The team at CA Search Advisors is often asked, “What is the difference between a retained and a contingent search firm?” As a retained firm, we believe that the strength and success of each search is driven by the partnerships developed with our clients and the targeted plan created for each search. We scour referral sources, approach potential passive candidates as well as active, and carefully vet each contender searching for the correct fit. While the retained process may take longer, it is often the better option for tougher to fill, highly specialized, or executive level positions.
At CA Search, we also believe that a strong recruiting team should be very clear about its capabilities and areas of expertise, as well as willing to recognize and recommend firms that may be better suited for a search. That philosophy holds true for thought pieces, so we are sharing Types of Executive Search Firms: Retained vs. Contingency Search, from the website of the firm, Alder Koten. This post does a fantastic job summarizing the differences between retained and contingent search. We could not have said it better!