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Engagement Modes·22 May 2026·5 min read
Retained vs. contingency: how to choose
Two engagement models, two very different outcomes. A practical guide to picking the right commercial mode for the role in front of you.
Contingency search is the right answer for standard hiring mandates where speed and optionality matter more than depth.
Retained search earns its premium on priority, confidential, specialist and executive roles, where market mapping, proactive outreach and disciplined assessment are the difference between a placement and a mis-hire.
If the cost of getting the hire wrong is significantly greater than the retained fee, the model has already chosen itself.
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