The Chicago index

Chicago recruitment agencies, ranked.

Every firm we track, scored on public signals: specialist focus, market activity and track record. Terms, claiming and sponsorship never change a rank.

The index is free to read and free to be listed in. Our sponsor makes that possible, and has no say in any ranking.

Firms tracked: 409
Specialties: 13
Open roles: 6,813
Updated: Nov 11

Chicago, United States

The full leaderboard, Chicago

Chicago recruiting firms ranked by index score
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Open roles	Index score
=89	Dean SearchNaperville · since 1994	Cosmetics, personal care, and household products search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Elevate Mestelsince 1987	Permanent attorney, partner, counsel and practice-group recruitment and law-firm combinations	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Encoresince 1999	Retained C-suite search for private equity and asset management	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Evers Legal Search, Inc.since 1997	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Gochkeys Professional Recruiterssince 2007	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Harmersince 1986	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	HKA \| Haffner Searchsince 1986	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Horizontal Talentsince 2003	IT, digital marketing, creative and business strategy recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Insight Globalsince 2001	Technology, engineering and professional staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Jobplexsince 1996	Emerging leaders and management recruitment across finance, HR, technology and other professional functions	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	JRA Talent Solutions Groupsince 1984	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	KellyMitchellsince 1998	IT staffing and technology talent across software, cloud, cybersecurity, data and infrastructure	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Kforcesince 1962	Technology staffing and direct hiring, with finance and accounting recruitment.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Kincannon & Reedsince 1981	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Loftus & O'Meara Searchsince 1978	Direct hire of executive assistants, administrative assistants, coordinators and business support staff	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	McCarthy Bertschy & Associatessince 2002	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Medellin & Associatessince 1994	Diversity-focused retained executive and board search, with professional staffing and HR consulting.	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	M-Works Searchsince 2010	Engineering, technical sales and manufacturing leadership recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	OP Recruitingsince 1999	Technology recruiting for hedge funds, high-frequency trading, fintech and blockchain businesses	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	OverNorthsince 2011	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	People Capital Executive Searchsince 2007	Executive and technical search for food, beverage, flavor, ingredient and nutrition businesses	Hybrid	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Peregrine Group LLCsince 2009	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	P M Clare & Associatessince 1999	Senior corporate executive search	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Prairie Inc.Naperville · since 1997	IT contract and permanent staffing	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Reilly Partnerssince 2005	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Resolute TechnologiesSchaumburg · since 1998	Sales recruiting and SAP talent	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	River West Consultants, Ltd.since 1990	Attorney recruitment, legal executive search and law firm merger consulting	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Sales Recruiters Chicago, Inc.since 2003	Sales professionals and leaders across B2B manufacturing, technology, medical and capital equipment businesses.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Sierra ITSsince 1994	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Solving ITsince 1992	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	SPECTRAFORCEsince 2004	Professional staffing and direct hire in technology, engineering, financial services and life sciences.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Synecticssince 1984	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Systems Research Inc.Schaumburg · since 1970	Engineering, IT, life sciences, and operations search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Technical Peoplesince 2008	Technical staffing and permanent recruitment in engineering and information technology	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	The Eldridge Groupsince 1991	Sales, sales leadership and marketing recruitment across CPG, food service, B2B, medical and industrial markets.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	The Network Groupsince 1986	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Thoughtwave Software & Solutionssince 2003	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Todd Legal Searchsince 2009	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	V-Soft Consultingsince 1997	IT staffing and direct hire for software, cloud, data, cybersecurity and enterprise platforms.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=89	Watson Dwyersince 1990	Administrative, accounting, finance, legal, IT, HR and marketing staffing	Contingency	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=141	People Freight	Freight forwarding account management, commercial and office-based logistics operations recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	37	41.2
=141	The Himmelfarb Groupsince 1990	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	41.2
143	Hobson Associates	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	39	41.0
=144	Instant Alliance	Technology, AI, finance and executive recruiting	Not stated	Not disclosed	12	40.4
=144	Messina Talent Advisors	Engineering, IT, finance, lab science, project management and sales recruitment for PE-backed businesses	Not stated	Not disclosed	68	40.4
=146	GForce Life Sciences	Biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device recruitment; clinical, regulatory, quality and technical roles	Not stated	Not disclosed	65	40.2
=146	NextPlay Jobs	—	Contingency	Not disclosed	62	40.2
=148	Gate Insightsince 2012	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	40.1
=148	InveniasPartnerssince 2012	Healthcare C-suite, board and senior leadership executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	40.1
=150	Hirewell	Technology, executive, HR, finance, legal, sales and marketing recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	89	40.0

=89Dean SearchNaperville · Cosmetics, personal care, and household products search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Elevate MestelPermanent attorney, partner, counsel and practice-group recruitment and law-firm combinations41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89EncoreRetained C-suite search for private equity and asset management41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Evers Legal Search, Inc.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Gochkeys Professional Recruiters41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Harmer41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89HKA | Haffner Search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Horizontal TalentIT, digital marketing, creative and business strategy recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Insight GlobalTechnology, engineering and professional staffing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89JobplexEmerging leaders and management recruitment across finance, HR, technology and other professional functions41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89JRA Talent Solutions Group41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89KellyMitchellIT staffing and technology talent across software, cloud, cybersecurity, data and infrastructure41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89KforceTechnology staffing and direct hiring, with finance and accounting recruitment.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Kincannon & Reed41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Loftus & O'Meara SearchDirect hire of executive assistants, administrative assistants, coordinators and business support staff41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89McCarthy Bertschy & Associates41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Medellin & AssociatesDiversity-focused retained executive and board search, with professional staffing and HR consulting.41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89M-Works SearchEngineering, technical sales and manufacturing leadership recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89OP RecruitingTechnology recruiting for hedge funds, high-frequency trading, fintech and blockchain businesses41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89OverNorth41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89People Capital Executive SearchExecutive and technical search for food, beverage, flavor, ingredient and nutrition businesses41.3
HybridNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Peregrine Group LLC41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89P M Clare & AssociatesSenior corporate executive search41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Prairie Inc.Naperville · IT contract and permanent staffing41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Reilly Partners41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Resolute TechnologiesSchaumburg · Sales recruiting and SAP talent41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89River West Consultants, Ltd.Attorney recruitment, legal executive search and law firm merger consulting41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Sales Recruiters Chicago, Inc.Sales professionals and leaders across B2B manufacturing, technology, medical and capital equipment businesses.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Sierra ITS41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Solving IT41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89SPECTRAFORCEProfessional staffing and direct hire in technology, engineering, financial services and life sciences.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Synectics41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Systems Research Inc.Schaumburg · Engineering, IT, life sciences, and operations search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Technical PeopleTechnical staffing and permanent recruitment in engineering and information technology41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89The Eldridge GroupSales, sales leadership and marketing recruitment across CPG, food service, B2B, medical and industrial markets.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89The Network Group41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Thoughtwave Software & Solutions41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Todd Legal Search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89V-Soft ConsultingIT staffing and direct hire for software, cloud, data, cybersecurity and enterprise platforms.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=89Watson DwyerAdministrative, accounting, finance, legal, IT, HR and marketing staffing41.3
ContingencyNot disclosed0 open roles
=141People FreightFreight forwarding account management, commercial and office-based logistics operations recruitment41.2
Not statedNot disclosed37 open roles
=141The Himmelfarb Group41.2
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
143Hobson Associates41.0
Not statedNot disclosed39 open roles
=144Instant AllianceTechnology, AI, finance and executive recruiting40.4
Not statedNot disclosed12 open roles
=144Messina Talent AdvisorsEngineering, IT, finance, lab science, project management and sales recruitment for PE-backed businesses40.4
Not statedNot disclosed68 open roles
=146GForce Life SciencesBiotech, pharmaceutical and medical device recruitment; clinical, regulatory, quality and technical roles40.2
Not statedNot disclosed65 open roles
=146NextPlay Jobs40.2
ContingencyNot disclosed62 open roles
=148Gate Insight40.1
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=148InveniasPartnersHealthcare C-suite, board and senior leadership executive search40.1
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=150HirewellTechnology, executive, HR, finance, legal, sales and marketing recruitment40.0
Not statedNot disclosed89 open roles

Score built from public signals · Fee model from firm websites · Terms reported by firms · Terms never affect the score

How the score works →

Recruitment agencies in Chicago: questions

How are these Chicago recruitment agencies ranked?

Each firm gets a score from public data: how focused it is on one specialty, how many roles it is actively hiring for, and its track record. We rank 409 firms in Chicago so far and re-score them as new data comes in. The full method is on our methodology page.

Can a recruitment agency pay to rank higher?

No. There is no paid placement. Claiming a profile, adding terms and our sponsor never change a score or a rank.

What's the difference between a recruitment agency, a headhunter and an executive search firm?

They overlap. A recruitment agency fills roles for employers, usually on contingency. Headhunter is the informal name for a recruiter who approaches people who aren't job hunting. Executive search firms are headhunters for senior roles and usually work on a retained basis. We list all three when they fill professional, white-collar roles.

How much do recruitment agencies in Chicago charge?

Most agencies charge a percentage of the hire's first-year base salary. Contingency recruiters are commonly quoted at around 15–25% and are paid only when you hire; retained and executive search firms often charge 25–35%, paid in stages as the search progresses.

My firm is missing or something is wrong. What can I do?

Firms can claim their profile for free and correct their details. Anyone can request a correction; we reply within three working days.

Browse by specialty

13 specialties

Chicago recruitment agencies, ranked.

The full leaderboard, Chicago

Recruitment agencies in Chicago: questions

Browse by specialty

Fintech & Trading

Legal

Executive Search

Tech & Engineering

Data & AI

Private Equity & VC

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Media & Advertising

Real Estate

Insurance & Actuarial

Accounting & Finance

Sales & Marketing

HR & Talent