Contained vs. Retained Search

Our Advantages,

Efficiency

As with our Contained Search services, retained recruiters methodically search for the best candidates, qualify and rank them, and deliver a small number of exceptional individuals for your consideration. Unfortunately, the processes utilized by many national retained search firms are unnecessarily cumbersome, inefficient, and lengthen search duration.Read More

Efficiency

The industry’s largest and most renowned national retained recruiters trumpet their “scientific methods” and “proprietary tools”. The client and recruiter typically invest hundreds of hours meeting, completing assessment forms, and entering data into systems to take advantage of these supposed competitive advantages. The valuable time lost filling out a sea of forms and entering data in “black box” systems is necessary for these firms. However, is it necessary for you?

Early in the planning stages of a search, recruitment firms assign a small team to be the primary client contact(s). This usually consists of a senior associate or two and perhaps a few junior level professionals. Despite the limited number of individuals with whom the client will ever have direct contact, dozens of the search firm’s employees may participate in the engagement. Preliminary tasks early in the search are delegated to junior level analysts, administrative personnel, and regional offices. The overwhelming majority of those assigned to a search are unlikely to meet or speak with the client. How can the firm ensure these individuals thoroughly understand the client’s needs when supporting a search? Predictably, the largest national retained recruitment firms are required to spend an inordinate amount of time meticulously documenting the client’s requirements in forms and systems. The time intensive processes of our competitors have less to do with value-added “scientific methods” and “proprietary tools” than compensating for their inefficient decentralized search processes.

Metis will assign a group of no more than three individuals to manage all aspects of your engagement. We diligently document critical requirements of the position and apply a structured methodology to each search. However, Metis does not generate burdensome mountains of forms and analyses which slow down the process. Nor do we believe it adds value to ask clients to expend hours filling out questionnaires and surveys. While Metis will occasionally ask clients to review of our analyses to ensure we are on track, your time is better spent focusing on your business than filling out forms and participating in conference calls. Our centralized search process saves you time and hassle.

 

Search Duration

Recruiters have conditioned clients to anticipate a search lasting between three and nine months. While the process of identifying your next key employee is critical, searches frequently drag out longer than necessary due to the actions and self-interest of service providers. We can successfully complete most searches in ten weeks.Read More

Search Duration

A 2010 study conducted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) observed that 67% of clients required recruiters to increase their speed of search execution over the period reviewed. During the same timeframe, 41% of service providers responded that their average time to complete a search increased. The search industry as a whole is clearly lagging behind the needs of its clients in this area.

As noted earlier, the largest national retained search firms may involve dozens of geographically dispersed employees in any given engagement. The majority of these will never communicate with a client in person, by email, or phone. Since they lack first hand details, all aspects of your requirements and business culture must be meticulously documented for dissemination to remote and lower level search team members. Reams of paper are generated for each prospective candidate as biographical information is painstakingly detailed and analyzed in reports forwarded up to the senior search manager(s). Additionally, the largest national recruitment firms are forced to spend hundreds of hours on internal calls and meetings just to coordinate search progress among their team members. Decentralized searches can add weeks or months to your search.

Every day your business goes without a financial leader puts your investment at risk. Metis assigns a small, dedicated team of professionals to diligently execute your search. We shave valuable weeks, and potentially months, compared to retained recruitment firms.

 

Search Cost

Retained Search is generally the most costly and riskiest service offering in the executive recruitment market. Why guarantee payment to a firm unwilling to reciprocate by guaranteeing delivery of an exceptional candidate? Read More

Search Cost

Retained firms require 100% payment of their fees regardless of whether a search results is a success or failure. Recruiters insist on negotiating the guaranteed payment of their fees prior to undertaking an engagement. They insist on being compensated for their work regardless of the outcome. In the end, client fees are billed based on timelines rather than performance.

Retained firms trumpet the superior nature of engaging their dedicated resources to find the best candidates. However, the absence of performance based pricing belies such assertions and confidence. Alarmingly, historical averages convey that 30-40% of retained searches are not successfully completed. Does it make sense to invest in a service which results in a return of zero every one out of three times?

Metis is confident in its ability to find an exceptional executive well-suited to your business requirements. We dedicate the same level of resources to a search as our retained rivals. However, Metis expects to collect its fee only when the job is done.

 

Fee Structure

Retained firms typically charge a minimum of 33.3% of a placed executive’s first year total compensation. We do things differently at Metis. Read More

Fee Structure

In 2010, an Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) study highlighted client concerns and dissatisfaction with historical industry pricing models. Sentiments consistently criticized the industry’s lack of flexibility surrounding pricing and noted that “large firms are sometimes ‘stuck’ in their business model”.

Maintaining flexibility, an open mind, and delivering value to our customers are our top priorities. We will work closely with you in an attempt to devise a traditional or non-traditional fee structure which meets the needs of your business.

 

Specialization

Avoid entrusting the search for your next financial partner to a ‘generalist’ firm. Read More

Specialization

A recent industry survey revealed 83% of search firms described themselves as “Generalists”. “Niche” or “Boutique” firms accounted for another 15% of all firms, with the remaining 2% classified as “Other”.

At Metis, our sole focus is identifying, recruiting, and retaining the best financial executives in the nation. Unlike most boutique firms, our network and access to talent is broad and deep. We can deliver world class leaders in any industry in any location.

Do not task a ‘generalist’ with finding your next financial executive. Even those purporting to have finance placement specialists on staff are likely to come up short when compared to Metis. Large, generalist firms approach searches with the rigid and robotic mindsets of career recruiters. We approach engagements from the perspective of former financial executives. Our principals have “been there” and “done that” throughout the course of their own careers in CFO level roles. We possess a level of understanding regarding the CFO role which few competitors can match. Our principals are former senior financial leaders uniquely qualified to identify and recruit candidates equipped with the requisite skills required for success.