "how is the candidate feeling about this process?" uncertainty before round handoffs.

Interview Arc Tracker

Track the full arc of each candidate's interview process: which rounds they have completed, key themes from each round, their prep approach for each stage, and what questions to expect next. Useful for delivery leads managing multiple candidates across multiple rounds simultaneously.

Company Intelligence Feed

For any company in your active mandate list, monitor ongoing: executive departures, board changes, funding events, earnings signals, and strategic announcements. Surfaces new context between client calls so consultants arrive current at every touchpoint.

Candidate Invitation Flow

Send candidates a personalized invitation with a single click. The invitation is written from the candidate's perspective (what they get, how it helps them, what privacy protections apply). No login required for candidates to review their first brief. Removes the explanation burden from the search professional.

Search Team Access Roles

Control access for your entire search team:

• **Partner / firm lead:** Firm-wide view, all mandates, team performance benchmarks, billing
• **Principal / delivery lead:** Assigned mandates, full candidate access, prep quality oversight
• **Candidate success owner:** Candidate-level access, prep brief generation, readiness scoring

Sample Brief Library

A library of sample prep briefs by role type: CFO, CTO, CHRO, CMO, COO, General Counsel, and others. Use as reference, training material for new consultants, or to demonstrate output quality to prospective clients. Available at startingmonday.app/search-firms/sample-cfo-brief.

Client-Facing Progress Update

Generate a candidate preparation progress update for the client hiring team: prep brief completion rates, readiness scores by round, and preparation quality benchmarks vs. your firm's standards. Demonstrates rigor and candidate stewardship in a format clients can share internally.

Confidentiality Controls

• Candidate data is isolated per firm. No cross-firm visibility.
• Candidates see only their own brief and activity. No exposure to other candidates in the same search.
• Hiring client contacts see only the progress export you choose to share. No access to candidate raw prep data.

Impact by search phase

Candidate experience

When you invite a candidate to Starting Monday:

1. They receive a link to their personalized prep brief (no account required for first view)
2. They can create a free account to track their process, use the daily briefing, and access the interview arc tracker
3. You see their preparation activity and confidence level before each round
4. Their data is private to them and your firm - no other recruiter or employer can see it

Firm pricing

Pricing is per mandate or per seat. Contact startingmonday.app/search-firms or your account lead for current firm pricing. Individual candidate accounts are free.