A lot has changed since the days when posting an ad in the classified section or throwing a “Help Wanted” sign in the window were the preferred methods of hiring new employees. For many positions, job board websites such as Monster, Indeed, and even Craigslist have become the go-to spots for job seekers. But what about when it comes to higher-level positions—what happens when a company needs a new CFO or CMO? How do companies handle executive recruiting? Related: 3 Executive Resume Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make According to PierceGray, the answer is simple: Executive search firms. Companies are now outsourcing the task of executive recruitment and hiring to third-party executive search agencies. These agencies’ hiring processes are similar to those of any company and are divided into three general stages: