Knowledge Base: Recruitment & Executive and Direct Search

Standard fee: 20–35% of the candidate’s annual salary. Direct Search: 15–22%. AI Talent Partner model (subscription without commission): AI Fractional Recruiter: starting at 5,000 PLN/month (subscription). AI Talent Partner: project-based pricing. Minimum ES retainer: approx. 10,000–15,000 PLN.

Brief and kickoff: 1 week · Sourcing: 2–4 weeks · Shortlist of 3–5 candidates: 6–8 weeks from the brief · First 2–3 profiles: 10–14 days · Decision and offer: 1–3 weeks · Notice period: typically 1–3 months.

Executive search (headhunting, direct search) involves actively recruiting candidates who are not currently looking for a job. It is used for C-suite executives and key leaders. Fee: 20–35%. Difference from Search & Selection: Executive search is entirely proactive, while Search & Selection relies partly on job postings.

Fast-track plan: Week 1 — brief and scorecard · Weeks 2–3 — sourcing · Week 4 — shortlist of 3–5 candidates. Requirements: completed scorecard, max. 2 interview rounds, decision within 48 hours. The agency reduces the timeline by 40–60% compared to in-house recruitment.

AI Talent Partner is a project-based model (custom pricing) with no placement fees. AI Fractional Recruiter: subscription starting at 5,000 PLN/month. Traditional executive search: one-time fee of 20–35%. AI models are cost-effective for ongoing recruitment (2+ roles/year), while executive search is best suited for individual C-suite positions.