Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between retained and contingent search? 

Retained means we're your exclusive, dedicated partner on the search from day one — full focus, market data, and priority. Contingent means you only pay if we place a candidate who stays past the guarantee period, but it comes with lower priority and no market analysis.

What's the hourly-plus-success-fee model? 

A hybrid option: a smaller upfront retainer plus a success fee when we land your hire — built for companies that want more commitment than contingent offers without the full retained investment.

How long does a typical search take? 

A typical search will take 2 weeks to get pre-screened, qualified candidates on your desk.  Our goal is to wrap every search, regardless of vertical, industry or role, in 60 days or less, meaning the offer has been extended and accepted by your chosen candidate.

What's your guarantee period? 

For contingent search, our standard guarantee is 90 days — if your hire leaves in that window, we find a replacement at no additional fee.

For retained search, we have a two-pronged guarantee.  If they leave in the first 90 days for something that there was no way to screen for (illness, family member needing care, spouse needing to relocate, etc.), we will find a replacement at no additional fee.  If they leave in the first 90 days and after conducting an exit interview with the now former employee we find it was something they needed from you and didn't get (training, support, mis-represented culture, etc.), we will replace them for an additional fee, with an agreement to talk to someone who specializes in the area of neglect for which the employee left.

What industries do you work in? 

IT/Engineering, legal and professional services, and fractional recruiting support for small businesses generally — the industry matters less than the skillset you need.

Do you work with companies outside Washington State?

Yes - we work with companies in any state in the United States, as well as any other predominant English speaking countries internationally (Australia, England, etc.)