See hiring authority and budget before you scope the search
Executive search enquiries capture role level, hiring authority, timeline, and budget readiness up front, along with the job brief and org chart, so your team can qualify true retained-search opportunities before investing sourcing time.
The exact intake your executive search leads complete
This is the real 7-question guided intake for Executive Search — the same flow your customers finish before you ever pick up the phone.
What a qualified executive search lead should tell you
A retained or contingent search engagement to identify, evaluate, and place senior leadership or C-suite candidates, where qualifying means confirming role level, hiring authority, and timeline before committing sourcing resources.
- Level Role Fill
- Many Open Executive Positions
- Have Authority Approve Hiring
- Soon This Position Filled
- This Search Been Previously
- Role Primarily Remote, Hybrid,
- Have Defined Budget Range
The questions your team needs answered
Every executive search intake asks these — and why each one matters.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What level of role are you looking to fill? | Role level directly sets the scoring tier, since a C-suite search carries a larger fee and warrants faster attention than a senior manager hire. |
| How many open executive positions do you need to fill? | The number of open positions signals whether this is a single-search engagement or a multi-role retainer worth structuring differently. |
| Do you have the authority to approve hiring decisions for this search? | This question separates decision-makers from gatekeepers with a 10-versus-3 point weight, so unauthorized requests don't score as high priority. |
| How soon do you need this position filled? | Timeline is weighted from Immediately down to Just exploring, so it's the primary urgency signal for scheduling the discovery call. |
| Has this search been previously attempted internally or with another firm? | Knowing whether the search was already attempted internally or by another firm gives context on why the role is still open, without affecting the score itself. |
| Is the role primarily remote, hybrid, or on-site? | Segments the lead so you can route, price, and prioritize it correctly. |
| Do you have a defined budget range and compensation package for this role? | A defined budget and compensation package is weighted higher than an undefined one, since it indicates the client is ready to move on a search fee. |
How Cliont scores executive search leads
Every answer is weighted automatically — no manual review required.
Value signals
- C-suite executive
- VP or director
- Senior manager
- Other leadership role
- Have Authority Approve Hiring: yes
- Within 3 months
Urgency signals
- Immediately
See the lead your team receives
Executive Search Lead
From first click to qualified lead
Follow prospects and clients through one smooth, guided flow.
They land & meet you
Your video greeting plays instantly — a real face instead of a blank form.
They explain the project
Smart questions adapt to their project and capture the full scope.
They share the details
The scope and any documents come attached, so you can scope before the first call.
You get a ready lead
Scored and qualified — waiting for you to win it.
Built for executive search workflows
| Cliont capability | Executive Search application |
|---|---|
| Weighted question scoring | Role-level answers are scored on a scale from C-suite executive down to other leadership roles, so higher-tier searches rise to the top of your CRM automatically. |
| Conditional lead scoring | Hiring authority answers carry a 10-point swing between yes and no, downgrading gatekeeper enquiries so they're flagged as worth a follow-up rather than high priority. |
| Document capture | Clients can upload the job brief, org chart, and budget documentation directly in the intake, giving your team the context needed before the discovery call instead of chasing it afterward. |
| Structured routing to CRM | Once role level, authority, timeline, and budget answers are collected, the lead is packaged and sent to your CRM with the scoring context attached, not just raw contact details. |
Common executive search lead scenarios
CEO search with hiring authority confirmed
A board or founder-led request for a C-suite role marks Immediately for timeline and confirms authority to approve, so the intake routes it as a top-priority discovery call.
VP search after a failed internal attempt
The client flags that the search was previously attempted internally, which changes positioning even though the role level and timeline still score well.
Multiple senior manager openings, still exploring
Four or more openings at senior manager level with a 'just exploring' timeline signal volume potential but lower urgency, so the intake routes it for follow-up rather than immediate escalation.
HR contact without approval authority
A talent acquisition contact submits the request but answers no to hiring approval authority, which lowers the score relative to a founder or board member making the same request.
On-site executive role with undefined budget
The role is confirmed as on-site with a defined timeline, but no approved budget or compensation range exists yet, prompting a clarifying step before the discovery call is booked.
Connect Cliont to your workflow
Send leads
HubSpot, HighLevel, Salesforce, JobNimbus
Book projects
Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Calendly
Notify your team
Email, SMS, Slack
Automate follow-up
Zapier, Webhooks, API
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose the plan that works for your business.
Professional
Unlimited intake forms and leads for your growing business.
- Unlimited intake forms
- Custom video greetings
- AI-powered voice bot
- English + Spanish support
- Automatic lead scoring
- Digital estimates & e-signatures
- Photo, video & file upload
- Advanced analytics dashboard
Pay Per Lead
Only pay when you receive a qualified lead.
- Unlimited intake forms
- Custom video greetings
- AI-powered voice bot
- English + Spanish support
- Automatic lead scoring
- Digital estimates & e-signatures
- Photo, video & file upload
- Charged only for submitted leads
More recruiting and staffing intake templates
Executive Search lead-intake FAQs
How does this intake separate an executive search from a general recruiting request?
The role-level question distinguishes C-suite, VP/director, senior manager, and other leadership roles, so lower-level hiring needs can be routed toward Professional Recruiting instead of executive search.
What happens if the person submitting the request can't approve the hire?
The hiring authority question is weighted heavily (10 for yes, 3 for no), so a request from someone without approval authority still reaches your CRM but scores lower than one from a decision-maker.
Does the intake ask whether the client has budget set for the role?
Yes, one question asks directly whether a defined budget range and compensation package exist, which carries more weight than an undefined budget when scoring readiness.
How is urgency captured for a senior-level search?
The timeline question ranges from Immediately to Just exploring options, with immediate need scored highest so time-sensitive executive searches surface ahead of exploratory ones.
What if a client already tried filling the role internally or with another firm?
That question is captured for context rather than scored, giving your team visibility into whether you're entering a fresh search or picking up after a stalled attempt.
What documents does the intake collect before the discovery call?
The intake is built to collect a current job description or role brief, an org chart showing the reporting line, and any approved budget or compensation documentation the client already has.
Turn executive search visitors into qualified clients
Give every executive search visitor a guided intake instead of a dead contact form — and get a scored, qualified lead before you take the first call.