Recruitment Fee Calculator
Compare recruitment fee structures. See how percentage-based fees translate to real costs across salary levels.
Recruitment Model Quiz: Contingency, Exclusive, or Retained
Answer five questions and get a recommendation on which recruitment model fits the role you're hiring for.
What level is the role you're hiring for?
What You Can Do With It
Decide Before You Brief Agencies
Walk into agency calls knowing the model you want. The right model depends on role seniority, confidentiality, and how shallow the market is.
Educate Your Hiring Managers
Share the quiz with hiring managers who default to "send it to all agencies." Five questions can change the default.
Set Expectations With Search Partners
A clear model upfront means a cleaner contract and fewer fee renegotiations later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is contingency recruitment?
The agency only gets paid if the company hires their candidate. Companies often run contingency searches in parallel across multiple agencies. Cheaper per-hire on success, but lower agency commitment per role.
What is an exclusive search?
One agency runs the search exclusively for an agreed period (typically 30–90 days). Higher agency commitment, often lower fee percentage than contingency.
What is a retained search?
The company pays a portion of the fee upfront, regardless of placement outcome. Used for senior/confidential roles where deep market work is required.
Which is most common in Japan?
Contingency dominates the mid-market. Exclusive and retained models are more common at the VP / C-suite level and for confidential or specialized searches.
Can I switch models mid-search?
Yes, but it usually requires renegotiating the contract. Pick the right model at the start to avoid friction.
Is one model always better?
No. Each fits different role types. The quiz weighs seniority, confidentiality, market depth, and budget to recommend the best fit.
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Agency vs In-House Recruitment Calculator
Compare the total cost of an external agency vs. building an in-house recruiter, including vacancy cost.
Brief Agencies on the Model You Chose
Post the job with the model and the target fee set upfront. Agencies propose against those terms rather than renegotiating them later.