WHAT IS AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technologies that empowers computers to learn, reason, and perform a variety of advanced tasks in ways that used to require human intelligence, such as understanding language, analyzing data, and even providing helpful suggestions.
AI is transforming how companies compete—but technology alone isn’t enough.
The real differentiator is talent. ETSP partners with organizations looking to implement, scale, or mature their AI capabilities by recruiting experienced AI, machine learning, and data leaders who know how to drive execution. We align advanced talent with your business strategy to ensure AI investments deliver meaningful growth and long-term value.
AI Talent & Leadership Search
Information Security
What is information security?
Identifying threats
Evaluating risks
Implementing security controls
Monitoring activities
Information security
Information security is an umbrella term that covers an organization’s efforts to protect information. It includes physical IT asset security, endpoint security, data encryption, network security and more.
IT security
Cybersecurity
Data security
4 Types of security
The terms information security, IT security, cybersecurity and data security are often (and mistakenly) used interchangeably. While these fields overlap and inform one another, they differ primarily in scope.
Cost of a Bad Hire
What is the real cost of a bad hire? Why is it important to choose who you hire carefully, and how much money and revenue can you lose if you hire the wrong person?
The average cost of a bad hire is up to 30% of the employee’s first-year earnings according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Latest 2025–2026 Quantitative Data on the Cost of a Bad Hire
The ripple effects of poor hires extend far beyond salary costs.
1. Many sources in 2025 report average costs of bad hires around $15,000–$17,000 when including recruiting, training, and onboarding expenses. This is repeatedly cited across multiple industry reports. Forbes+1
2. CareerBuilder & Department of Labor data (cited in 2025 commentary) show that a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the employee’s first-year salary, which for typical salaries can easily push losses to $25,000+ or more. Testlify+1
3. $25,000+ is common once indirect costs are included (e.g., lost productivity). Testlify. For senior/executive roles, losses can be 3–5× annual salary due to strategic disruption and replacement costs. Hunter Recruiting
5. One survey found that actively disengaged employees (often from poor fit hires) cost U.S. firms $450–$550 billion annually in lost productivity. Mitratech Internal productivity disruption — time managers spend supervising underperformers — has been reported at 17% of a CFO’s time allocated to remediation. Apollo Technical LLC
6. Interpreting What This Means for Small/Mid-Size Companies
Metric
Average financial cost per bad hire (non-exec)
Executive level bad hire cost
Cost as % of salary
Productivity & engagement loss
Recruitment + onboarding wasted when hire fails
ETSP FEE PROGRAMS: RETAINED & CONTINGENCY MODELS
“ETSP operates as a retained search partner because the roles we fill are too critical to be treated transactionally. ” Unlike contingency firms that compete on speed and volume, ETSP partners as an extension of your leadership team. Our retained approach ensures:
- Dedicated research and market mapping
- Proactive outreach to non-active, highly sought-after talent
- A structured, double-vetted, 15-step search process
- Senior-level attention from start to finish
Contingency Model is where recruiters are compensated only if they successfully place a candidate with the client. This “pay-for-performance” model minimizes risk for employers and pays a flat pre-negiotiated placement fee percentage based on candidate’s first year base salary
Retained search isn’t more expensive. It’s more effective! Why Retained Works
Contingency
Reactive
Volume-driven
Resume submissions
Competing recruiters
Retained (ETSP)
Proactive
Precision-driven
Leadership advisory
Dedicated partner
ETSP Pricing Philosophy
Model
Retained
Contingency
Fee
25%–27.5%
30%–33%
