January 2027 Executive Search Analyst Program - Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT TRUE

We are True, the fastest-growing global platform of innovative talent management products and services. Our retained search professionals partner with high-growth, tech-enabled companies to place the entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow. Our clients are inventive, high-growth brands backed by leading venture capital and private equity firms, as well as established public organizations.

With offices in North America, EMEA, and APAC, our team of industry and functional specialists leverage their deep networks to connect compelling companies with the world’s top talent. Since 2012, True has grown and expanded to offer a customizable platform of products and services for developing leadership. From talent-management software, leadership assessments, and an inclusive job platform aimed at increasing diversity in executive hiring, we are reinventing the antiquated ways of the executive search industry and building the executive talent firm of the future. True was founded on the belief that doing good is the pathway to doing well. Our success is a by-product of doing the right thing—treating people right, listening to new ideas, and keeping culture at the heart of our business. At True, building your own brand and shaping your professional journey isn’t just an option, it’s an expectation.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Analyst Program is a structured, 10 month career launcher into Executive Search. Analysts receive dedicated mentorship from True’s top leaders, and develop business skills in research, communication, critical thinking, project & client management, and team collaboration. You'll join a cohort of peers training together in Philadelphia, before acting as a strategic partner to senior search teams, working directly on high-profile placements for companies driving the global economy. 

The program runs across three rotations, building towards a strong foundation in market mapping and intelligence, pipeline execution, and recruiting strategy with Analysts targeting 5–7 concurrent searches by the final rotation. Our goal is to prepare high-performing Analysts to step into an Associate role at the end of the program. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Month 1: Classroom Training (Philadelphia)

An intensive, in-person "mini-MBA" led directly by True's top leaders — establishing business acumen, technical baseline competencies, and professional norms before you join a live search team, and building fluency in True’s approach to Search.

• In-Office Commitment: five days a week during classroom training, so you get the most face-time with your cohort and True's leaders.

Month 2: Rotations Begin

Once classroom training ends, you'll rotate through different industry and functional practices to experience the breadth of the business as you steadily ramp up in search volume.

• Research — identify potential candidate archetypes with an understanding of company and market ecosystems, and build out target company lists.

• Pipeline Development — drive candidate outreach and generate a healthy pipeline for searches.

• Candidate & Data Integrity — manage the full candidate lifecycle over time and ensure data is captured and kept accurate on our Candidate Relationship System (CRM), Thrive.

• Client Updates — attend weekly update calls with the search team and client to report on search progress.

• Shadow — work closely with the search team and shadow them on calls and meetings to learn quickly.

Phase

Core Responsibilities

Performance Goal against Analyst Scorecard

Training

True systems, market-mapping mechanics, database navigation

Emerging

Rotation 1

Post-kickoff deliverables, research, outreach, candidate assessments, agendas

Proficient

Rotation 2

Complex research, search pivots, pitching / phone skills, candidate management

Approaching Expert

(first opportunity for promotion after rotation 2)

Rotation 3

Full candidate lifecycle ownership

Expert

(last opportunity for promotion during or after rotation 3)

WHO YOU ARE

• Adaptable — you can switch from one task to another seamlessly and with the same level of energy and enthusiasm. 

• Collaborative — you work well within a team and build strong internal relationships. 

• Curious — you ask inquisitive and insightful questions to learn about whichever industry, function, asset class and/or market you are operating within. 

• Data Driven — you strive to collect data and update systems accordingly, while also leveraging data to tell a story. 

• Optimistic — you operate with positive energy, gratitude and appreciation.

• Problem solver — you are solutions-oriented and willing to put forward your ideas.

• Resilient — you learn and recover from mistakes quickly and show emotional strength.

• Responsible — you take pride in your work, are willing to work hard and have a strong desire to be great at what you do.

• Comfortable with Ambiguity — you can operate within, and embrace, the ambiguity that comes with a fast-scaling, global business.

• Recent graduate, or graduating within the next 12 months, with a long-term career interest in executive search.

INTERVIEW PROCESS 

Here's what to expect as you go through our process: 

• TA Screen — an initial conversation with a member of our Talent & Acquisition team to share your story and learn more about the program.

• Case Study — complete a case study remotely ahead of Super Day. Our Leadership & Development (L&D) team reviews and grades every submission, using it to shortlist candidates going forward. 

• Super Day — meet with Executive Search Senior Associates, Principals, and Partners across two back-to-back interviews, blocking out around 1.5 hours for your conversations. Our TA team manages all logistics on the day. 

• Debrief & Offer — your interviewers and our L&D team come together straight after Super Day to debrief, and successful candidates receive an offer shortly after.

True is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all are welcomed, included, and given opportunity. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request any adjustments.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.