Some recruiting firms specialize in finding candidates in certain industries while others search a far broader spectrum, from administrative assistants to executives. The different kinds of firms include:

• boutique firms,which specialize in placing candidates for a particular industry or job specialty
• generalist firms,which work to meet hiring needs across almost all industries
• executive search firms,which specialize in searches for high-level positions. Most executive search firms are paid on a retainer basis, which means they are paid in stages as the search advances.