Questions about fees, confidentiality, timing, and how representation actually works — for companies and for professionals.
[ TERRANCE — Please read through all the questions and answers below. Let us know if anything is inaccurate or sounds off. Also — are there questions you get asked a lot that aren't covered here? This page is often one of the first things a serious prospect reads before reaching out. ]
For Companies
Hiring companies
Walden operates on a contingency model — no retainer, no milestone payments. Fees are only earned when the right candidate accepts and starts the role. The fee is a percentage of the placed candidate's total first-year compensation (base salary, guaranteed bonuses, sign-on bonuses, and fixed allowances). Equity and discretionary bonuses are excluded. Market rates for senior placement in our practice areas range from 18% to 30% depending on specialization and seniority. The specific rate is confirmed in the signed agreement before the search begins.
The market brief is a written document delivered before any candidate outreach begins. It covers: current compensation benchmarks for this specific role in this specific market, where qualified candidates are concentrated, realistic timeline expectations based on current supply and demand, and the factors most likely to cause delays. It is not a generic salary survey — it is a view of the market as it actually looks for the search you are about to open.
Most senior searches close in 6–12 weeks from signed agreement to accepted offer. The variables are role complexity, candidate availability, and how quickly both sides can move through interviews. Searches in markets with thin candidate supply (cybersecurity leadership, niche healthcare roles) typically take longer. The market brief estimates this honestly before outreach begins so there are no surprises.
The 90-day replacement guarantee covers placements where the candidate voluntarily resigns or is terminated for performance within 90 days of their start date. If that happens, Walden will conduct a replacement search at no additional fee. The guarantee requires that the invoice was paid within 30 days of start and that written notice of the departure was provided within 10 business days. The guarantee does not cover layoffs, position elimination, or restructuring — those are business decisions, not search failures.
Three to five candidates. Not twelve. Not forty. Each profile comes with a written rationale explaining why this person fits this role in this organization. Volume is not a quality signal — it is a way of shifting decision-making effort onto the client. Walden does the evaluation work so you do not have to.
Most firms run on volume — database queries, job postings, and broad outreach to see who responds. Walden operates on judgment built through long-standing relationships. The people leading your search have worked inside the industries they recruit for. They know what a strong hire looks like in context. That distinction is clearest in two places: the accuracy of the market brief and the quality of the candidates on the slate.
For Professionals
Network members
No. Representation, introductions, and advice are always free for professionals. Walden is paid by the hiring company when a placement is made. Candidates are never charged for anything.
Never. Walden does not submit profiles speculatively. Every introduction is preceded by a direct conversation to confirm the opportunity is relevant to your background and of interest to you. If you are not interested, the conversation ends there — nothing is shared and you will not be pressured.
It means that Terrance Walden actively considers your background when relevant searches open and reaches out directly when the fit is right. It is not a database entry that gets queried occasionally — it is an ongoing relationship where your career context, timing, and interests are understood and respected. You will not receive generic mass outreach. When you hear from Walden, it is because a specific opportunity genuinely fits your background.
Yes — and the best-represented professionals in the network are often the ones who are not actively looking. Being in the network does not mean you are searching. It means that when the right opportunity surfaces — one that would be worth having a conversation about — you hear about it through a trusted relationship rather than a cold recruiter call. You are never obligated to pursue any opportunity presented.
Every submission is reviewed personally — not by an algorithm. If there is meaningful overlap with active searches or a clear match to the type of work the firm does, Terrance will reach out directly, typically within a few business days. If the timing is not right, your background stays on file and you may hear from us when it is. There is no automated confirmation or system-generated follow-up.
The network is built for director level and above in technology and AI, finance and accounting, and healthcare and life sciences. Walden does not place junior or mid-level roles. If your background is below director level, the firm is not the right fit at this stage — but you are welcome to stay in contact as your career progresses.
Still Have Questions?
Start a conversation.
The right answer often depends on the specifics of your situation. A brief call is the fastest way to get an honest answer.
