Finding the right talent isn’t easy, especially when recruiting for very specific, niche roles that require unique skill sets. Learn how to utilize your time with retained search and turn challenges into opportunities. 

Which recruiting firm will be the most helpful when you have a niche role for an unusual skill set or requires specific qualifications? Retained search is your best option. Retained arrangements allow a recruiting specialist to focus on and prioritize your role in a more proactive manner.

Here are a few of the benefits to retained search over contingent search.

• Higher Priority Level 
  The upfront structure of retained search ensures that the placement takes higher priority than commission-based placements.
• Lower Risk Of Bad Hires
  The focus of a retained search is quality. You’ll often be working with the best of the best recruiters with a high success rate. When it’s crucial to get the right candidate for a high-stakes role, retained search offers a lower risk of a bad hire, and thus a higher certainty and comfort level. 
• The Best, Not The Fastest
  When there’s not a race to complete the search, more time can be  taken to ensure the very best and most qualified candidate is found – greatly benefiting the company in the long-run.
• Finding Rare Skill Sets
  A retained search opens up potential candidates who are already employed, meaning they’re able to expand their search to a wider range of individuals – increasing the chances of finding the person with the exact, unique skill sets needed for the niche role.
• More Proactivity
  As mentioned, retained search takes a more proactive approach, considering those who aren’t actively seeking a new role. This enables a much wider selection than just those who are in a database, answered ads or shown interest themselves.
• Access To Resources You Don’t Have Otherwise
  Simply put, most companies don’t have time and resources needed to find the best high-level candidate themselves. Utilizing a retained search firm can actually save them time and money because the process will probably take less time than trying to do it internally.
• More Customized
  Retained search enables a more customized search for roles that are often very unique. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather the recruiter takes more time to gain a thorough understanding of what the ideal candidate possesses.
• Most Vetted Candidates 
  With retained search, you can have confidence knowing your candidates have been fully vetted – from more strenuous background checks, reference checks, and so on, you can know only the most genuinely-qualified candidates, both skill-wise and culturally, will be presented.
• More Feedback And Real-Time Updates
  Retained search recruiters will provide you with more helpful information throughout the process, including market intelligence, competition, timelines, and more.
• Multiple Options So The Best Is Chosen
  Versus providing only one potential candidate to fill the role, most retained search firms will present a handful of highly-qualified candidates who fit skill, culture, and salary requirements, so that truly the best fit can be chosen.