More than half of headhunters (53%) think women will have to spurn a career break to reach the top senior executive positions, according to a new report from executive search firm InterExec, a confidential agent for executives seeking over £150k.

The report, based on a survey among 100 of the UK’s headhunters, shows that while 51% of headhunters believe that there will be more women in top positions in the future, when asked: “If women are looking to compete on an equal footing, and assuming they are equally well qualified, do you think that they will have to forsake a career break (for any reason), thus having comparable experience to reach the top positions”, 53% said yes.
 
Kit Scott Brown, chief executive of InterExec, says: “Many of the top headhunters were keen to see more women in senior executive positions, but at the same time believed that to reach those top positions, many of them would unfortunately have to give up any career break, whether it be for health reasons, to travel, or, in particular, to have children. 

“The demands of working in a top executive position are such that, by taking time out – even for a few months - many headhunters felt that women would be losing out on important opportunities to progress their career.”