Guide//1 min read
Executive search vs. recruitment agency: which one for a critical tech hire?
In short
Agencies work mostly from applicants and databases. Executive search starts from the market and approaches people who are not looking. The right choice depends on how scarce, senior and confidential the role is.
When a role is critical, the way you search matters as much as who you hire. Two families of providers are often confused: recruitment agencies and executive search firms, also called headhunters.
How a recruitment agency usually works
A recruitment agency typically advertises the role, screens applicants and searches its existing database. It is often paid only if a hire happens, which encourages speed and volume. This works well when many qualified people are actively looking: common profiles, junior to mid-level roles, high-volume hiring.
How executive search works
Executive search starts from the market rather than from applicants. The firm maps where suitable people work, approaches them directly, qualifies their interest and fit, and presents a short list. It suits roles where the right people are employed, in demand and not reading job ads: senior engineers, AI specialists, security leaders, enterprise sellers, executives.
Direct search: the core of headhunting
Direct search is the method at the heart of executive search: identifying and contacting passive candidates personally, with a message built around the role. Some boutique firms apply it to specialist roles below executive level, which is where much of the difficulty in Tech and AI hiring sits.
How to choose
- Scarcity: if fewer than a handful of people could do the job in your market, you need direct search.
- Confidentiality: a replacement or a new team cannot be advertised publicly.
- Seniority and impact: the cost of a wrong hire grows with the role.
- Market access: hiring in a country where you have no network favours a firm that can map it.
Questions to ask any provider
- Who will actually run the search and speak to candidates?
- How will you map the market, and will I see that work?
- How are candidates qualified before I meet them?
- What happens if the market does not match my brief?
FAQ
Is a headhunter the same as an executive search firm?
In practice, yes. Headhunting usually refers to the direct approach of passive candidates, which is the core method of executive search.
When is a recruitment agency the better choice?
When many qualified people are actively looking and the role is not confidential, an agency working from applicants can be faster and simpler.