Retained replaces the unstructured process between your tools — intake prep, mandate formation, candidate defense, and firm memory — in one system built for partner-led search firms.
The problem
There are 200+ tools in the recruiting technology market. They all do the same thing: track candidates through a pipeline. Not one of them runs the search.
Not one generates a structured mandate from an intake call. Not one builds an evidence-backed candidate defense. Not one preserves firm memory so the next similar search starts with context instead of a blank page.
Every tool in executive search helps you track candidates. Retained runs the search.
Not a CRM. Not an ATS. Not a sourcing tool. The operating system for how your firm runs searches.
The search workspace. Mandate, signals, deliverables, and firm memory in one view.
Active Searches
Firm Memory
Meridian Capital Partners · Mandate Active
Weighted Requirements
Search Status
How it works
The entire retained search workflow runs inside a single structured system.
Before the kickoff call, the system builds a role-specific prep brief, timed agenda, and diagnostic questions mapped to the position. You walk in with more structure than the client expects.
Intake answers flow into a structured mandate with scored must-haves, weighted criteria, and explicit trade-offs. The mandate is a document with teeth — not a text field.
Calibration briefs, search briefs, and market packages generate from verified search state. The output looks like a 20-person firm produced it.
Outreach constructed from the mandate, the candidate’s signal profile, and market context. Specific enough that the candidate knows you’ve done the work.
Every screen produces structured signals. Every signal feeds an evidence-backed defense brief. When the client asks why this person, the answer is already written.
Every signal, score, and outcome is preserved permanently. When the same candidate surfaces in two years, you have instant context. Your firm gets smarter with every search.
The math
These numbers are per search. Your firm runs 20, 30, 50 a year.
Now
1–2 hours of manual prep per call
In Retained
Role-specific brief generated in 10 minutes
Now
1–2 days writing up notes into a doc
In Retained
Weighted mandate with calibration framework, sent within the hour
Now
4–6 hours reformatting candidate profiles
In Retained
Defense briefs and search updates generated from structured state
Now
Everything disappears into email after close
In Retained
Every signal and decision is structured and searchable forever
A 40-search firm recovers 300+ partner hours per year. That is a different operating model.
The intelligence layer
Every conversation produces unstructured insight. Retained turns it into structured, confidence-scored, verifiable intelligence. Signals power everything downstream — candidate defense, firm memory, search replay, and the scored slate.
Without Retained
“Spoke with Sarah — she’s open but wants more. Mentioned $650K. Also talking to others.”
↓ Lost in email after close
With Retained
Current $650K total comp, seeking $700K+
Interested in responsible scaling mission
Competing conversations — timeline pressure
↓ Searchable forever · Feeds defense · Builds firm memory
One search, end to end
Here is one VP Engineering search moving through Retained. Each stage produces a real artifact. No slide decks. No screenshots of other tools. This is the system working.
In: 45-min conversation with Anthropic hiring team
Out: Structured mandate with 8 weighted requirements, 3 candidate archetypes, explicit comp band ($600K–$750K), and off-limits list
In: Phone screen with Sarah Chen (VP Eng, Stripe)
Out: 4 structured signals extracted: Compensation ($650K, seeking $700K+), Motivation (mission-driven), Leadership (scaled 50→500 engineers), Risk (competing conversations)
In: Signals + mandate alignment evaluated automatically
Out: Evidence-backed candidate defense: 94% mandate match, 7/8 criteria met, comp band fit confirmed, recommended Include on slate
In: All candidates scored against the same mandate
Out: Ranked slate with visible reasoning per candidate — not a list of names, a scored argument for each one
In: Sarah placed as VP Engineering at Anthropic
Out: All signals, decisions, and outcomes preserved. Next time a similar search opens, the system surfaces this context automatically via Search Replay
Five stages. Five artifacts. Zero manual reformatting.
Platform
Every intake field becomes a scoring criterion. Candidates are evaluated against the mandate — not gut feel.
Structured signals extracted from every interaction. Confidence-scored, timestamped, and verifiable. The intelligence layer that powers candidate defense, firm memory, and search replay.
Record a call debrief. Transcript appears. Signals extract. Brief generates. One conversation, three outputs.
Find similar past searches by mandate similarity. Import candidates and intelligence from prior engagements.
System-generated deliverables
Nine deliverables your firm currently rebuilds by hand, every search. Retained generates them from structured workflow state.
Your stack, unchanged
Your CRM tracks contacts. Your ATS tracks applicants. Your email handles communication. Your shared drive stores files. None of them run the search. Retained fills the gap between them.
CRM
Contact & client records
ATS
Applicant tracking
Communication
Sourcing & outreach
Retained
Runs the search workflow between your tools: intake prep, mandate formation, signal capture, candidate defense, deliverable generation, and firm memory.
FAQ
Every search your firm runs without a system costs 6–8 hours of partner time in deliverable assembly alone. Retained fixes all of it.
30 minutes. A live search workspace — not a slide deck.
hello@runretained.com