What is the appropriate way to utilize a recruiting firm, contingency or retained search?
Many of our clients work with us on an exclusive contingency basis. This is a hybrid approach that is quite literally the “best of both worlds” for both parties. In a traditional contingency search, the recruiting firm is in competition with other firms for a fee that is earned upon the placement of a candidate with the client. The client is dealing with several firms who are presenting candidates of varying qualities and frequently there is overlap with two or more recruiting firms representing the same candidate. Dealing with the barrage of phone calls, arbitrating which recruiting firm has first referral and ultimately spending more time screening resumes and interviewing more candidates than is necessary, leads to squandered time. In a retained search, the client selects one recruiting firm and pays a portion of the agreed upon fee in advance, with the balance paid upon completion of the search. The benefit is that the recruiting firm has control over the search process by being th
