Before selecting a recruiting firm to work with, you may be faced with the tough choice between a Retained or Contingent Search method. Luckily, there’s a lesser-known middle ground: Engaged Search. Our recruiters created this guide to Engaged Search to help you determine which of the three Search Methods is right for you.
How Engaged Search Differs from Retained and Contingent
To begin a Retained Search, you pay a non-refundable portion of the search fee to create an exclusive partnership with one recruiter or firm. The rest of the fee will be due when you hire one of their candidates. This approach is most effective for recruiting executives and other leaders. Your Retained Search will be your recruiter’s highest priority.
With a Contingent Search, you only pay a recruiter after you hire one of their candidates. This method is best when you are looking to work with multiple recruiters and/or firms to expand your candidate pool as wide as possible. While a Contingent Search is the lowest risk option, if you’re working with a recruiter who is also assigned to a Retained or Engaged Search, your Contingent Search may not be their top priority.
Engaged Search is a hybrid approach that begins with an up-front fee, but unlike Retained Search, this fee is fully refundable if no placements are made. This method is ideal if you need candidates urgently for one or more positions. Fees vary by recruiter/firm, and depending on the search agreement, you may be committing to an exclusive partnership.
Dedicated Resources
Recruiters work on many job searches every day and follow an order of priority based on the search methods chosen by the companies they work with. If you need qualified candidates as soon as possible, using the Engaged Search method allows recruiters to dedicate more time and effort to your search. A Retained Search takes things even further by maximizing resource dedication, which is why it’s the only method we use for Executive Recruiting at SRG Stillwater.
The Engaged Search process
Our SRG office starts all our Engaged Searches from scratch, beginning by getting to know your team and company in detail. Then we tailor our search criteria beyond the position itself and find candidates who align with your vision and culture. After screening our top candidates, we send them to you, help organize interviews, and assist you with offer negotiations.
Ready to get started?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to SRG Stillwater with any questions about search methods, recruiting, or hiring. If you’re ready to connect with top candidates, we’re ready to go find them. Contact us or call us at 651-383-2020 to get started.