How to Hire A-Players: Finding the Top People for ... - GIT home page

You Have a Relationship Based on Trust
The best recruiters are worth their weight in gold. You will likely
have to work hard to find one or two great ones. So when you do
find these people, cultivate those relationships for the long term.
Make sure that the recruiters you hire are people with whom you
can see this kind of relationship developing. If you don’t have a
good feeling about them, find another firm.
Contingent versus Retained Recruiters
Should you use a contingent or a retained recruiter to fill your key
position? Here are some suggestions on when each is appropriate.
Contingent Recruiters
Using Recruiters Wisely 143
For positions that pay less than $100,000 annually, recruiters typically
work on a contingent arrangement in which they are paid only
if you hire a candidate that they find for you. You’ll want to use
these firms to find candidates when your company can oversee the
screening and interviewing process on its own. Contingent firms
typically:
Take a somewhat less structured approach to defining the requirements
of the job.
Focus more on candidate ‘‘sourcing.’’ They find qualified candidates
for your company and then allow you to take over
the screening and interviewing process to select the right
person.
A-Player Principle: Use contingent firms when your
company is prepared to oversee the interview process while
the outside recruiter sources candidates for you.