Contingency recruiting
Contingency recruiting is an external-search model where the recruiter is paid only if and when their candidate is hired, usually a percentage of first-year salary. It carries no upfront cost but creates a volume incentive that can work against harder or more senior roles.
Because the fee depends on a placement, contingency recruiters tend to run many roles at once and prioritise whichever is likeliest to close quickly. That can leave specialised or senior searches under-served, since they take longer and are less certain to convert.
It contrasts with retained search, where committed fees buy dedicated focus, and a replacement guarantee is what ties either model to a hire that actually lasts.