Direct Hire Options
Match Your Role to the Right Structure
Not all direct hire searches need the same structure to succeed.
That is why we offer three clearly defined options: Core, Strategic, and Executive. The price stays the same across all three. What changes is how the search is run. Each option is designed around the realities of the role, including how mission-critical the hire is, how long it takes to properly evaluate success, and how closely we need to work together to get it right.
One of these search structures will be the right fit for your role. Choosing the correct one meaningfully improves the outcome without increasing cost.
The result is a search that fits the role, rather than a one-size-fits-all process.
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Core Search is designed for roles where activity, pipeline development, and execution provide early, reliable signals of success. Core Search works best for individual contributor roles with clear responsibilities and defined success metrics, where the market is active and hiring decisions can be made without extended evaluation cycles.
Price: 25% of guaranteed income
Down Payment: None required
Exclusivity: None required
Guarantee: 90 days with 100% account credit, with the option for a pro-rated cash refundCommon Core Search roles include Account Executives, Sales Representatives, SDRs and BDRs, Marketing Coordinators, Marketing Specialists, Customer Success Managers, Account Managers, and other execution-focused positions.
With Core Search, the fee is only earned when you hire a candidate we introduce. Roughly 85% of our searches are Core.
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Strategic Search is built for roles where the candidate’s impact is significant and success cannot be fully evaluated in the first 90 days. These positions influence outcomes through judgment, execution quality, technical authority, and cross-functional leadership rather than pure activity or volume.
Price: 25% of guaranteed income
Down Payment: 30% of estimated fee
Exclusivity: Recommended
Guarantee: 180 days with 100% account credit, with the option for a pro-rated cash refundStrategic Search is commonly used for Sales Leaders, Marketing Leaders, Customer Success Leaders, revenue-owning specialists, and other high-impact roles where decision quality, alignment, and influence matter more than short-term output.
Strategic Search includes a defined delivery commitment, with a custom number of qualified candidates presented within an agreed-upon timeframe.
Strategic Search balances flexibility with seriousness and is the right fit when the hire carries meaningful business risk and requires a longer evaluation window than a Core Search can reasonably support.
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Executive Search is reserved for company-shaping leadership roles where long-term impact, strategy, and cultural alignment are critical. These hires influence the direction of the business, not just near-term results, and success cannot be meaningfully evaluated in a short window.
Price: 25% of guaranteed income
Down Payment: 30% of estimated fee
Exclusivity: Required
Guarantee: 365 days with 100% account credit, with the option for a pro-rated cash refundExecutive Search is most commonly used for executive leadership roles such as CEOs, Chief Revenue Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, other C-suite leaders, sales executives, marketing executives, general managers, and senior leaders where alignment, judgment, and long-term effectiveness are paramount.
This model includes a defined delivery commitment, with a custom number of candidates presented within a specific timeline.
Executive Search is designed for deliberate, thorough vetting when the cost of getting the hire wrong is high and long-term success matters most. This search structure elevates SalesFirst from a recruiting vendor to a true hiring partner, with shared ownership of the outcome. We are paid on any hire into the role, regardless of source, ensuring full alignment and transparency throughout the search.
