The search committee checklist

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Before you post the job

• The full board has approved the committee's members and written charge.
• The committee has a chair and a single point of contact for candidate questions.
• You agreed on the three to five priorities the role must deliver.
• The job description reflects those priorities and includes salary range and location expectations.
• You agreed on confidentiality rules and every member has accepted them.
• You chose one secure place for applications, not a shared inbox.
• You set a timeline: posting date, review start, interview rounds, target decision date.
• You know where the posting will go: website, LinkedIn, sector job boards, and personal networks.

While applications come in

• Every applicant receives a confirmation and knows what happens next.
• Each member rates applications independently against the agreed priorities.
• You decided whether to use a blind first pass.
• The committee meets to discuss disagreements, not to re-read every resume together.
• The longlist and shortlist are written down in one place everyone can see.

Interviews

• Each round has the same core questions for every candidate.
• Someone owns scheduling and candidate communication.
• Reference checks happen only with the candidate's consent.
• Finalists meet the people they would work with most.

After the decision

• The board votes on the committee's recommendation.
• Every applicant who was not selected hears from you, promptly and kindly.
• Internal candidates get a personal conversation.
• Application files are deleted on a set date.
• The committee writes down what it would do differently next time.

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