There are Headhunters in Panama

Well not exactly that kind, but the description definitely fits. Panama has a shortage of service personel and management personnel as well.  When you get to the executive level the competition for top talent is fierce and the headhunters are making money in Panama right now.

 This article appeared in Capital.com

by Migdalia Casorla

Most companies, many of which are multinationals,  are focusing on the search for talent in different business areas and positions, both locally and regionally. But Panama Amrop prefers to define their niche in the market in high management positions and independent members of boards for corporations and national companies , raising the level and profile of the candidates, and that process is much more specialized.

The company belongs to a global network with presence in 55 countries and 89 cities, and specializes in the search, evaluation and selection of talent for senior positions and profile, ie CEOs, presidents and professional reporting to the CEO who receive compensation above $ 60,000 a year.   Costs for the service fee to search for a high profile position equivalent to one third of the annual compensation of the executive and offer a warranty of 12 months.  (HOW DO THEY DO THAT?)

Having a global network has brought many advantages and benefits to the company, which settled in Panama in January this year, said Felipe Fabrega, partner and general manager of Amrop Panama.

And with the increase in the arrival of multinationals, the search for talent they need  may be extended in several countries.

“We are dedicated to searching in all industries, technology, consumer goods, logistics and others, meeting their needs,” he said.

In Panama, the growth has been reported in recent years and  there is a professional need to search through a deep process of the best talent level of these positions.  Amrop starts with a base of 40 to 50 candidates, then filters and get the best person for each position.

“With a big base, we can ensure the security of finding the best candidate available in the market and the odds are much higher than the company trying to find it’s own candidate,” explains Fabrega.

The market for talent search in Panama is increasingly specialized and sophisticated product of the increased demand for these services in the national and regional market, says Jaime A. Bocanegra, manager of consultancy Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) Panama.   And the country’s economic growth and has become attractive for many companies, which has led the search for talent to be  more segmented.

“Another factor that is influencing the establishment of firms specialized in talent hunt, is the arrival in Panama of multinationals which are accustomed to paying high prices to get the talent they need. Also we are likely to begin to see firms that specialize in searching certain types of professionals such as civil engineers and systems specialists, project manager. Or specialized talents in types of industry such as consumer goods, logistics and transportation, “said Bocanegra.   PWC even projected that Panama could become a regional operations center to manage the recruitment process.

“What I see coming in the next few years a large number of firms to establish offices scout in Panama, or seek an alliance with local recruiters,” he said.

The firm Manpower Professional  is also concentrated in the hunt for high-profile professionals and executives, allowing them the experience and resources to focus on a specific need of customers, and to ensure the high profile candidates and provide the necessary advice as to skills and wages.

Leonardo Munoz, consultant of the firm, said that in the case of Panama, profiles are sought for managerial positions in the construction sector, technology, civil engineering, computer science and the commercial area.