Top Notch Finders, a Sanford Rose Franchise.

As the accelerating forces of globalization, artificial intelligence, automation, and remote work continuously reshape the talent landscape, the ‘Great Reevaluation’ in the employment sector gains momentum. From C-suite to management, executives are redefining their career trajectories, seeking roles that satisfy their professional ambition and align with their evolving work-life balance priorities. Conversely, companies recognize the imperative for transformative leadership, capable of navigating these shifts toward business growth and success.

Top Notch Finders is a beacon of opportunity for both parties, bridging the gap between companies seeking top-tier talent and those ready to embark on the next exciting chapter of their careers.

What sets Top Notch Finders apart is their more than three decades of experience in International & Global Executive Search. The team’s expertise and deep understanding of the industry are honed by their daily benchmarking of industry best practices.

Strategic Partnership with Sanford Rose Associates

A critical pillar that reinforces Top Notch Finders’ capabilities is being a member of the Sanford Rose Associates, one of the largest recruiting networks in North America. We are consistently ranked as one of the top-producing offices within the SRA network.

The firm has exclusive access to Sanford Rose Associates’ extensive educational branch, Next Level Exchange. This provides a wealth of resources, including podcasts, training, workshops, and insights from the best trainers in the recruitment industry, such as Jeff Kaye, Karen Schmidt, Jon Bartos and Greg Doersching.

This ongoing access to industry-leading expertise and training guarantees that Top Notch Finders remains at the cutting edge of recruitment practices, providing superior service to clients and candidates.

Esteemed Pinnacle Society Member

Top Notch Finders’ is led by President and CEO Fernando Espinosa, a respected member of the Pinnacle Society since 2007. This elite consortium, comprising the top 80 recruiters in North America, is a testament to the profound expertise and exceptional standards Top Notch Finders embodies.

Members of the Pinnacle Society, including Top Notch Finders, meet twice a year to share insights, learn from each other’s experiences, and engage in workshops, seminars, and training sessions. This constant immersion in industry best practices and innovative approaches ensures Top Notch Finders stays at the forefront of the recruitment industry, solidifying its position as a leader in the recruitment field.

Unmatched Expertise, Unmatched Recognition in the Global Recruitment

Top Notch Finders’ international prowess is highly recognized in executive search. The team has an impressive record of placing global CEOs, COOs, VPs, Directors, and managers in positions of international scope, overseeing multiple global operations.

The team is also intricately connected to the business communities of Mexico and San Diego, actively participating in the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tijuana’s Economic Development Council and Human Capital Committee. In addition, Top Notch Finders has a longstanding membership with the Better Business Bureau, emphasizing its staunch adherence to ethical business practices.

This unwavering dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. For four consecutive years, Forbes Magazine has listed Top Notch Finders as one of the best recruiting firms in North America for executive and professional search. It has been regularly featured recognized and featured in many publications in the US and Mexico, whichspeaks volumes about the team’s steadfast commitment to excellence in putting people first.

The Top-Notch Advantage: Overcoming Industry Challenges

Throughout the years, Top Notch has weathered various challenges in the executive search space while continuing to place the crème de la crème of executives who align with each client’s unique requirements.

A significant challenge among them is excessive bureaucracy in the recruitment process. When multiple teams within an organization are involved in talent acquisition, it can lead to a lengthy hiring process.

Sometimes, clients need more robust processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recruiting. Top Notch Finders recognizes the importance of streamlining the recruitment process and works closely with different teams to eliminate unnecessary red tape, ensuring high consistency and efficiency.

Clients also often encounter difficulties developing the correct job descriptions and offering appropriate compensation. Understanding the significant gap between the skills companies are looking for. What they are willing to pay, Top Notch Finders assists clients in developing accurate job descriptions that align with the competitive compensation packages.

While guiding them through these challenges, Top Notch Finders helps clients improve their employment brand by leveraging the team’s expertise in marketing and branding to attract, engage and retain potential candidates.

Finding Your Next Culturally Fit Executive

Top Notch Finders recognizes the importance of considering technical competencies and emotional intelligence during recruitment. The team understands that a well-rounded candidate with interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence can contribute significantly to an organization’s success.

Another critical facet is finding impressive candidates within a brief timeframe. While the industry standard dictates a 1 to 3-week timeline, Top Notch Finders can deliver top-tier candidates within 1 to 2 days. This efficiency is attributed to its proprietary dimensional search process, developed by Sanford Rose Associates.

The process begins by thoroughly analyzing client requirements and facilitating discussions among stakeholders. Once clarified, Top Notch Finders leverages its extensive databases, social media platforms, and professional networks to conduct preliminary searches and identify a long list of prequalified candidates. Through a rigorous selection process, the team shortlists the top five candidates more closely aligned to the job requirements and organizational culture.

Even after the successful hire, they offer comprehensive post-placement support for smooth onboarding and ensure the candidate’s and employer’s long-term success. Thisassistance explicitly aids candidates in minimizing potential misunderstandings or performance issues during the transition, ensuring they feel supported, informed, and equipped to thrive in their new role.

A Successful ‘Top Notch’ Placement

Top Notch Finders recently faced a considerable challenge when a company approached them to fill a vital Global Vice President of Operations position.

When Top Notch Finders initiated the collaboration, they encountered many obstacles, including challenges in identifying the ideal candidate within their talent acquisition team and a limited pool of available candidates due to market awareness of the ongoing search. Internal discrepancies among decision-makers also added to the complexity, with conflicting opinions on industry backgrounds and desired skills.

Undeterred, Top Notch Finders tackled these challenges headon. The team aligned stakeholders on a unified candidate profile, compiled a comprehensive list of previously contacted candidates, and initiated the search. Within the first week, they curated a selection of eight highly qualified candidates. Thorough interviews led to a shortlist of four finalists, and a tiered decision-making approach ensured practical evaluation. The client extended an offer to the selected candidate, resulting in a successful placement.

The success of this placement led this company to gain trust in Top Notch Finders, and the team received additional assignments at the Vice President, Director, and Manager levels for the company’s operations in the U.S. and Mexico.

The Driving Force behind Top Notch Finders

At the heart of Top Notch Finders is a team comprising essential members, each bringing unique expertise. The group includes an artificial intelligence & technology implementation expert, a social media and design specialist, a psychologist for candidate evaluations, and dedicated recruiters. Their collective experience, coupled with their multidisciplinary expertise led by Espinosa, form the backbone of Top Notch Finders as they continue to expand their global presence and maintain their dominance as a leading force in the executive search industry.