The perfect timing

We believe great hiring isn’t just about who you choose, but how you choose them.

A reflexion on a critical but often overlooked factor in executive hiring: speed of decision-making.
The most expensive hiring mistake is not the wrong candidate.
It’s a slow decision.

Not long ago, I was running a senior search for a financial services client in the CEE region. The right candidate was there, they made it to the final round, the CEO was on board. And yet, from the first interview to the offer, two months passed.

By the time the offer was ready, the candidate had already accepted another role. A less attractive one, but the process was faster.

It wasn’t about compensation. It wasn’t about the role itself. It came down to speed.

What many hiring managers underestimate is this: top candidates don’t sit around waiting for internal alignment to happen. Their careers move forward with you or without you. A slow hiring process isn’t a neutral thing. It sends a signal, and candidates read it clearly.

In today’s market, speed is not a compromise on quality, it’s a reflection of clarity, alignment, and leadership.

The organizations that secure top talent aren’t just the most attractive on paper; they are the most decisive in action.

If your hiring process is slow, the question isn’t whether you’ll lose candidates, it’s how many.

The best ones won’t wait.

Article from our partner Ikelosz Executive Search, authored by its owner György Kobelrausch,