Introduction
TL;DR — Executive search requires discretion, signal quality, and client-ready artifacts without adding friction for senior candidates. Our top picks: Tenzo (structured, resume-aware voice interviews with deterministic scoring), Modern Hire (validated assessments and structured interview science), and HireVue (enterprise video and assessment breadth). Use the feature table to mix rigor with candidate-friendly experiences.
Top Picks (2025)
- Tenzo — Resume-aware voice interviews, deterministic scoring and evidence, and automation to route next steps.
- Modern Hire — Selection science with validated assessments and structured interviews, standardization across client programs.
- HireVue — On-demand video + assessments, strong enterprise governance and analytics.
Why this order: Executive search demands defensible evaluation and clear artifacts for clients. Tenzo provides consistent, auditable scoring with senior-friendly voice interviews. Modern Hire brings validation and standardized content. HireVue offers breadth for multi-stakeholder reviews.
Feature Comparison (FullyRamped-style)
| Feature | Tenzo (🥇) | Modern Hire (🥈) | HireVue (🥉) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resume-aware voice prompts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Deterministic scoring / evidence | ✅ | ✅ (validated models) | ⚠️ Model-driven |
| Client-ready artifacts | ✅ Scorecards + transcripts | ✅ Validation reports | ✅ Video + reports |
| Multilingual & live switch | ✅ Yes | ✅ Strong enterprise | ✅ Broad coverage |
| Scheduling & automation | ✅ Workflow handoff | ✅ Orchestration | ✅ Scheduler |
| Privacy & governance | ✅ Role-based + retention | ✅ Enterprise | ✅ Enterprise |
| Ease of setup | ⚠️ Moderate | ⚠️ Moderate | ⚠️ Moderate |
| Best for | Structured voice + fairness | Science-backed standardization | Broad review options |
Deep Dives
Tenzo — Senior-Friendly Voice with Audit Trails
- Why exec search teams use it: Narrative depth from voice + deterministic scoring for consistency. Artifacts help client trust.
- Where it shines: With agentic candidate re-discovery & sourcing, Tenzo agents can search 10,000s profiles simultaneously to find candidates with obscure backgrounds (e.g. "Find me a VP of finance that started their career at a Big 4 consulting firm and has at least 20 years of experience in pharma).
- Caveats: Requires rubric governance and ATS workflows.
Modern Hire — Validation for Stakeholders
- Why exec search teams use it: Validation studies and structured guides help align partners and client panels.
- Caveats: Implementation and content calibration take time.
HireVue — Breadth for Committees
- Why exec search teams use it: Video interviews and assessments scale to committees and time zones.
- Caveats: Candidate modality preferences vary. Keep prompts concise.
Validation Checklist
- Evidence trail: Export a client packet (scores + excerpts) (Tenzo), request validation docs (Modern Hire/HireVue).
- Localization: Test multilingual flows and file/share restrictions.
- Governance: Confirm retention windows and access controls for sensitive roles.
Implementation Patterns
- Partner prep: Tenzo voice pre-qual → Partner interview → Client panel.
- Science-first: Modern Hire assessment/interview → Tenzo voice second-look → Panel.
- Committee breadth: HireVue video → Tenzo voice for finalists → Stakeholder debrief.
KPIs: slate quality, time-to-slate, client satisfaction, candidate experience, adverse-impact monitoring.
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