Updated October 2025

In today’s competitive market, securing the right talent is essential for keeping your business running efficiently and building long-term success. Choosing between contingent and retained search models is an important decision for any company ready to partner with a recruiter.

At Miller Resource Group, we work across two main industries: Food & Beverage and Industrial Technology. Within these sectors, we support a wide range of sub-industries, including packaging equipment, factory automation, robotics, meat and seafood, dairy, flavors & ingredients, and more. This guide explains how each search model works, the advantages of both, and how to determine which approach best aligns with your hiring goals.

Contingent Search

Fee Structure:

• Fees are contingent on a successful hire.

Candidate Pool:

• Suitable for roles where there is a large pool of qualified candidates across industries such as Food & Beverage manufacturing and Industrial Technology.
• Non-exclusivity may result in multiple agencies contacting the same candidates, impacting your brand’s perception and overall efficiency.

Speed and Communication:

• Quick response to fill roles, but less time dedicated to each candidate.
• Potential for slower communication due to prioritization of multiple clients.

Control and Commitment:

• Less control over the recruiting process.
• Provides minimal commitment, making it easier to switch recruiters. Lack of feedback can lead to fewer quality matches.
• Limited focus on candidate retention after placement.

Costs and Guarantees:

• Shorter guarantees on placements or none at all.
• Offers a cost-effective solution with lower upfront expenses, but may result in higher total costs, especially for multiple hires.

Retained Search

Fee Structure:

• Requires an upfront fee, which is deducted from the total amount owed once a successful hire is made.

Candidate Pool:

• Suited for high-level or specialized roles in Food & Beverage and Industrial Technology, where qualified candidates are harder to find.
• Exclusivity to one agency encourages more streamlined communication that keeps candidates interested and engaged, fostering a positive brand image.

Speed and Communication:

• Invests more time in understanding your organization’s unique needs.
• Offers attentive and responsive service through true partnership.

Control and Commitment:

• Provides your company with more influence on the recruitment process.
• Requires more commitment to the recruiting firm, but saves time in having to re-explain your story, brand, culture etc.

Costs and Guarantees:

• Longer guarantees on placements for added security.
• Higher upfront costs, with cost savings over the long term.

Conclusion:

Selecting the right recruiting model depends on your company’s hiring goals, role type, and timeline. Contingent search offers flexibility and speed for filling multiple roles, while retained search provides exclusivity, deeper partnership, and higher-quality results.

At Miller Resource Group, we specialize in helping organizations across Food & Beverage and Industrial Technology find the best search model to match their needs. Whether you are building your leadership team or scaling your operations, our recruiters can help you attract and retain the talent that drives your business forward.

Get in touch with us today to start your next search with confidence.