Choosing the right executive recruitment agency is now more important that ever. You want to know that the fate of your company is in good hands - and when it comes to executive-level positions, it's no exaggeration to say that selecting the right candidate for the job is truly a "make or break" situation. With the current state of the global economy in mind, more companies than ever before are turning to professional recruiters to help them sort through an ocean of possibilities and find the perfect individual. But how can you be sure that you've chosen the right executive recruitment agency for your company's needs? Here are some qualities of a great recruitment agency:

1. Detailed knowledge of your industry. Usually, the best recruiters have a solid background in the industry or field of their choice. If they haven't work in the field firsthand, then you can be sure that they have trained and studied extensively. They should also be up to date on the latest trends in the marketplace.
2. A large network of industry contacts. Professional recruiters do not merely post an ad on the job boards and wait for the responses to roll in; instead, they draw on their list of contacts to find individuals who may be well-suited for the position in question, even if they're not officially "looking" for work. This will give you the edge you need to find the absolute best person for your executive-level job.
3. Great listening and people skills. Your recruiter should be able to understand, communicate and interact with both you and potential prospects alike. A timid, introverted person may not be the ideal executive recruiter simply because a large part of the job involves approaching people, speaking to them, and reading between the lines.
4. An understanding of social networking sites. Social recruiting is the wave of the future - make sure your recruiter is well versed in MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn in order to obtain the best results.