Candidate Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights

SJG search consultants seek to identify qualified candidates for clients who wish to fill senior-level positions. Although our contractual obligation is to the client institution, we place a very high value on our relationships with candidates and adhere to a strict code of ethics to ensure that our interactions with you are honest, objective, accurate and respectful. We believe you have certain rights as a candidate:

    · Confidentiality — every individual is entitled to the highest level of confidentiality from the search firm and the client institution. As you progress in the search process, however, your need for confidentiality will be balanced with the client's need to make a fully informed decision about your suitability for the position. You should therefore expect to divulge more information as you advance in the process.

    · Full Disclosure — in order to make a fully informed decision, you are entitled to know as much as possible about the position and the client institution, including the requirements of the position, compensation package, relocation options, and the culture of the institution.

    · Timely Communication – you are entitled to ongoing and timely communication about each step of the search process, including responses to inquiries you initiate and updates as to the progress of the search.

    · Professional Treatment — you are entitled to be treated with professional respect and courtesy. Expectations of the position will be communicated clearly, appointments will be honored, and any questions you may raise will be answered honestly.

    · Adequate Process Details — as the process unfolds, you are entitled to know the next steps, anticipated timeframes, etc.

    · No Pressure — while we will keep you informed of any deadlines imposed by the client institution, ideally you will take the time to make a well-informed decision.  We will not put undue pressure on you to do so.

    · Trust — we strive to match the right candidate with each position within a client institution. We also want to be sure that you are confident you've made the right choice for you, both professionally and personally.

Your Responsibilities

As the leading search firm serving higher education, SJG is entrusted with identifying leaders in academia. Candidates applying for a position through our firm are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards of integrity and professionalism, conducting themselves in a manner befitting the public trust placed in higher education leadership.

The relationships we maintain with our candidates are highly valued by every member of the SJG team.  To help facilitate the search process and maintain your standing as a viable candidate for a leadership position in higher education, we expect the following:

    · Honesty — under no circumstances should you misrepresent your work history or academic credentials.  Nor should you withhold information. Complete and accurate disclosure is essential in the search process.

    · Flexibility and responsiveness — make a genuine effort to fit appointments and interviews into your schedule. Respond to requests for information promptly. Keep us informed if something changes that impacts your commitment to the search process.

    · A well-informed candidate — learn as much as you can about the search process as well as the institution to which you are applying. Ask questions and assess carefully whether this is the position and institution that you are seeking. Discuss the position with those close to you – family, spouse, or partner.  Evaluate if this move will work for you, both professionally and personally.

    · Realistic expectations — understand that the process takes time and that you will be one of several qualified candidates.

    · References who are ready to speak for you — let each person serving as a reference for you know that he or she will be contacted by someone from SJG. Talk with them about your interest in the position and why you feel you would be successful. While every effort will be made to respect your need for confidentiality, we must balance that with our client's need to make a fully informed decision – therefore, be prepared to eventually release the name of your current supervisor as you advance in the search process.

    · Willingness to commit to travel — if you are invited to a campus interview, travel arrangements are made on your behalf. It is your responsibility to be committed to the search process before a ticket is purchased. Once you approve a proposed itinerary, a non-refundable ticket is issued in your name, and Homeland Security regulations state that it cannot be changed if you are then unable to travel as planned, except in an emergency.