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Interview with Anna Boström – our woman on the phone!

Hi Anna! Let's start by having you tell us about your role at Scandinavian Executive, what do you do there?

I work with customer relations, both new and existing contacts we have at the company. We book most of the meetings, build good customer relationships, and keep track of what's happening with both our current and new clients.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I usually start by checking customer replies and following up on previous meetings. Then it's a lot about going through news and scanning the market to see what's happened. And, of course, contacting, emailing, and calling existing and potential customers. I connect in several different ways, but mostly it's  by email, but also often via LinkedIn or SMS, actually. Practically, I then book client meetings that my colleagues Sofia, Staffan, Rickard, or Michael then conduct. 

You really have to be persistent and not give up! To be able to dig deep and stick with something for a long time. Often it pays off, and sometimes things just click much later! 

What kind of companies do you usually meet?

It varies a lot. But generally, it's medium-sized companies with a few hundred employees or more. Quite often, they're located in the Stockholm region, but we have clients nationally across the whole country, and sometimes even outside Sweden's borders.

Okay, and what do clients ask for, what do their needs look like?

Projects can be both longer or shorter, but usually, it's about a recruitment process that's taking too long, illness, parental leave, or temporary reinforcement. Sometimes things happen very suddenly, and that's when interim is a fantastic solution.

What are the most common questions you get?

The most common question we get is, "What kind of interim consultants can you provide?" Scandinavian Executive primarily offers consultants at the management level, but of course, we can help at other levels if needed – through our partners and so on.

Tips for clients considering hiring an interim consultant?

Communication is key, the dialogue between the client and the consultant. Be clear about who is responsible for what and what the assignment entails. There's a big difference between having an employee and having an interim consultant. The consultant has a very specific role and a clear assignment. What's the goal, what are the consultant's most important tasks, and how long will they work on it? But also, make sure to quickly understand the client's organization, provide regular feedback, and check in with your client so that the pace of the assignment is at the right level. Clarity and communication are of utmost importance.

What message would you give to a client who might be on the fence, thinking it's too expensive or complicated?

Recruitment itself takes time and costs a lot of money, and it costs even more to hire the wrong person, so you don't want to rush such a process. That's where hiring an interim consultant during that time is perfect. It can take six months or a year, for example, to fill a CEO or CFO position, and regardless of the role, it's hard to put these tasks on someone else in the organization in the meantime. Quickly bringing in an interim consultant calms things down, creates stability, and allows the company to focus on the right things during a recruitment process or parental leave.

Feel free to ask, and we'd be happy to help you!

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