How it works

The thesis

Existing high-end headhunters source resumes. We source signal. A senior options trader vouching for a peer at a different firm is information no LinkedIn search can replicate. We pay the people with that information a real share of the placement fee, and we cap referrals at 3 per year per referrer — quota replenishes every January 1, plus a credit back for each candidate we place. Scarcity is the point.

The economics

For every successful placement, the fee splits three ways. The referrer share is 30 to 40% of the fee, the recruiter share is similar, and OpenSignal keeps 20 to 30%. Placement fees typically run 20 to 30% of the candidate's first-year comp.

Exact split is fixed per placement and disclosed before any referral is acted on. Paid via bank transfer within 5 to 10 business days of fee clearance from the employer (typically 30 to 90 days after the candidate's start date). 1099-NEC issued at the first payout.

What happens after you submit

1. 1. We get your referrals. Hannah, our recruiting cofounder, personally reviews every name. You hear back within 10 business days.
2. 2. We reach out to each referral individually. We mention you only with your permission. They can opt out at any point with no follow-up.
3. 3. If a referral is interested, we match them to a live mandate. The employer is blinded to the referrer. Your name is never used as part of a pitch to the candidate or the firm.
4. 4. If a placement happens, you get paid. W-9 collected at signup. Payment is wired within 5 to 10 business days of fee clearance from the employer (typically 30 to 90 days after the candidate's start date). 1099-NEC issued at the first payout.

Compliance

• Non-solicit attestation. You confirm at submission that the people you are referring are not, to your knowledge, under non-solicit obligations to your current or recent employer. We log this attestation cryptographically.
• Blinded employer. The employer is not told who referred a candidate, full stop.
• 90-day clawback if the candidate leaves. Standard for the industry. We disclose this before any payment.
• In-house counsel. One of our cofounders is an employment attorney representing talent. The compliance posture is real, not marketing.

FAQ

What if my referral never gets placed?

No harm, no payment. Most referrals do not turn into placements; that is normal for any recruiting process. We do not penalize you for referrals that do not convert.

Will my referral know I referred them?

Only if you tell them, or if you grant us permission during the vetting call. Our default is to reach out without disclosing the referrer.

What stops me from referring people I do not actually know?

Practically: nothing. But low-signal referrers get deprioritized fast, and we cap invites for sources whose referrals do not engage or convert. Your reputation in the network compounds.

What about my own current employer's non-solicit?

You attest at submission that the people you are referring are not under non-solicits. If you are unsure, ask the people first or skip them. Our legal posture protects the platform, but you are the one with the obligation.

Why is OpenSignal different from the headhunter who has been emailing me for years?

Headhunters source candidates and bill the employer. Most do not pay anyone for the referral. We restructure the entire P&L so referrers are paid what their information is worth.