How it works
From the first call to day 90, with dates attached
We agree the bar before anyone is sourced. Then we work to a timetable you can hold us to: rubric in 2 business days, shortlist in 5 to 10, and a replacement search restarted within 3 if a hire leaves.
The timeline
Six steps, each with a date on it
The same sequence runs for a $950 business seat and a director-level retained search. Only the day counts stretch.
- Day 0
Calibration call
15 minutes. You describe the role or the team. We tell you whether it is fillable at your budget, at what fee, and when you will see a shortlist.
- Day 2
Written rubric and comp note
A scorecard with the must-haves, the nice-to-haves and how each is tested, plus a comp note for the market. You sign it off before we source.
- Day 5 to 10
Shortlist of 3 to 5
Each candidate arrives with a scorecard against the rubric and notes from a live skills screen. You interview finalists only.
- Interviews
Scheduled by us
We schedule every interview across your time zone and theirs, and collect your feedback inside 5 business days so candidates stay warm.
- Offer
Offer and references
We run references, help you set the number, and support the offer to signature. The start date goes in the diary and on the invoice.
- Day 30, 60, 90
Check-ins and replacement
Three check-ins with you and the hire. If they leave inside the guarantee window, we run the search again at no fee.
What each step costsCommission is invoiced on the start date. Nothing before.
What we need from you
Four things, and the timetable holds
Every service level below depends on these. Miss one and the clock pauses; it does not run against you.
A 15-minute call
The calibration call is where the fee, the shortlist date and the bar get agreed. It cannot be replaced by an email thread.
Feedback within 5 business days
On every candidate you meet: a yes, a no, or a specific question. Slow feedback loses good candidates, and we say so.
A decision maker in the loop
Someone who can sign the rubric and sign the offer. If that is two people, both join the calibration call.
A written go-ahead before any posting
We source directly by default. Nothing about your role is posted anywhere without your written yes.
What a shortlist contains
Five things on every candidate, before you meet them
A shortlist is 3 to 5 people who passed the rubric and a live screen. Each one comes with the same five items.
Scorecard against the rubric
Every must-have and nice-to-have from the Day 2 rubric, scored, with the evidence next to the score.
Skills screen notes
What we asked in the live screen, what they did, and where they were strong or thin.
Comp expectations
Current base, expected base, and anything that moves the number: bonus, equity, benefits, currency.
Notice period
How long until they can start, and whether a buyout or a counter-offer is likely.
Availability
Interview slots already checked against your hours, so scheduling takes one message.
Service levels
Five commitments, in business days
These are the numbers we work to on every search. Business days run on UTC+5, which covers UK and Gulf hours in full and US mornings.
| Commitment | Service level | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Written rubric and comp note | 2 business days | The calibration call |
| Shortlist of 3 to 5 | 5 to 10 business days | Your sign-off on the rubric |
| Reply to client messages | Same business day | Your message, during our business hours, UTC+5 |
| Interview scheduling | Within 48 hours | Your request to meet a candidate |
| Replacement search restarted | Within 3 business days | The day you tell us the hire has left |
How guarantees work
Replacement means we run the search again, free
Replacement, not refund. If a hire leaves inside the guarantee window, we restart the search within 3 business days and run it at no fee until the seat is filled. Nothing is refunded, and the terms of business say so in plain words. The window starts on the hire's start date.
90 days
Standard placements, Specialist placements and the remote hire flat fee. Commission plans on the pricing page.
180 days
Specialist placements, for 2 extra points on the fee. Chosen at kickoff, written on the rubric.
6 months
Retained searches. The engagement fee is not charged again on the replacement search.
Any time during the term
Every seat plan. If the person leaves or is not right, we recruit and onboard a replacement at no fee. Recruiter seats also carry a free swap within 30 days.
Process questions
Shortlists, postings, time zones, changes
What if we do not like the shortlist?
We go back to the rubric. Either the market note needs revising or the rubric missed something the interviews exposed. We rewrite it with you and source again. No fee is due until someone starts, so a wrong shortlist costs you time, not money.
Will you post our role publicly?
Not without a written go-ahead. Most roles are filled by direct sourcing: LinkedIn Recruiter, Boolean and X-ray search, and our own pipeline. If a posting would help, we ask first. Confidential searches are never posted.
Who actually does the work?
Faraz Ather runs every calibration call, writes every rubric and reviews every shortlist. On seat plans, your dedicated recruiter does the daily sourcing and reports to you, with Faraz on the rubric and the quality checks. More on the about page.
How do interviews work across time zones?
We work on UTC+5. US mornings are our evenings, and UK and Gulf business days overlap in full. We propose interview slots in your working hours and confirm with the candidate, so you get a calendar invite, not a scheduling thread.
What if the role changes or pauses mid-search?
Tell us the day it changes. If the role changes materially, we rewrite the rubric and restart the shortlist clock. If you pause, the search pauses with no charge. Commission is only due when someone starts.
Next step
Start the clock with a 15-minute call.
Day 0 is a calendar slot away. You leave it with a fee, a shortlist date and an honest read on whether the role is fillable at your budget.