--- title: Why Hiring a Direct Search Partner May Be More Affordable Than You Think description: There is a bit of fear associated with hiring a direct search firm for candidate sourcing. However, a vetted, lauded search partner can actually save you money. image: https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-904420160.jpg --- [781.425.5005](tel:1-781-425-5005) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) [![HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr.png?width=327&height=79&name=HargerHowe_Logo_2024hr.png) ![HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204.png?width=204&height=49&name=HargerHowe_Logo_2024-204.png) ](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [home](https://www.hargerhowe.com/) - [Agency](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/) - [Our Work](https://hargerhowe.com/showcase/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://hargerhowe.com/contact/) - [Home](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [Agency](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [About Harger Howe](https://hargerhowe.com/agency/) - [Q & A](https://hargerhowe.com/q-a/) - [Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/) - [Digital Media](https://hargerhowe.com/services/digital-media/) - [Inbound Marketing](https://hargerhowe.com/services/inbound-marketing/) - [Media Placement and Creative Services](https://hargerhowe.com/services/media-placement-and-creative-services/) - [Social Media](https://hargerhowe.com/services/social-media/) - [Recruitment Marketing](https://hargerhowe.com/services/recruitment-marketing/) - [HH Direct Search](https://www.hargerhowedirect.com/) - Our Work - [Case Studies](https://hargerhowe.com/showcase/) - [Featured Content](https://hargerhowe.com/featured-content/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://hargerhowe.com/contact/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) [Refine your recruitment with HH Direct Search!](https://www.hargerhowedirect.com/) # Why Hiring a Direct Search Partner May Be More Affordable Than You Think - [Home](https://hargerhowe.com/) - [Blog](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog) - Why Hiring a Direct Search Partner May... [talent acquisition](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/talent-acquisition) [direct search](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/direct-search) ![GettyImages-904420160](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GettyImages-904420160.jpg?width=723&name=GettyImages-904420160.jpg) [Apr172019](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/archive/2019/04/17) **Audio version** There is a bit of fear associated with hiring a direct search firm for candidate sourcing. Why? We think it’s due to the fact that there is a lack of clarity surrounding the process, price tag and general efficacy. There are also varying degrees of professionalism and skill within the industry. However, a vetted, lauded search partner can actually save you money. Let us illustrate…  ### **Average Cost and Time to Fill** If you are reading this, chances are you have a high-level role open within your company. And each day that it sits open, it is costing you. It’s true, you can continue posting on job boards, but at some point, if that process isn’t yielding results, you may need to involve someone else who can more actively find you some talent. On a regular basis, our direct search division fills roles within Human Resources, Healthcare and Leadership. [Consider these benchmarks from Workable](https://resources.workable.com/blog/recruiting-kpis): [![Screen Shot 2019-04-16 at 9.48.09 AM](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202019-04-16%20at%209.48.09%20AM.png?width=658&name=Screen%20Shot%202019-04-16%20at%209.48.09%20AM.png)](https://resources.workable.com/blog/recruiting-kpis) The average time to fill for Healthcare in the United State is 29 days and in Human Resources, it is an astounding 45. Imagine almost 50 days without HR! That is a lot of disorganization and expense…and while we weren’t a part of this study, we assume these are mid-level roles. For more senior positions, the sourcing time and cost is typically much higher.  When filling a vacancy, most companies naively use the equation below ([sourced from Jibe](https://www.jibe.com/ddr/recruitment-metrics-formulas/)) alone: ***Cost per Hire ($) = \[Total External Costs\] + \[Total Internal Costs\] / Total Number of Hires*  ** Yes, that equation is important, but there are many other costs to hiring including the cost of inaction. The cost of inaction is a more complex equation than the one above. It involves extended days to fill (AKA lost revenue), burnout of other professionals who need to take up the slack and ultimately, the expense of potentially losing other team players if the search extends too long. When someone leaves, it means others will be taxed and sometimes that cost is simply too high for them to bear. Direct search all but eliminates that complex math because an outsider is responsible for filling the role and it is in their best interest to do it as quickly as possible. They pre-vet candidates and they are focused more actively on your requisition (versus the many that inside recruiters hold simultaneously). Sourcing directly is just more efficient and is an ideal choice for certain, more costly roles.  ### **The Numbers Don’t Lie** Sure, job boards are effective in garnering applications, but direct sourcing has a better track record of success. [For instance](https://ideal.com/sourcing-metrics/), *“According to Lever, candidate sourcing is one of the most effective ways to hire. On average, *[*one in every 72*](https://www.lever.co/resources/little-grey-book-of-recruiting-benchmarks) *sourced candidates is hired compared to one in every 152 applicants.” * That is a huge difference! Why does this happen? It’s due to the personalization and active effort that direct search involves. Sourcing is a conversation; applying to an ATS impersonal. Which would you prefer? ### **The Cost of a Direct Search Firm** We can’t speak to other firms, but Harger Howe Direct’s prices are extremely reasonable. Here are some examples: ##### **Executive/Management:**            - $100k-$175k = $5k retainer & $10k completion fee for total of **$15k/hire** - $175+k-$250k = $7.5k retainer & $12.5k completion fee for total of **$20k/hire** - $250+k = $10k retainer & $15k completion fee for total of **$25k/hire** ##### **Clinical-Nurse, Allied Health, Non-Clinical & IT:** - Less than $100k = $2.5k retainer & $7.5k completion fee for total of **$10k/hire** - $100k+ = $5k retainer & $10k completion fee for total of **$15k/hire** Are you wondering if you have a role that would benefit from our service? Here is a brief list of some roles we’ve filled recently:  - *Director of Network Compensation* - *Chief Technology Officer (CTO)* - *Chief Financial Officer (CFO)* - *Medical Practice Manager* - *Chief Medical Officer* - *Hospital President/CEO* Is your open position not on the list? [Contact Mark Wedes for a full group of filled roles](mailto:mwedes@hargerhowe.com) and ask about how he can assist with yours!  ### **What Do You Get for Your Money?** With Harger Howe Direct, you’ll achieve successful hiring at all levels of your health care organization often at half the cost of traditional search fees. Our value-focused retained fee structure features a modest retainer to commence the search for provision of candidates and final completion fee upon hire, along with a six-month guarantee exclusively for our health care clientele. It’s our longstanding practice that we report directly to Human Resources/Talent Acquisition rather than the hiring manager although talking with the hiring manager at the onset of the search is essential for our due diligence. For our candidate presentations we’ll provide a succinct rationale that accompanies the candidate’s resume or CV that includes verbatim candidate conversation notes testifying to their qualifications, answers to key hiring manager questions, and other relevant details that support qualifications and fit for the opportunity/organization.  We’ll also handle reference checking, degree verification, follow-up communications, offer negotiations and/or consultation, and anything else needed by Human Resources/Talent Acquisition to ensure a successful completion of the search. --  Ready to partner up? Contact us today! [![Contact Harger Howe Direct](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/559861/5f5b3626-4dd4-4824-a934-db869970f4b4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/559861/5f5b3626-4dd4-4824-a934-db869970f4b4) Category: [talent acquisition](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/talent-acquisition), [direct search](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/topic/direct-search) [by Mark Wedes](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/author/mark-wedes) [April 17, 2019](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/archive/2019/04/17) ### Share This Article - - - - - ![Mark Wedes](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/0-2.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=0-2.jpg) #### Author:Mark Wedes Managing Partner, Harger Howe Direct Search [Previous Harger Howe’s Spring/Summer 2019 Team Update](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/harger-howes-spring/summer-2019-team-update) [Next Up Your Game! Hashtags for Job Seekers and Recruiters](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/up-your-game-hashtags-for-job-seekers-and-recruiters) ### Recent Articles [![What The 2026 Residency Match Really Means For Recruitment](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1372638205.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/what-the-2026-residency-match-really-means-for-recruitment) [What The 2026 Residency Match Really Means For Recruitment](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/what-the-2026-residency-match-really-means-for-recruitment) *July 29, 2026* [![Your Careers Page Is Your First Interview](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1307162575.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/your-careers-page-is-your-first-interview) [Your Careers Page Is Your First Interview](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/your-careers-page-is-your-first-interview) *July 20, 2026* [![Every Vacancy Creates Invisible Work](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2096319765.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/every-vacancy-creates-invisible-work) [Every Vacancy Creates Invisible Work](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/every-vacancy-creates-invisible-work) *July 14, 2026* [![Physician Recruitment Is a Family Decision: Why Health Systems Must Market the Full Opportunity](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2259093025.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-is-a-family-decision-why-health-systems-must-market-the-full-opportunity) [Physician Recruitment Is a Family Decision: Why Health Systems Must Market the Full Opportunity](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-is-a-family-decision-why-health-systems-must-market-the-full-opportunity) *July 13, 2026* [![The Recruiter Is No Longer the First Source of Information](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2233005232.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/the-recruiter-is-no-longer-the-first-source-of-information) [The Recruiter Is No Longer the First Source of Information](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/the-recruiter-is-no-longer-the-first-source-of-information) *June 25, 2026* [![Physician Recruitment Has a User Experience Problem](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1305333546.jpg)](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-has-a-user-experience-problem) [Physician Recruitment Has a User Experience Problem](https://inbound.hargerhowe.com/blog/physician-recruitment-has-a-user-experience-problem) *June 24, 2026* ### CONNECT WITH US [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/HargerHoweAdvertising/) [Facebook](https://twitter.com/hargerhoweadv) [Facebook](https://plus.google.com/100866082476092210501) [Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/user/hargerhowe) [Facebook](https://www.pinterest.com/hargerhoweadv/) [Facebook](https://www.instagram.com/hargerhoweadv/) ### LOCATIONS **Houston** 1800 St. James Place, Ste. 400 Houston, TX 77056 **Boston** 111 South Bedford St., Ste. 201 Burlington, MA 01803 *Need to talk now? 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