Hiring
What do headhunter companies do in Ireland?
Headhunter companies in Ireland find people for roles, usually by directly approaching individuals who are not actively applying for jobs. They typically work on a retained or engaged basis, charging a fee that is a percentage of the hired person's first-year salary—commonly 20% to 30%. Some, like our Premium Hire service, charge a fixed fee agreed upfront instead of a percentage. A headhunter maps the market, approaches potential candidates confidentially, and presents a shortlist of interviewed people. This is different from a contingency agency, which only gets paid if they fill the role and often works on a faster, volume-led model. The right choice depends on the seniority of the role, how niche the skills are, and your budget.
What a headhunter company actually does
A headhunter company is a firm that finds people for job vacancies, typically by directly approaching individuals who are already employed and not looking at job boards. The term is used loosely in Ireland, but it usually means a search firm that works on a retained or engaged basis, rather than a contingency agency that competes with other agencies to fill the same role.
The core work is the same: a dedicated recruiter maps the market, identifies people with the right skills, and approaches them confidentially. The difference is in how the firm is paid and how much of the process you see.
How headhunter companies charge in Ireland
Most headhunter firms in Ireland charge a percentage of the hired person’s first-year gross salary. The market range is typically 15% to 30%, with 20% to 25% being common for mid-to-senior roles. Retained search firms for executive roles often charge 25% to 30%, billed in stages.
We do it differently. Our managed search service, Premium Hire, charges a fixed fee by salary band, agreed upfront. You know the cost before we start, and it never changes with the salary negotiated.
| Salary Band | Premium Hire Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to €29,999 | €1,800 |
| €30,000 – €44,999 | €2,300 |
| €45,000 – €59,999 | €3,300 |
| €60,000 and above | €4,300 |
Irish business customers are reverse-charge for VAT, so the figures above are the total cost. No VAT is added.
When a headhunter is the right choice
A headhunter makes sense when the person you need is not looking at job adverts. That is often the case for:
- Roles requiring scarce or specialist skills
- Senior management and executive positions
- Roles where a public advert would cause internal disruption
- Confidential replacements
If the role is one where a well-written advert on the right job boards will attract strong applicants, a job-advertising package may be a better and cheaper route. Our advertising packages start at €499 and put your role on the sites Irish candidates actually use.
Headhunter vs contingency agency
The market in Ireland has plenty of overlap, but the distinction matters for your budget and timeline.
| Typical Headhunter / Search Firm | Typical Contingency Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee model | Percentage of salary (15–30%), often retained | Percentage of salary (15–25%), success-only |
| Approach | Direct, confidential approach to individuals | Advertises widely and searches databases |
| Exclusivity | Usually works on an exclusive or engaged basis | Often competes with other agencies |
| Best for | Senior, niche, or confidential roles | Volume roles, roles with a clear candidate pool |
| If the hire leaves early | Terms vary by contract | Typically a rebate period, often 8–13 weeks |
Our Premium Hire service sits between these models. It is a managed search with a dedicated recruiter who advertises, headhunts, screens, and presents a shortlist of interviewed candidates—all for a fixed fee, not a percentage. You can also add Replacement Cover: if the hire leaves for any reason within 12 months, we run one replacement search for the same role at no further fee, provided the cover is bought before the start date.
What to ask a headhunter company before you engage them
- How do you charge? Get the fee structure in writing. Is it a percentage, a fixed fee, or a retainer with milestones?
- Who will do the work? A named consultant, or a team? Meet them.
- How do you approach candidates? Ask them to describe their process for mapping a market and making a first approach.
- What happens if the hire does not work out? Understand the terms. We offer Replacement Cover as an optional extra; many firms offer a rebate period on their percentage fee.
- What reporting will I see? A good firm shows you the funnel: how many people sourced, screened, interviewed, and presented.
Our own numbers
Across eight roles we have filled and published in full, the funnel looked like this:
| Stage | Candidates |
|---|---|
| Sourced & screened | 322 |
| Internal interview | 121 |
| Presented to client | 51 |
| Client interview | 33 |
| Hired | 9 |
Time to fill across those roles: median 53 days, middle half 22–69 days, fastest 20 days, slowest 137 days. The median number of candidates worked per role was 30.
These numbers show the reality: a managed search filters a large pool down to a small number of genuinely suitable people. It takes time, and it takes work.
Cheaper routes that might suit you better
Not every role needs a headhunter. If the skills are common and the salary is under €45,000, a well-written job advert on the right Irish job boards will often bring in enough strong applicants. Our job-advertising packages cost €499 or €599 and put your role on the sites candidates use. You do the sifting and interviewing yourself, which keeps the cost low.
If you want to post the job yourself, we have a self-service posting page that gets your advert live quickly.
For a deeper look at how search firms charge, read our piece on typical recruitment fees in Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a headhunter and a recruitment agency?
A headhunter typically works on a retained or engaged basis, directly approaching people who are not actively job-hunting. A recruitment agency often works on contingency, advertising roles and competing with other agencies to fill them. In practice, many firms in Ireland do both, so ask how they will approach your specific role.
How much do headhunter companies charge in Ireland?
Most charge 15% to 30% of the hired person’s first-year gross salary. Retained executive search firms are usually at the higher end, around 25% to 30%. Some firms, like Talent Finder, charge a fixed fee agreed upfront instead of a percentage.
When should I use a headhunter instead of advertising a job?
Use a headhunter when the person you need is unlikely to see or respond to a job advert—typically for senior, niche, or confidential roles. If the role is one where a good advert will attract strong applicants, advertising is cheaper and often just as effective.
Sources
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself across Ireland's major job boards from €499, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter with Premium Hire — one fixed fee by salary band for a five-point review of your role, advertising and headhunting, and a screened shortlist. No VAT is added for Irish businesses.
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