Guide for Candidates

Lutz & Partners is a retained executive search firm. This means we are "retained" by corporate clients to find the most suitable candidate to fill a senior-level role on a fee basis. We work exclusively to fill the needs of our clients and we are not an outplacement agency and, as such, we do not broadcast CVs to multiple firms with the hope of a placement.

Recruiting Approaches

If you are an executive seeking a new opportunity or are simply interested in keeping your career on track, it is important to understand the different types of recruitment firms in order to know which may be relevant in helping you find your next role.

The following is a partial listing of types of recruitment companies and how they work. 

• Executive search (alternatively known as headhunting) firms, like ours, are retained by corporate clients to find the most suitable candidate to fill a particular role on a fee basis. Search is typically used for senior-level jobs, for which there is a smaller pool of appropriate, high-level candidates who can be identified and targeted and the search is exclusive to one firm.
• If you are an executive seeking a new career challenge, approaching us would be useful to make the initial introduction and for us to gather information on your profile. Being involved on a day-to-day basis, we can also provide you with general information on the job market. Please keep in mind, as we receive many requests, we are unfortunately not always able to accommodate face-to-face meetings, but we do however maintain a database of all accepted resumés and this is where we always start our search.
• Contingent recruitment implies that recruitment firms are compensated based on success. These firms develop extensive databases which are built as candidates register with them or through responses to advertisements. The recruiting firm may be one of many agencies trying to fill a particular role, and they rarely have an exclusive mandate. Typically these firms work on less senior roles.
• Advertised selection takes place when a firm is retained by a client to advertise a position in various media to find candidates for a particular role. The firm hired by the corporate client will review the CVs received, interview the most relevant candidates and present a shortlist of relevant individuals to the client.

Executive Search Process

As a first step in identifying potentially qualified candidates for a senior-level search assignment, we search our own database. We, therefore, invite you to register with us by emailing your CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots and you will need JavaScript enabled to access it.

Should a relevant opportunity arise, once you are in our database,  you can be sure we will contact you.

Please take the time to revise your CV before sending it, keeping into account that we prefer to receive a digital copy and that our working language is English.

For our filing purposes, it is recommended to save your CV as Lastname.Firstname.CV.doc (i.e. Smith.John.CV.doc)

We invite you to read the following article, Seven Points to a Great CV, a useful checklist in creating an effective CV.

Click here to read: Better CVs

Our Principles

Integrity in our interactions with candidates and clients alike is a core value of our firm. Therefore you can be assured that we never share your details with a client without your advance agreement and knowledge. Likewise, once you are a candidate for a particular search, references are not contacted without your express consent.

As well, in respect of business ethics, Lutz & Partners will not approach you for an opening as long as you are employed by one of our current clients. Furthermore, we are only able to present your candidature to one client at a time.

We are committed to equal opportunity for all candidates, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, handicap or sexual orientation. The firm has a strong commitment to diversity and has an excellent track record in placing top female talent.

Developing relationships with executive search consultants tends to take place over the course of a career and should be of benefit to both parties. Typically, a candidate's first contact with a search firm takes place when a consultant approaches the candidate about a specific search.

If you are contacted by a search firm for advice or information regarding a search assignment, it may be an ideal opportunity to begin a relationship with a search consultant. Even if you are not currently looking for new opportunities, you will already have a relationship with a search consultant when you are.  

Please contact us with your CV at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.