What Retained Search Means for You
Retained executive search is fundamentally different from applying to job boards or working with contingency recruiters. Our clients hire us exclusively to find the right leader for critical positions. We’re not throwing resumes at the wall to see what sticks. We’re conducting thorough, professional searches for specific roles.
Here’s what that means for you:
We reach out to qualified professionals proactively. Many of the candidates we place weren’t actively looking when we contacted them. If your background fits what our clients need, we’ll find you, whether you’re on LinkedIn, recommended by someone in your industry, or identified through our research.
We only present candidates we’d confidently hire ourselves. Our clients pay us to find exceptional talent, not to send them 50 mediocre resumes. If we reach out to you about a role or if you apply to one of our current opportunities, it’s because we see genuine potential for a strong match.
We’re invested in finding the right fit, not just any fit. Our reputation and our clients’ success depend on making placements that last. We’re not trying to convince you to take a job that isn’t right. We’re looking for situations where your experience, skills, and career goals align with what our clients genuinely need.
How to Work With RFT Search Group
There are two ways professionals typically engage with us:
Option 1: Apply to a Current Opportunity
We maintain a list of active search assignments on our Current Opportunities page. If you see a role that matches your background, you can apply directly. We review every application and respond to candidates who appear to be strong matches for our clients’ needs.
Applying to a specific role gives us immediate context about your interest and allows us to evaluate fit for that particular search.
Browse our current opportunities to see if there’s a match.
Option 2: Help Us Find You
Many of our placements happen because we reached out to someone whose background matched a client’s needs, even though that person wasn’t actively job searching. If you’re open to hearing about the right opportunity, make sure your LinkedIn profile accurately reflects your experience and accomplishments.
We conduct extensive research for every search, and strong professionals in manufacturing, distribution, professional services, finance, industrial/construction, and insurance sectors in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio are on our radar. Submit your resume so we can connect you with the right opportunity when it arises.
Industries Where We Place Leaders
Manufacturing
Plant Managers, Operations Directors, Engineering Managers, Sales Directors, Quality Directors and executive leadership
Distribution & Logistics
VP of Operations, Supply Chain Directors, Distribution Center Managers, Operations Leaders and senior leadership
Professional Services
Partners, Senior Associates, CPAs, Paralegals Marketing Managers, and Client Service Directors
Finance Leadership
CFOs, Controllers, Finance Directors, and Accounting Managers across all industries
Industrial & Construction
Project Managers, Operations Leaders, and executive management for industrial and construction firms
Insurance
Agency principals, senior producers, and leadership positions in insurance agencies and carriers
We Don’t Recruit for Every Company
We work exclusively in manufacturing, distribution and logistics, professional services (legal and accounting), finance and accounting, industrial and construction, and insurance. We don’t work in healthcare, retail, hospitality, education, or government sectors.
Our clients are typically business owners with $2M to $50M in revenue who need professional expertise for critical hires but don’t have internal recruiting teams. This focus means we know these industries deeply and can have meaningful conversations about your experience and career goals.
Why Professionals Trust RFT
Ready to Explore Opportunities?
View our current search assignments to see if there’s a match for your background and career goals.