As a Consultant at Kaye/Bassman, your primary responsibility is to build and run a profitable recruiting niche. Your daily activities are highly structured, especially during your initial onboarding.

• High-Volume Cold Calling: You will make dozens of phone calls daily to source candidates, build relationships with hiring managers, and gather market intelligence.
• Candidate Sourcing & Screening: You will identify high-caliber passive talent using proprietary databases, industry networks, and social platforms, qualifying them against specific client needs.
• Client Development: You will pitch Kaye/Bassman’s search services to prospective corporate clients, negotiating search agreements and establishing long-term partnerships.
• Full-Cycle Search Management: You will guide both candidates and clients through the interview process, coordinating schedules, delivering feedback, and managing offer negotiations.
• Rigorous Training & Onboarding: During your first six weeks, you will undergo intensive, structured training designed to teach you the Kaye/Bassman search methodology, industry-specific terminology, and advanced phone sales techniques.

Kaye/Bassman values drive, communication, and work ethic over specific industry backgrounds. They frequently hire individuals from various sales, athletic, or corporate backgrounds who possess the core traits necessary for executive recruiting.

• Must-have skills & traits:

  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with strong phone presence.
  • Proven resilience and a highly self-motivated, goal-oriented mindset.
  • Outstanding organizational and time-management skills; ability to self-direct.
  • Comfort with high-volume outbound calling and direct sales activity.
  • High coachability and a willingness to master a structured, proven recruiting process.

• Nice-to-have skills & traits:

  • Prior experience in B2B sales, cold calling, or recruiting.
  • Industry-specific knowledge matching one of Kaye/Bassman's practice areas.
  • Experience working in a commission-driven or performance-based environment.

Q: How difficult is the interview process for the Consultant role? A: The process is generally rated as easy to average in terms of traditional academic or technical difficulty, but it is highly rigorous regarding personality fit, drive, and communication. The interviewers are testing your real-world communication skills and work ethic, not your ability to memorize complex frameworks.

Q: What is the purpose of the video they send before the phone interview? A: The video provides an honest, transparent look at the day-to-day realities of working as a Consultant at Kaye/Bassman. Interviewers will ask you specific questions about the video to verify that you watched it and to test your attention to detail and genuine interest in the role.

Q: What does the training look like for new Consultants? A: Kaye/Bassman offers a highly regarded, structured training program. During your first six weeks, the team will map out exactly what to expect, focusing on phone scripts, market research, overcoming objections, and managing the search lifecycle.

Q: Is this a remote, hybrid, or in-office position? A: While policies can vary by practice and location (such as Dallas, TX or Tampa, FL), the Consultant role is primarily an in-office position, especially during the training and ramping phases. The collaborative, high-energy environment of the bullpen is considered essential for learning the business and maintaining high activity levels.

• Bypass the standard application portal: Because Kaye/Bassman receives hundreds of resumes daily, direct outreach is highly effective. Find the corporate recruiter or the Practice Leader for your target industry on professional networks and email them directly to express your interest.
• Treat every call as a live audition: From your very first interaction with the corporate recruiter, speak with high energy, clarity, and professionalism. Remember that they are evaluating how you would sound to an executive candidate.
• Be persistent in your follow-ups: If you do not hear back immediately after an interview, do not hesitate to follow up. Persistence is a key trait of a successful recruiter; showing that you can professionally follow up multiple times to get a response will actually work in your favor.
• Write handwritten thank-you notes: After your in-person interviews, collect business cards and send personalized follow-up emails to everyone you met. To truly stand out, write and mail handwritten thank-you letters. This level of detail and personal touch is highly valued in the relationship-driven recruiting industry.

The Consultant position at Kaye/Bassman is an extraordinary opportunity for highly motivated, sales-minded individuals to build a lucrative, long-term career in executive search. By mastering a specific industry niche and leveraging the firm's prestigious training and reputation, you can run a highly successful business desk with uncapped earning potential.

To succeed in this interview process, focus on demonstrating your exceptional phone presence, organizational discipline, and relentless work ethic. Show the interviewers that you are comfortable with high-volume outbound calling, eager to learn their proven methodology, and resilient enough to handle the daily challenges of a sales-driven role.

The salary data reflects the performance-driven nature of the executive search industry. While there is a competitive base salary to support you during your training and ramp-up period, the true earning potential of a Consultant at Kaye/Bassman lies in their uncapped commission structure. Successful consultants who build strong pipelines and consistently place high-level executives can significantly exceed their base compensation.

Prepare thoroughly, project confidence on the phone, and take control of your interview process. For more insights, real candidate reviews, and detailed preparation resources, explore Dataford. Good luck with your preparation!