Ranked by 1999 L.A. County revenues
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Contingency search firms are compensated for their services only after they have placed a candidate with a client company. This differentiates them from retained search firms, which are paid regardless of the outcome of a particular search.
Generally, a contingency firm takes a broader approach to a search, typically uncovering a wider range of resumes than retained firms. They are also more likely to focus on filling mid-level management positions, while retained search firms are typically used to search for top-level executives.
Some contingency firms concentrate on specific industries, but most of the companies represented on this year’s list serve a wide variety of industries and clients.
Los Angeles contingency firms had another strong year in 1999. Combined local revenues of the top 15 L.A. County firms jumped 27.5 percent from 1998 to reach $57.1 million. That’s quite a difference from 1993, when local unemployment was soaring and the executive placement industry felt the pinch.
THE PACESETTER
Kforce.com
Repeating its No. 1 ranking from last year’s list is Kforce.com, which once again tops the field of locally based contingency search firms. It has since changed its name from Source Services/Romac International, to reinforce the firm’s dedication to becoming a Web-based staffing company.
Kforce went live in June 1999, and has been steadily enhancing its Web services ever since. The company’s basic service allows job candidates to sign on and search posted job listings, while employers can log on and peruse resumes. The premier service, launched in July 1999, offers job candidates direct feedback from career advisors on their skills, marketability and career-development needs.
“The response has been phenomenal,” said Rob Foley, market manager at Kforce. “This is not just a resume-posting site. We have an online resource library with industry-related articles, salary surveys, and cost-of-living indices for various cities.”
At the end of 1999, Kforce debuted its remote interview system, enabling both candidates and employers to present themselves in an audio/visual format, similar to the video dating concept.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Kforce operates through more than 100 offices in 50 markets nationwide, as well as through its online presence. The company provides temporary and permanent staffing in the areas of information technology, finance and accounting, human resources, engineering, pharmaceutical, scientific, health care, legal and financial services.
