How we measure
The numbers behind our results
The four figures on our homepage come from our applicant tracking system and cover every search led by our team over the past three years. Each one is measured as closely as possible to the published benchmark beside it, and where no benchmark measures the same stage, the table says so.
Candidates who reply to our outreach
Shortlisted candidates selected for a first client interview
Interviewed candidates who advance to the next stage
Searches that end in a signed hire
Definitions
Direct outreach replies. Candidates who sent any human reply to our outreach sequence, divided by sequences sent. Automated replies are excluded.
First client interview. Shortlisted candidates who completed a first interview with the client, divided by candidates formally presented to the hiring decision-maker.
Advancement. Candidates moved to the next stage of the client's interview process, divided by candidates who completed a first client interview.
Signed hire. Searches ending in an accepted written offer, divided by all closed searches, including searches the client cancelled or ended. Searches still open are excluded.
Sources
Gem, Email Outreach for Recruiters: 2026 Benchmarks and Best Practices. 6.2 million sequences sent in 2025. Replies counted per sequence.
OneUp Labs, Recruitment Funnel Trends by Agency Size. 4,112 recruiters, May 2024 to April 2025. Derived from published monthly averages of CVs sent and first interviews arranged.
Ashby, Recruiting Operations Benchmarks: 2026 Talent Trends Report. 54 million applications and 93,000 jobs, January 2021 to March 2026.
Clockwork, Executive Search Performance Benchmark Report. Updated November 2024. 100,000+ retained executive search projects, 2020 to 2023. Cancelled and terminated searches count in the total.