“Hiring Cycles” in Europe – SaaS Hiring

One question we are often asked by prospects and clients is this:

“How long will the entire process take to fill a Senior Sales / SaaS Leadership position in Europe?”

An Executive Search process will initially include around 2-3 weeks of thorough researching and candidate approach work (at Intrinsic we are faster than most!) and this is before 1st interview phase commences from week 3-5

 

1- United Kingdom

 

Perhaps the UK is more aligned to hiring times as seen in the USA and certainly much faster than other European countries.  Notice periods for UK Senior SaaS Execs are often around 1 month and 3 months for the Leaders. However, most Leaders we speak can often reduce this length of time.

Total time Guideline:

Senior Sales Execs – 5 to 8 total weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

Sales Leaders – 6 to 12 weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

2 – Germany

 

The German market can often be fairly slow-paced for hiring, however notice periods seem to have reduced over the last few years .  99% of the time, the best candidates are well employed and not in a hurry to make a move.  Further, for US or non-EU hiring firms, the issues of logistics for meeting and interviewing German candidates can often delay the speed of the hiring process.

Total time Guideline:

Senior Sales Execs – 7 to 10 total weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

Sales Leaders – 8 to 16 weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

3- France

 

The French have a legal notice period of 3 months, but once again, this can often be reduced via negotiation In France, the process usually proceeds relatively quickly once decisions on hiring have been made and candidates are receptive to a rapid process.

Total time Guideline:

Senior Sales Execs –  7 to 10 total weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

Sales Leaders – 8 to 14 weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

4 -Sweden

 

Notoriously one of the slowest EU countries to search for SaaS talent.   Notice periods are 3 months as standard and the country slows right down in July and the first half of August which can delay the time of hire in the Summer time. Best to start a search in September through to February to have candidates on board before the Summer slow down.

Total time Guideline:

Senior Sales Execs –  12 to 15 total weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

Sales Leaders – 12 to 18 weeks from start of process to candidate start-date

Conclusion:

There are many factors that can determine the length of time it takes to make a hire. As a general rule of thumb, the more senior the role, then the longer the process will take. For instance, as we move into hiring a VP of EMEA Sales, CRO or other more senior level hire, a lengthier cycle prevails as notice periods extend, as does the potential for garden leave and generally speaking, these cycles can take up to 26 weeks.

Broadly,

• Each EU country has it’s own nuances and differences 
• The speed of hire can often be influenced by how quickly the hiring Managers are all able to meet the candidates in person as opposed to over a call or zoom
• Notice periods can make a huge difference in the speed of hire especially if you are hiring a valuable or hard to find /replace executive
• Holiday periods such as Summer and Christmas slow down the process
• Garden leave can really extend the process if you are hiring from a competitor for instance
• Sometimes theses cycles can conclude incredibly quickly if a candidate is not working and the client can move quickly
• A slick and rapid hiring process is ideal as it improves candidate experience as well as reduces the risk of losing great candidates to companies that did a better job of their hiring process

If you are looking for a EU Headhunter or have any questions, please contact Paul French at paf@intrinsicsearch.com

Further reading:

B2B Survey Report 2019

How to Hire the Best SaaS Leaders / Sales Execs in Europe