FAQ

Executive search is a specialised recruitment service that identifies, evaluates, and secures senior leaders and hard-to-find professionals for an organisation. Unlike volume recruitment, it focuses on a small number of high-impact roles, uses direct, research-led headhunting to reach passive candidates who are not actively job-hunting, and is always paid for by the hiring company.

A retained-exclusive search is an engagement where the client appoints one firm — exclusively — to run a defined search, supported by a professional fee structure. Because the firm is the only party working the mandate, it invests deeply in understanding the role, mapping the market, and managing the process end-to-end, which produces higher-quality shortlists and a far higher completion rate.

In retained search, one firm works exclusively and is engaged through a structured fee, so it commits full research and consulting effort to the mandate. In contingency recruitment, several agencies compete and are paid only on placement, which favours speed and volume over depth. Executive-level and confidential roles are best served by retained search.

People Search International (PSI) is an Asia Pacific executive search firm headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more than 20 years we have partnered with regional and multinational companies to identify, attract, and secure high-performing leaders. As a member of NPAworldwide, we combine deep local market knowledge with global reach across more than 50 countries.

PSI combines four strengths: a 100% completion record on our retained-exclusive search assignments; a Human + AI methodology that pairs relationship-driven recruiting with modern data and AI tools; 20+ years of market experience and an extensive regional talent network; and global capacity through NPAworldwide, enabling clients to hire regionally and internationally from a single trusted partner.

Our recent leadership placements span FMCG, technology and digital, education, manufacturing and engineering, retail (including F&B and fashion), and mining. Because our methodology is research-led rather than sector-bound, we regularly deliver senior and specialist mandates across new industries by mapping each client’s specific market from the ground up.

PSI has completed placements across Indonesia, India, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Through our NPAworldwide membership we can also run cross-border searches into markets beyond this footprint, giving clients access to leadership talent across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and globally.

Our process runs through clear stages: an in-depth briefing to define the role and ideal candidate; market mapping and research to target the right talent pool; direct, discreet outreach to passive candidates; structured interviews and assessment; a curated shortlist with detailed candidate reports; and support through offer, closing, and onboarding. Clients receive regular progress updates throughout.

We go well beyond CV screening. Every candidate is evaluated through structured, competency-based interviews and, where required, professional assessment, alongside reference checks. Each shortlisted candidate is presented with a detailed PSI interview report covering competencies, motivation, and fit — so clients make decisions on evidence, not impressions.

Confidentiality is central to how we work. Sensitive searches — including replacements and market-mapping mandates — are handled discreetly, candidate and client information is shared only with authorised stakeholders. Both our clients’ brands and our candidates’ current positions are protected throughout the process.

Fees are structured around each engagement, typically as a professional fee linked to the seniority and complexity of the role, with a retainer element for retained-exclusive assignments. We are always transparent on terms before any work begins.

The fastest way to begin is to email to t.arief@peoplesearchinternational.com, or send an enquiry through the Contact page. We will arrange a confidential briefing call to understand your role, your organisation, and your timeline, and then set out a clear search plan and proposal.

No. Candidates never pay a fee. Like all professional executive search firms, PSI is engaged and paid by the hiring company. Our service to you — presenting relevant opportunities, preparing you for interviews, and giving honest feedback — is always free of charge.

Submitting your CV places you inside PSI’s talent ecosystem, so you are visible to our consultants the moment a matching leadership or specialist role opens — including confidential roles that are never advertised. Many of the best opportunities are filled through direct search, so being in our network gives you a genuine career advantage.

Visit the “Submit Your CV” page on our website and upload your CV, or send it directly to us by email. Keeping your profile current — with your latest role, achievements, and career interests — helps us match you accurately when a suitable opportunity arises. There is no obligation, and your details are handled confidentially.

You can view all live openings on the Vacancies page of our website. New roles are added regularly across our specialist sectors and markets. We recommend submitting your CV as well, because a significant share of the leadership roles we work on are filled through direct search rather than public advertising.

Your profile is added to our database and reviewed against current and upcoming mandates. If your background matches an active search, a consultant will contact you to discuss the opportunity in confidence. If there is no immediate fit, your profile remains on file so we can reach out when a relevant role opens in the future.

No. We treat every candidate’s information as strictly confidential. Your CV and details are never shared with any company without your explicit consent, and we will always discuss a specific opportunity with you before presenting you to a client. Your privacy and current position are protected at every stage.

PSI focuses on senior leadership, management, and specialist roles across FMCG, technology and digital, education, manufacturing and engineering, retail, mining, and other sectors. These span functions from general management and operations to finance, sales and marketing, engineering, and technical leadership, across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

We act as an informed intermediary between you and the hiring company. That means briefing you properly on the role and organisation, preparing you for each interview stage, representing your interests honestly, and giving constructive feedback — including guidance that supports your professional development, whether or not a particular role works out.