Writer

Amy Laboda

Why would multinational corporations with extensive resources outsource their recruiting effort? Grayson Barrows, director of sales for the Aviation Search Group explained that, for his customers, it is simply cost-effective. “We are specialists,” he said during an interview with AIN at Heli-Expo 2012. 
“Aviation Search Group has a tremendous network and an internal database of aviation professionals. We also have the ability to find the ‘passive’ candidate,” he said. The passive candidate is not necessarily looking for a new job. He is working, and might not know about the opportunity. “We can network from within and talk to that passive candidate and find out both if he is qualified and if he is interested in a new opportunity in his career.” 
So, who is hiring executives and management in aviation these days? One look at Aviation Search Group's list of references would make you think it was just about everyone. 
Lufthansa Technik and AAR Aircraft Services are using the company's virtual recruiting program, which dedicates an Aviation Search Group recruiter working offsite specifically to that company's recruiting needs. Evergreen International Aviation and Dallas Airmotive have picked the company to handle more specific, sometimes complicated recruiting needs. The list of references is two pages long.
The cost of Aviation Search Group's services is typically a percentage of the new manager's first year compensation and depends on the difficulty of the recruiting process. 
What can Grayson say about who his clients are recruiting these days? 
“Companies, such as the OEMs, are looking for management personnel who are game-changers. These people come in-house and bring a new idea, something different from what the company has been doing for years,” he said. “They are looking for people who might be able to diversify the product.”