Why Retention Matters More Than Hiring Speed for Executives

The Hidden Cost of a Quick Hire

For founders and CEOs of Series A to C startups, hiring executives is high stakes. The temptation is often to fill leadership roles as quickly as possible. But a fast hire can backfire. The wrong executive can cost months of lost momentum, disrupted teams, and potentially millions in salary and operational missteps.

The real cost of a bad executive hire is rarely just the paycheck. It’s missed opportunities, stalled growth, and the distraction of restarting a search for the right candidate.

Why Common Recruiting Approaches Fall Short

Contingency recruiting promises speed, but it comes at a cost. These recruiters work for placement fees, not long-term fit. They often push active job seekers, rather than finding the high-performing executives who aren’t looking for a new role.

Large retained search firms offer networks and credibility, but fees are tied to a percentage of salary. For startups, this can mean unpredictable costs, divided attention, and slow timelines—especially when your company isn’t their Fortune 500 client.

Both models often prioritize filling a role quickly over securing the executive who will thrive long term.

The Strategic Solution: Retained Search

The key to building a lasting leadership team is retention over speed. Retained search partners are committed to understanding your business, culture, and strategic goals. They actively target and engage executives who aren’t on job boards, ensuring higher alignment and a better long-term fit.

This approach increases the likelihood that executives will stay, perform, and help scale your business—protecting your most important investment: your leadership team.

The High Altitude Advantage

At High Altitude Recruiting, we combine the focus of retained search with startup-friendly pricing.

We offer retained executive search for a flat $10k per search.Fixed. Predictable. No surprises. No hidden fees.

Our 97% fill rate and 99% one-year retention demonstrate that speed is not the ultimate measure of success. We’ve placed over 75 C-Suite executives, 150 Directors and VPs, and more than 1,000 senior managers—all with lasting impact.