Workforce Strategy
Retained vs. Contingency Search
A straightforward comparison for organizations choosing a permanent-hire search model.
Both retained and contingency search can support permanent hiring. The right model depends on the role, the market, and the level of partnership the search requires.
Retained search
Retained search is well suited to executive, confidential, rare-talent, or high-impact roles where dedicated research and close alignment matter.
Contingency search
Contingency search can work well for defined permanent roles when the organization wants to pay a fee only after a successful hire.
Choose by complexity
Consider urgency, confidentiality, talent scarcity, leadership impact, and the amount of search strategy the role needs.
Set expectations early
Whichever model you choose, agree on the candidate profile, communication cadence, interview process, and hiring timeline.
Talk with OPA People about the role ahead.
Whether you are hiring or considering your next clinical opportunity, we can help you choose a clear path forward.
Talk to OPA People