Other recruiting companies are retained search firms . They receive a fee up front to identify appropriate candidates. Retailers use them to search for upper level and executive positions. Retained firms pre-screen before referring anyone to the employer. There are generalist and specialist recruiters, and both have advantages and drawbacks.
Generalists range across a variety of industries and management levels.
They use a network of contacts from a broad range of industries. They will consider candidates with transferable skills and complementary experience. Generalist firms rely on fresh research for each new position and welcome job seekers who want to look outside the box. Specialists concentrate on a particular industry or area of expertise. They have an in-depth familiarity of a specialty area and its trends, who's hiring, etc.