Personnel Selection,
Headhunting for executives, managers, and highly specialized profiles
Studio Base helps companies grow by choosing the best people based on skills, potential, and cultural alignment. Since 1983, we have accompanied entrepreneurs and HR departments in building solid and high-performing teams with a tailored and consultative approach.
THE COMPETITIVE CONTEXT
The Challenges of Personnel Selection
Every year we speak with dozens of entrepreneurs and HR managers. Difficulties in personnel selection are recurring, concrete, and costly.
According to industry analysis, a wrong selection costs the company between 2 and 3 times the gross annual salary: wasted time, slowed projects, and compromised team morale. Over 40% of new hires leave within the first year.
Studio Base transforms these critical issues into opportunities.
High Turnover
- 40% leave within 12 months
- Cost: 2-3x Gross Annual Salary
- Cultural fit ignored
- Compromised team morale
Long Lead Times
- 3-6 months for average selection
- Blocked projects
- Top candidates lost
- Ineffective generic databases
Lack of International Network
- Export managers impossible to find
- Zero international partners
- Complex geographic mobility
- Absent local expertise
TRACK RECORD
The Numbers That Set Us Apart
Forty years of experience are measured in concrete results. We do not promise miraculous solutions: we offer a consolidated method, verifiable in practice.
8500
+Completed selections
From 1983 to today, in every sector and for every professional level
90
%Success at 3 years
9 out of 10 candidates we place stay with the company and grow in their role
30000
+Evaluated profiles
Proprietary database built over 40 years of activity and direct evaluations.
50
+Countries worldwide
Through ENEX, a global executive search network of which we are a founding partner.
OUR EXPERTISE
Professional Figures: From Executive to Operational
The expertise of a selection firm is measured by the ability to manage every professional level with the same methodological rigor. Studio Base applies the BEI method and cultural fit assessment to any role.
PROVEN METHODOLOGY
The Studio Base Method for Lasting Selections
There are no shortcuts in personnel selection. There are verified methods and measurable results. Since 1983, we have applied a structured four-phase process that integrates active research, scientific evaluation, and personalized support.
Position Analysis
We analyze the company's distinctive culture, namely the organizational model, the role context, and relational dynamics. We identify key competencies, required soft skills, and necessary cultural fit.
Search Strategies
Search via proprietary database with 30,000 qualified profiles and selected digital channels. In the case of direct search - headhunting - we are able to propose candidates through our network and research in companies listed in target lists.
Selection with BEI Method
We apply Behavioural Event Interviewing to evaluate concrete skills, decisions, and behaviors. Upon request: psychological tests, individual or group assessments.
Presentation and Support
We present only candidates who are truly aligned. We accompany the client and candidate until final placement. Continuous feedback, personalized assistance.
HR ITALY
Personnel Selection in Brescia and Throughout Italy
Brescia has been our home since 1983. We know the entrepreneurial fabric of the territory, the dynamics of the local labor market, and the specificities of the most representative sectors. But our operations do not stop at the province: we work throughout Italy with the same method, the same experience, and the same results.
National Coverage Managed from Brescia
We coordinate every project from our Brescia headquarters, operating throughout Italy with:
- BEI Method applied on a national scale
- Proprietary database with 30,000 qualified profiles in all regions
- Targeted direct search for every geographic area
- Physical presence when necessary: we meet candidates and companies on-site
The expertise gained over 40 years allows us to move effectively in different contexts, always maintaining methodological rigor and selection quality.
Sectors in which we operate at a national level:
✓ Manufacturing and metalworking
✓ Automation 4.0
✓ Logistics and supply chain
✓ Professional services and consulting
✓ Tech and digitalization
✓ Pharma and medical
Roots in the Brescia Territory
Brescia has been our home since 1983. This depth of rooting distinguishes us:
- Consolidated network with entrepreneurs, HR managers, and local trade associations
- Direct knowledge of leading sectors: metalworking, advanced manufacturing, automation, logistics
- Proprietary local database with thousands of qualified profiles from the Brescia and Lombardy area
- Relationships with educational institutions (Universities and Business Schools) to intercept young talent
We know the entrepreneurial fabric of the territory, the dynamics of the local labor market, and the cultural specificities of companies. We know where to look, whom to contact, and how to evaluate adherence to company values.
Do you have an executive search open or under evaluation?
Whether you need to replace an outgoing manager, build a new executive team, or find an elusive strategic profile, let’s start with a confidential 30-minute call. No obligation, just experience and methodology.
INTERNATIONAL HR
International Selections with ENEX Global Network
Studio Base is a founding partner of ENEX, an international executive search network present in over 50 countries and 5 continents. This partnership allows us to manage selections abroad with the same quality and method we apply in Italy, coordinating everything from our Brescia headquarters.
ENEX is not just a network of contacts: it is a global alliance of selection professionals who share quality standards, the BEI method, and common ethical values. Each partner is certified and operates with direct experience in their respective market.
How ENEX Works
ENEX is not just a network: it is a global network of selection professionals who share methods, quality standards, and ethical values.
The process:
- Centralized management from Brescia – Studio Base coordinates the entire project, ensuring consistency and quality
- Selected local partners – Consultants with direct experience in the target market, cultural and linguistic knowledge
- Shared method – Same BEI approach applied globally, adapted to local specificities
- Unified reporting – Shortlists, evaluations, and feedback according to common standards
Concrete advantages:
✓ Speed: partners already operational, no time wasted in startup
✓ Quality: selection among the best local executive search firms
✓ Transparency: a single point of contact (Studio Base), direct communication
✓ Controlled costs: no intermediaries, shared pricing within the network
Countries and Expertise
ENEX operates in over 50 countries through certified partners. Main geographic areas:
Europe:
Germany, France, UK, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria
Americas:
USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina
Asia-Pacific:
China, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia
Middle East & Africa:
UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
International specialization sectors:
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Automotive & Aerospace
- Pharma & Life Sciences
- Tech & Digital
- Energy & Utilities
- Retail & Consumer Goods
WHAT SETS US APART
Why Choose Studio Base as Your HR Partner
Choosing a partner for personnel selection means relying on those who will directly impact your company’s growth.
It is not a decision to be taken lightly. Since 1983, we have built placements that last because they are based on method, verifiable experience, and a long-term vision. We don’t just fill positions: we build teams.
Over 40 years of experience
Since 1983, we have accompanied Italian companies. Advanced methods tested in thousands of projects, adapted to the reality of the Italian labor market.
Scientifically validated BEI method
Behavioural Event Interviewing to evaluate real, not hypothetical, behaviors. Reduces bias, increases predictability. 90% retention at 3 years.
Proprietary database of 30,000 profiles
Built over 40 years of direct evaluations. Qualified profiles by sector, level, and geographic area. Continuous updates, not generalist portals.
Specialized multidisciplinary team
Occupational psychologists, senior recruiters, industry specialists. Vertical expertise in manufacturing, tech, services, pharma.
ENEX international network
Founding partner of ENEX, executive search in 50+ countries. International selections coordinated from Brescia with certified local consultants.
Ministry of Labour Authorization
Prot. 995/04. Guaranteed regulatory compliance. Structured processes, absolute confidentiality, long-term reliability.
faq
Questions & Answers
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What is the difference between recruitment and personnel selection?
They are two complementary but distinct phases:
Recruitment (Recruiting):
Activities of searching for and attracting candidates. Includes: job postings, direct search (headhunting), proprietary databases, networking, employer branding. Goal: to create a broad pool of potential candidates.Selection:
In-depth evaluation of recruited candidates to identify the best one. Includes: CV screening, structured interviews (BEI method), aptitude tests, reference checks, cultural fit assessment. Goal: to choose the right person for that specific role.At Studio Base:
We manage both phases with an integrated approach. Recruitment uses a database of 30,000 profiles + targeted headhunting. Selection applies the scientifically validated BEI method. Result: 90% retention at 3 years (vs 60% market average). -
How much does personnel selection cost?
The cost depends on the level of the role and the complexity of the search. Generally, we work with a fee based on a percentage of the candidate's gross annual salary (RAL), according to market standards:
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What are the phases of the personnel selection process? / How does the selection process work?
The Studio Base process is divided into 4 structured phases:
1. Position Analysis (5-7 days)
In-depth brief with HR/entrepreneur, definition of the ideal profile (technical skills, soft skills, cultural fit), identification of distinctive competencies.2. Candidate Search (10-15 days)
Direct search (headhunting) of active profiles, activation of proprietary database of 30,000 profiles, targeted publication only if strategic.3. Structured Selection (15-20 days)
In-depth CV screening, telephone pre-interviews, BEI (Behavioural Event Interview) sessions, psychological/aptitude tests upon request, professional reference checks.4. Presentation and Support (10-15 days)
Qualified shortlist (3-5 candidates), detailed report for each candidate, support during final interviews, offer negotiation support, onboarding accompaniment. -
Who handles personnel selection? / Who can perform personnel search and selection?
Personnel selection can be managed by:
Internally:
Corporate HR department, functional managers. Advantages: knowledge of company culture. Limits: limited time, reduced database, difficulty with senior roles.Externally:
Selection agencies authorized by the Ministry of Labour (like Studio Base - Prot. 995/04). Advantages: structured method, large database, specialized network, exclusive focus on selection.Why choose a specialized agency:
- Access to passive candidates (not actively searching)
- Scientifically validated methods (BEI)
- Reduced lead times (45 vs 90 days average)
- Replacement guarantee included
- International network for selections abroad
At Studio Base:
Multidisciplinary team: occupational psychologists, senior recruiters, industry specialists. Coordination: Leonello Castagnetti (former HR Director Tenaris Dalmine, RCS, Candy). -
How is personnel selection done? / How to select personnel?
Effective selection requires a method, not improvisation. Studio Base applies this approach:
1. Define the ideal profile
Not just technical skills. Clarity is needed on: necessary soft skills, non-negotiable cultural values, expected growth potential, existing team dynamics.2. Search actively
Do not limit yourself to job postings. The best candidates rarely respond. What is needed: targeted headhunting, qualified databases, professional network, specialized channels.3. Evaluate with scientific method
Beyond the CV. Use: Behavioural Event Interviewing (BEI) to analyze real behaviors, psychological tests conducted by professionals, in-depth reference checks, simulations/assessments for complex roles.4. Verify cultural fit
Technical skills are not enough. Evaluate: alignment with company values, compatible decision-making style, consistent relational modes, real motivation for change.Common error: Choosing "the perfect CV" instead of "the right person". 40% of hires fail due to lack of cultural fit, not technical incompetence.
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What are the best selection firms in Italy?
There is no "absolute best". It depends on your specific needs. Criteria for choosing:
Industry specialization:
Verify experience in your sector (manufacturing, tech, pharma, etc.). Studio Base: 40 years predominantly in Italian manufacturing (metalworking, automotive, packaging, food).Structured method:
Ask what methodology they use. Studio Base: scientifically validated BEI (Behavioural Event Interview) method, not generic interviews.Verifiable track record:
Concrete numbers, not promises. Studio Base: 8,500+ completed selections, 90% retention at 3 years, proprietary database of 30,000 profiles.Ministry of Labour Authorization:
Mandatory by law. Studio Base: Prot. 995/04 since 1983.International network (if needed):
For selections abroad. Studio Base: founding partner of ENEX (50+ countries), the only ones in the province of Brescia with this network.Cost transparency and guarantees:
Clear fee, replacement guarantee included. Studio Base: fee 15-33% of Gross Annual Salary according to market standards, 6-12 month guarantee. -
What is meant by personnel search and selection?
Personnel search and selection is the complete process of identifying, evaluating, and placing the right person in the right role.
It includes two phases:
SEARCH (Sourcing):
Identifying and attracting potential candidates through: proprietary databases (Studio Base: 30,000 profiles), targeted headhunting of passive candidates, job postings on specialized channels, professional industry networking.SELECTION (Screening & Assessment):
In-depth evaluation to choose the best candidate through: CV screening and pre-interviews, structured interviews with the BEI method, psychological and aptitude tests, professional reference checks, corporate cultural fit assessment.Difference with generic HR services:
Search and selection is a specialized service that requires Ministry of Labour authorization. It is not staffing (interim management) nor generic HR consulting. It is an activity dedicated exclusively to finding and evaluating candidates for direct hire by the client company.At Studio Base:
End-to-end process managed by a specialized team. From defining the ideal profile to onboarding the chosen candidate. Replacement guarantee included for lasting results.
Transform your challenges into opportunità concrete results
From strategic
consulting to the search and selection of the right talent: discover how we can support
your organization’s growth with proven methods and measurable results.