Pay a retainer fee.

If a company has the need and is serious about making a critical hire, paying the retained search firm is always the best option. Clients who work with us are serious about their business; that's why they work with us.

In other words, if a company is truly dedicated to rising above the industry noise and wishes to hire an excellent candidate, we believe the attention companies get from a retained search process is a bargain, relative to the less attentive contingency search process at the same cost.

Contingency recruiters earn fees when a candidate is placed in a job whereas retained firms usually get paid in thirds: one-third the estimated fee for up-front work, one-third four weeks into the work, and the final third when the candidate accepts the position. In either case, you are paying the same aggregate fee for the engagement.

Rarely will contingency recruiters meet external candidates or internal hiring managers face to face. With a retainer arrangement, you'll get a firmer commitment from your executive search firm, as well as more personalized attention, dedicated time and customized searches. Most companies are hesitant to do a retained search with a firm they have no prior history with. Most hiring managers and human resource professionals have a horror story or two of how a contingency recruiter has left them feeling under-serviced.