• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Cornerstone

Cornerstone is your partner in recruiting and retaining top talent.

  • Services
    • Executive Search
    • Leadership Development
    • Career Transition
  • Why Cornerstone
    • Testimonials
    • Recently Completed Assignments
    • Global Network
  • About Cornerstone
    • Our Story
    • Meet Our Team
    • Our Mission
    • In the News
  • Blog
  • Contact
Retained Executive Search Why Companies Should Pay a Retainer for Retained Executive Search

Why Companies Should Pay a Retainer for Retained Executive Search

June 29, 2017 by Lisa Bruemmer

As a retained Executive Search Partner, we often get asked “Why should we pay a retainer?” and we routinely hear “Other recruiters don’t require any payment unless we get a candidate.”

There’s definitely a place for contingency search – BUT it shouldn’t be the route you take when you’re looking for a mission-critical executive to fill the roles of Controller, CFO, CEO, President, VP, General Manager, etc. 

Many times clients end up talking with us because, after they objectively evaluate the effectiveness of their current strategy, it becomes obvious that something is lacking.

What makes us different is our unwavering commitment to meet or exceed our client’s recruiting expectations…from engagement to completion.

We don’t have our heads in the sand. We’re aware that the marketplace is flooded with agencies and contingency firms that play the numbers game and enjoy a profit….sometimes at the expense of quality.

how-to-stand-out

One of these things is not like the other….

We’ve simply chosen not to become part of the crowd. We aren’t interested in numbers – we’re interested in people and we’re personally invested with each client and every engagement.

There’s a reason why the majority of our work (85%+) comes from existing clients and their referrals.

Once a client breaks away from the crowd and retains our firm, they “get it” and appreciate the Cornerstone Kansas City difference. We aren’t pushing paper or mining a database. We’re working specifically on meeting our client’s needs, always with a trained eye on the long term success of the client and the candidate we’re placing.

So why pay a retainer?

You’re going to pay a fee either way. Wouldn’t you rather receive exclusive focus, personal investment by your recruiting partner, a commitment to work on your behalf until the job is done, and a guarantee once it is?

It’s mitigating risk. It’s relationship. It’s proven successful. And that’s why we still do it “our” way.

Related

LinkedinShareTweetWhatsAppEmailPrint
[jetpack_subscription_form]

Stay Connected!

Subscribe to our newsletter.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Filed Under: Retained Executive Search

Footer

  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook

Proud Members Of:

Copyright © 2025 · Cornerstone · Sitemap · Privacy Policy · Youtube · LinkedIn

Website Development by LimeCuda