The Playbook
Turn a public signal into a signed retainer.
The signal is the hook — the call you make in the first 72 hours is the edge. Here's the cadence that works per trigger class.
Funding round
Congratulate, then ask about the headcount plan.
A fresh raise comes with a stated hiring narrative. Reference the round and the use-of-funds quote — you're the only recruiter who read the announcement that day.
Leadership appointment
Reach the new leader in week one.
New leaders restructure within 60 days: direct reports, backfills, strategic IC hires. Land before they've even chosen a search partner.
Contract award
Map the delivery team they now have to staff.
A won contract is a delivery commitment. Project managers, delivery leads and specialist ICs follow predictably — quantify the likely team and lead with it.
Office expansion
Own the new territory's first hires.
A new location needs local leadership, operations and BD. You can be the recruiter who already knows the market before the lease is signed.
Senior departure
Get ahead of the backfill.
A senior exit leaves a gap the company must fill — often quietly, before it's announced as a vacancy. Reach out acknowledging the transition and offer to line up successors discreetly.
Product launch
Staff the team behind the launch.
A new product needs people to build, sell and support it. Reference the launch and the roles that scaling it implies — engineering, product and go-to-market — before the JD is written.
New company
Reach the founders before they staff up.
A freshly incorporated company hasn't built its team yet — and rarely posts its first roles publicly. Introduce yourself as the search partner before the first job ad exists, while you're the only recruiter who's noticed them.
Hiring surge
Take the pressure off the most critical seat.
A company posting many senior roles at once is scaling under real resourcing pressure — overstretched and motivated to get help. You can see the exact roles they've posted; lead with the hardest-to-fill one and offer a vetted shortlist to relieve the load.