Retained or Contingency Search

Exclusive Partnership: In a retained search, the client engages the recruiting firm exclusively for a specific executive-level position. The recruitment firm is usually paid upfront or in instalments.

Upfront Investment: Clients invest a portion of the fee at the beginning of the search to secure the recruiter's exclusive commitment to the assignment. To kickstart the search, the client would make an upfront investment payment to the executive search firm, demonstrating a commitment to the process.

Comprehensive Service: Traditional services: Retained executive search is often used for executive and leadership placements. The executive search firm invests time in understanding your talent requirements, company culture, and industry.

Dedicated Resources: Traditional services: The executive search firm partners with the client, allocates dedicated resources to the search, including headhunting services, research, sourcing, and qualifying leadership level candidates.

The Retained Payment Structure Explained: Retained executive search typically involves a series of payments at predetermined milestones throughout the search process.

Retained and contingency recruitment represent two distinct models within the recruitment industry, each offering unique characteristics and advantages.

Non-Exclusive: Involves non-exclusive engagements with a contingency search partnership.

One Off Payment Upon Placement: Recruiters are compensated only when a candidate they refer is hired by the client. The fee is typically a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary.

Quick Turnaround: Contingency search is more often used for roles that need to be filled more quickly, such as mid-senior level or specialised positions. 

Multiple Engagements: Since there's no exclusivity, clients may engage multiple contingency recruiters, however, be sure its quality vs quantity and best fit.

Ongoing Hiring: Contingency recruitment is suitable for organisations with ongoing hiring needs over a longer period of time.

Conclusion: Both models offer advantages depending on the specific needs and priorities of your business. 

Whether you are in start-up mode, scale-up status, or a large corporate business our retained and contingency search solutions deliver senior skilled tech & sales professionals to Director and C-suite level experts.

I Guess the only question is Reatined or Contingency Search?