Retained search

Manage retained search engagements end-to-end — from client agreement and search kickoff through milestone-based delivery, candidate slate presentation, and close — for senior and hard-to-fill roles.

Supported tasks

• Structuring a retained search engagement and fee/milestone agreement
• Running a search kickoff meeting to align on role, culture fit, and process
• Building candidate longlists and shortlists against a retained search brief
• Preparing candidate slate presentations for the client or hiring committee
• Managing search timeline milestones (research, longlist, shortlist, offer)
• Communicating search progress and setbacks to the client transparently
• Handling confidential searches where the client identity is not disclosed upfront
• Negotiating and closing offers on behalf of a retained search client
• Managing candidate withdrawal or client scope changes mid-search
• Documenting search process for guarantee/replacement terms
• Differentiating retained search value from contingent recruiting to prospective clients
• Building post-placement check-in cadence to protect the guarantee period

Key prompts

Engagement structure

1. "Draft a retained search engagement outline with milestone-based fee structure for a [role] search."
2. "What should be covered in a search kickoff meeting with the client for a retained [role] search?"
3. "Write client-facing language explaining what differentiates retained search from contingent recruiting."
4. "Draft a scope-of-work document defining deliverables, timeline, and exclusivity terms for a retained search engagement."

Running the search

1. "Build a candidate longlist-to-shortlist process for a retained search on [role], including research and vetting steps."
2. "Draft a candidate slate presentation summarizing 3 to 5 shortlisted candidates for [role] with comparative strengths."
3. "How should I communicate a search setback (thin market, candidate withdrawal) to the client without losing confidence?"
4. "Design a weekly status update format that keeps the client informed without overwhelming them with detail."

Closing and follow-through

1. "Draft a negotiation approach for closing an offer with a candidate who has a competing offer, on behalf of the client."
2. "What should a post-placement check-in cadence look like during the guarantee period for a retained search?"
3. "How do we handle a client scope change mid-search (revised requirements, budget change) without restarting from zero?"
4. "Draft a renewal or expansion pitch for an existing retained search client considering a second search."

Tips

• Set clear milestone definitions (longlist, shortlist, offer) in the engagement agreement so progress is measurable and disputes are rare.
• Keep the client informed even when there's no good news — silence during a stalled search damages trust more than a transparent setback update.
• Present slates with comparative context, not just individual profiles — clients decide faster when candidates are positioned against each other on the criteria that matter.
• Protect confidentiality rigorously in sensitive searches; a leak can end the search and damage the client relationship permanently.
• Don't treat placement as the finish line — the guarantee period and early check-ins are part of the deliverable, not an afterthought.