The short answer: a retained search for a critical hire in agriculture should reach an assessed shortlist within 21 working days of briefing. Where a hire is urgent, we release qualified candidates as they clear our process, so the first interviews can start before the formal shortlist is complete. A signed appointment typically follows three to eight weeks later, depending on the client's interview process and the candidate's notice period.
Where the time goes
Our process has ten steps and weekly client update meetings. Market mapping, candidate outreach and screening interviews all run inside the first 21 working days, because a shortlist cannot exist without them. The market map keeps growing throughout: every competitor, distributor and adjacent business that employs the profile, with the named people inside them.
- Week one: briefing, success profile and target universe, approved by you.
- Weeks one to four: named approaches, screening interviews and referencing.
- By working day 21: an assessed shortlist with our written view on each candidate.
- From the shortlist: client interviews, offer, resignation and notice.
What slows a search down
Three things add more time than anything else. A brief that changes after the market map is built. Interview slots that are not held in advance. And an offer process that leaves a strong candidate waiting while a competitor moves faster. Each of these is within the hiring company's control.
The fastest searches are the ones where the client books interview dates on the day the search begins.
What notice periods mean for your start date
In the US, notice is often two to four weeks, although senior leaders may negotiate longer to hand over properly. In parts of Europe contractual notice for senior roles commonly runs three to six months. Plan the start date from the notice period, not from the offer date and plan the search backward from the season the person needs to be in the field.
How to shorten it
Agree the success profile before the search opens, approve the target universe within days and reserve interview dates in advance. If you are hiring before you have a local entity, Chaseman OnDemand can employ the appointee from day one so the start date is not held up by incorporation. To brief us on a search, contact the team.
Published by Chaseman Global on October 6, 2026. Follow us on LinkedIn.
