Partnering with the Right Executive Search Firm in Indonesia

Indonesia’s robust and thriving economy offers promising opportunities for businesses and investors. After a strong rebound in 2022 back to pre-pandemic levels and a solid start to 2023, outstripping Europe and the Americas, optimism for further growth is high.

However, despite these positive economic indicators, domestic and international businesses in Indonesia need help finding qualified executives and experienced leaders for mid to senior-level positions. Companies require top talent to gain a competitive edge, drive innovation, and adapt to the changing market dynamics.

Moreover, as the job market in Indonesia becomes increasingly competitive, candidates have higher expectations regarding career opportunities, work-life balance, compensation packages, and overall employee experience. Companies must offer attractive benefits and create a positive work environment to attract and retain top talent. This intensifies the competition among organisations as they strive to meet these expectations.

In Indonesia’s talent-short market, partnering with the right executive search firm becomes crucial for organisations to overcome these obstacles. An executive search partner’s role is to assist businesses in finding and attracting top-level executive talent for key leadership positions. These headhunting firms possess expertise in identifying, evaluating, and securing highly qualified candidates for executive roles.

In this article, I’ll explore why sourcing the right executive search partner is essential for navigating Indonesia’s talent scarcity.

Understanding Indonesia’s culturally rich market

Operating successfully in Indonesia requires a deep understanding of its cultural and contextual nuances, which should not be underestimated. Finding exceptional executive talent in Indonesia can be challenging due to local requirements and working methods. For example, family-owned conglomerates in Indonesia often have very different work environments and decision-making processes compared to metrics-driven multinational corporations (MNCs). Family owners considering professionalising their company as the business grows will look for talent with MNC experience, but not all candidates can adapt successfully.

An executive search partner with a solid local presence, such as BTI Executive Search, possesses the cultural intelligence necessary to navigate these intricacies. We can identify executives with the right blend of technical skills, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit. By considering factors such as language proficiency, local business etiquette, and understanding of regulatory frameworks, we ensure that organisations secure executives who can seamlessly integrate into the Indonesian business environment.

The advantages of an industry-focused approach

In a talent-short market like Indonesia, the competition to attract and retain skilled professionals is fierce among domestic companies and MNCs establishing a presence there. For example, the banking and financial services sector is experiencing robust demand, while the manufacturing sector is enjoying a boom following 20 straight months of expansion, as reported by S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in April 2023. Additionally, a massive increase in infrastructure spending and the government’s drive to accelerate digital transformation stimulate demand for highly-skilled talent in areas like technology.

BTI Executive Search’s industry-focused approach is a significant advantage in this fast-moving landscape, where being a generalist doesn’t suffice. Our specialist executive search consultants possess the technical understanding and subject-matter expertise needed to find the right talent in banking and financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, digital and consumer sectors. They stay updated with the latest market trends, industry developments, and talent demands for a particular sector. Having a finger on the pulse of the business landscape in Indonesia, they can provide valuable insights and guidance to businesses seeking executive talent. This deep knowledge helps make strategic decisions related to hiring and talent acquisition, ensuring companies remain competitive in their respective industries.

BTI Executive Search’s consultants also provide a regional perspective on what is happening in the industry sector. Understanding Indonesia’s local context while being able to search the broader Asia-Pacific landscape widens our scope for sourcing the best talent.

Unlocking the Power of passive talent

BTI Executive Search stands out with its long-term approach to candidate engagement, which sets us apart from the competition. We have built a vast network of contacts and nurtured close relationships with key players in the industry over several years. This positions us to strike and offer the perfect candidate to clients when the timing is right.

Our extensive networks and resources allow us to tap into a wide range of potential candidates, including active and passive job seekers who may not be actively looking for new opportunities. Accessing this broader Indonesian talent pool significantly increases the chances of finding the best-fit executive for a specific role.

Sourcing talent for complex 3-in-1 roles

Due to the ongoing volatility and complexity of the market, which results from downsizing and restructuring within the companies in Indonesia, there is a growing demand for senior positions that encompass multiple responsibilities and require a diverse skill set. These complex roles integrate two or three distinct areas of expertise into a single place to optimise efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. BTI Executive Search specialises and is trained in identifying and attracting talent with transferable skills beyond specific sectors. This enables BTI Executive Search to fill hybrid leadership roles requiring diverse competencies and expertise effectively.

A partner for growth

In summary, an executive search partner plays a vital role in helping businesses in Indonesia attract and hire top-level executive talent. BTI Executive Search’s local insights, extensive networks, and industry knowledge contribute to a successful administrative search process. In this fast-changing and candidate-short market, we serve as an agile partner capable of tracking down the most suitable talent, especially in places and sectors where our clients may not have access. By partnering with us, businesses can secure the right leaders at competitive rates who will drive their organisations forward.

Written by AiLing Lee, the Country Director for both Malaysia and Indonesia businesses. AiLing has had tremendous success as a trusted advisor to her clients, having built a healthcare practice from the ground up. AiLing is leading BTI’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice armed with her numerous credentials, including a Master’s Degree in Economics from the National University of Malaysia.

Discover AiLing’s expertise and unlock her potential to elevate your organisation. Connect with her today!