This document discusses the differences between staffing firms and executive recruiting firms. Staffing firms focus on quickly filling temporary and contract positions, providing a transactional "plug and play" service. Executive recruiting firms take a more consultative approach to finding permanent leadership positions, building long-term relationships through strategic placements that can take over a month or year to complete. While staffing firms are good for fast, short-term hiring needs, executive recruiters aim to find the ideal candidate for each role as a long-term solution.

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Throughout my recruiting career, I’ve had experience in contract and executive recruiting, both at the hourly and salaried functional
levels. While there are benefits to each search option, they are very different in their approach and the type of service that they each
provide.
Staffing Firms
Staffing firms typically hire for temporary, contract-to-hire and short-term employment opportunities. Though there are direct hire-
focused staffing firms, there is normally a short turnaround time on finding the professionals needed to fill positions which leads to a
“plug and play” approach. These firms are working to fill jobs quickly and efficiently and then move on to the next assignment. Staffing
firms provide a valuable service to contractors and temporary workers as well as employers who need seasonal or contract-based
employees.
Executive Recruiting
Executive recruiting firms are more consultative in their approach, providing business development and career growth advice to clients
and candidates. More niche and specialized, executive recruiting firms perform higher level searches for long-term positions and are
almost always direct hire roles. Seen as more of a partnership than a transaction, executive recruiting is built on long-term
relationships with retainer or contingent-based client agreements, leading to strategic, mutually-beneficial placements. It is not
uncommon for an executive search to take more than a month to complete, and sometimes up to a year for C-suite roles.
Which one to use?
I like to use the analogy of a peg in a hole. Staffing firms are working to see if the peg will fit in the hole, plain and simple. For short-
term, contract positions that need to be filled quickly, staffing firms are a great way to get the professionals you need fast and
efficiently. Meanwhile, executive recruiters work to find the ideal peg for each hole based on size, shape and material type. For
leadership roles and permanent positions, executive recruiting firms are often able to source the perfect match who can be a long-term
solution to your hiring needs.
Have you worked with a staffing firm or executive recruiting firm before? We want to hear your stories in the comments below.
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What’s The Difference Between Staffing and Executive Recruiting Firms?
by
Mark Sanborn
Senior Partner– Manufacturing