Structured · Thoughtful · Fairly priced — not rushed or transactional
Why we started
Behind every hire sits a budget, a growth plan, the dynamics of a team, and the simple pressure of getting it right. It deserves better than a model built to reward speed and volume.
Salary-linked incentives and constant time pressure both distort the quality of evaluation. We believe recruitment should be structured, thoughtful and fairly priced — a considered process, not a rushed transaction.
Clearly staged, fixed-fee, and built on real conversations rather than CV throughput.
Everything about the way we work is set up to take weight off a stretched team. The process is broken into clear stages, the fee is fixed and known upfront, and the substance comes from genuine conversations with candidates. We focus on managing the process well — not on shipping CVs or chasing a commission.
Our values
Four beliefs sit under every search we run.
A fixed, transparent fee — never a percentage of salary.
When the fee isn't tied to pay, financial incentives don't shape the shortlist. The focus stays on the right person for the role.
A CV is a starting point, not the full picture.
Structured conversations surface motivation, mindset and genuine fit — the things a CV can never quite show.
Involvement from brief through to offer.
This is not a send-and-disappear model. We stay alongside you the whole way, so the final call is well supported.
Clear criteria, defined stages, honest communication.
A good process reduces reactive decisions and risk — and treats every candidate with respect along the way.
In practice
The principles aren't abstract — they change what actually happens day to day.
Focused on the right hire
A fixed fee removes salary-linked incentives, so the focus is the right appointment — never the placement value.
Involved, start to finish
Role calibration, advert creation, live application handling, evaluation, interview coordination and offer support — while you keep the final decision.
Guided, informed decisions
Assessment goes beyond CV keywords into competency, motivation and context — shortlists arrive with clear reasoning.
We'd love to hear about what you're building — and we'll be honest about whether the Direct model is right for you.
FAQs
Herdsearch is a fixed-fee recruitment partner that manages the hiring process from role definition through to offer acceptance. Instead of charging a percentage of salary, we provide structured recruitment support so organisations can hire with clarity and predictable cost.
Traditional agencies typically charge a percentage of the placed candidate's salary, which can create pressure to fill roles quickly rather than carefully. Our fixed-fee model means the cost is agreed upfront and isn't tied to salary size, so our focus stays on finding the right person for the role, not the fastest or highest-value placement.
We work with SMEs, growing teams and organisations that want a structured, professional hiring process without the overhead of an in-house talent function. This includes businesses making their first dedicated hire in a role as well as established teams scaling up.
We support a wide range of roles across IT, sales, commercial, marketing, engineering, administration, operations, finance, HR, legal and customer service. If you're unsure whether a role is suitable, get in touch and we're always happy to talk it through.
Through our partnership levels, we support New Zealand-based hires. We also have experience recruiting globally, including across the UK and Europe, so if you have a role outside NZ, get in touch and we can talk through how we can support you there too.
Getting started is simple — reach out through the contact form or give us a call, and we'll set up a short conversation about the role, the challenges you're facing, and whether our approach is the right fit. From there we'll recommend the support level that makes the most sense for you.