Building Trust Without a Retainer in Pathology Recruiting

Why Some Clients Hesitate with Retainers

In the recruiting world, it’s common practice for firms to ask for a retainer upfront. From the recruiter’s perspective, this makes sense—it provides security and demonstrates a client’s commitment.

But after 24 years of recruiting in the pathology field, I’ve also learned why many clients hesitate to pay retainers. Too often, they’ve had disappointing experiences. They’ve written large checks upfront only to be let down with little progress or poor results. It’s no surprise that many groups are reluctant to take that risk again.

A Real-World Example

Recently, two private pathology practice groups contacted us with urgent hiring needs. Both groups were eager to work with Connexis due to our long-standing reputation in pathology recruiting and our proprietary database of over 20,000 pathologists, which includes direct cell phone numbers and email addresses.

Despite their enthusiasm, neither group was willing to sign a retainer or pay upfront. Instead of walking away, we agreed to partner with them on a contingency basis.

The outcome? Within weeks, we submitted strong candidates, and both groups have already conducted multiple interviews. Each group is now close to making a hire.

What Really Makes the Difference?

It wasn’t an upfront payment that made this possible. It was trust.

From the client’s perspective, building trust looks like:

• Providing honest, timely feedback on candidates
• Offering transparency about applicants who may have applied directly
• Maintaining responsiveness throughout the search process

From the recruiter’s perspective, building trust means:

• Sharing consistent communication and updates, even when a candidate isn’t a perfect fit
• Demonstrating effort by showing the work being done behind the scenes
• Treating every search as a true partnership rather than a transaction

The Bigger Picture in Pathology Recruiting

When both sides are committed to open communication, strong partnerships naturally develop. Those partnerships consistently lead to better hiring outcomes—even without a retainer in place.

At the end of the day, successful recruiting isn’t defined by upfront fees. It’s defined by building trust, collaborating closely, and delivering the right candidates.

Ready to Hire Pathologists?

Finding the right pathologist for your practice starts with trust, not retainers.

👉 Contact Us

(Your son can make this into a button: label “Contact Us,” link to your site’s contact page, and style it with a contrasting color and rounded edges.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Pathology Recruiting

Q: Why do many recruiting firms ask for a retainer upfront?
A: Retainers provide recruiters with security and signal a client’s commitment. However, not all firms deliver results after collecting a fee, which is why many practices are hesitant to pay upfront.

Q: Can I hire a pathologist without paying a retainer?
A: Yes. At Connexis, we often partner with pathology groups on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay once we deliver results.

Q: How does Connexis find qualified pathologists?
A: With over 24 years of experience and a proprietary database of more than 20,000 pathologists—including direct cell numbers and email addresses—we can quickly identify and connect with top candidates.

Q: What’s the key to a successful recruiting partnership?
A: Trust and communication. Clients who provide honest, timely feedback and recruiters who share consistent updates create the best outcomes.

Q: How fast can I expect to see candidates?
A: Every search is different, but because of our extensive network, many clients begin seeing qualified candidates within weeks of starting a search with us.