Retained search is an elevated form of recruitment in which a client company partners with a search firm to facilitate challenging hires. The search is run exclusively by the search firm and a hire is guaranteed. All of the mundane details of the recruitment process including sourcing, pre-qualification, and reference checks are taken off of the client’s shoulders and are executed by the search firm according to a predetermined, individualized hiring plan. The fee is a percentage of the hire’s first year salary and is due in 3 increments. The first is paid as a retainer to initiate the search, the second is due at an agreed upon milestone, and the third is due upon hire. Should the hire leave the client before a specified period, a replacement is guaranteed.
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, a retained search may be right for you.
Is my search urgent or complex? Does it require an in depth understanding of the subject matter? Does it require tact or sensitivity?
Do I lack an HR department? If I have an HR department, are they lacking the time, subject matter expertise, or resources needed to realistically fill this position in the time allotted?
Will there be negative consequences if this role remains unfilled for an extended period of time?
Dark Horse’s Founder and Lead Consultant, Alexa Watson, personally directs all aspects of retained search engagements. Not a single step of the process is outsourced! She brings 15+ years of recruitment experience to the table and has successfully hired on behalf of tech start-ups and the US Intelligence Community, including the NSA, CIA, FBI, and more. She employs a variety of unique, proprietary search techniques and has benefited from formal training in nonverbal communication and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering. These unique skills help her to identify the high-quality, passive candidates that all retained search clients seek. Above all else, Dark Horse can be relied upon to deliver customized search solutions that get results and exceed expectations.
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