Retained executive search consultants work under an exclusive contract with the client organization, and are paid a retainer for their services. Typically, one-third of the retainer is paid up front to commence the search, with the remaining two-thirds payable over the next 60-90 days. The fee is fully payable by the client and is not contingent upon placement of a candidate.

Retained executive search consultants will often try to help candidates, but their priority is identifying the best candidate for a particular job and finding the best client/candidate match. The majority of executives identified in a search are not actively seeking a new job, but are identified through research and networking. A retained consultant should never present a candidate to more than one client at a time, and will not accept fees from individuals for the purpose of helping them find a job. Generally, retained executive search is utilized to fill executive levels within an organization.