Here's exactly how
we work.
You've probably heard from a dozen recruiters this month. This page is for the ones who want to know what's actually different about Purple Stack before they pick up the phone. We'll tell you how we work, what it costs, who we're right for — and who we're not.
The Honest Pitch
We do one thing. We do it well.
Purple Stack places revenue-generating sales leaders — VPs of Sales, CROs, Client Partners, Practice Heads, and senior enterprise AEs — for IT services and technology consulting firms. That's it. We don't place developers. We don't do general IT staffing. We don't work across every vertical.
That focus means our network is deep where it counts. When we go to market on a search, we're not cold-calling strangers — we're reaching people we've known for years, people who trust us, people who will take our call.
We're a boutique firm. Monica Sethi, our President, works every search personally. You won't be handed off to a coordinator after the kickoff call. You'll work directly with the person who built this firm and has spent 14 years building the relationships that make it work.
We take on a limited number of searches at a time — by design. Every client gets our full attention. If we can't give you that, we'll tell you before we take your money.
The Process
What happens after you call.
No black boxes. Here's exactly what a search with Purple Stack looks like from first conversation to placed candidate.
Intake Call — 60 minutes
We don't start with your job description. We start with your business. We want to understand your revenue stage, your go-to-market motion, your deal complexity, your team culture, and — critically — the profile of the sales leader who has historically succeeded in your specific environment. Most clients tell us this is the most useful conversation they've had about the role.
Profile Definition & Search Brief
We write a search brief that defines the ideal candidate profile — not just the job description, but the specific background, deal size experience, buyer relationships, and cultural attributes that predict success in your role. You approve it before we go to market. This is the document that drives everything.
Active Search & Outreach
We go to market through our network — not job boards. We reach senior sales leaders who are selectively open to the right opportunity, have the specific background your role requires, and won't waste your time in an interview. We typically speak with 30–50 people to surface 3–5 who are genuinely worth your time.
Candidate Presentation
You receive a written brief on each candidate — not just a resume, but our assessment of their track record, deal size, sector fit, cultural alignment, and compensation expectations. We tell you what we think, including any concerns. You decide who to interview.
Interview Process Management
We manage the process on both sides — scheduling, feedback loops, keeping candidates warm, and flagging issues before they become problems. We've seen enough searches fall apart at the offer stage to know that active management here is not optional.
Offer, Close & Guarantee
We manage the offer process, navigate counter-offers, and stay in contact through the start date. Every placement comes with a 90-day guarantee: if the hire doesn't work out within 90 days for any reason, we re-run the search at no additional fee.
Fees & Structure
What it costs. No surprises.
We work on both retained and contingent engagements depending on the role and the client relationship. Here's how each works.
25–30% of first-year comp
Billed in thirds: engagement, presentation, placement
- Exclusive engagement — we work for you, not multiple clients
- Full search brief and candidate assessment documents
- Active outreach to passive candidates
- Dedicated bandwidth — your search is prioritized
- 90-day replacement guarantee
- Market intelligence and comp benchmarking included
Best for VP-level and above, first strategic hire, or roles where speed and quality are non-negotiable.
20–25% of first-year comp
Fee due only upon successful placement
- No upfront payment required
- Candidate presentation and vetting included
- 60-day replacement guarantee
- Best-effort search — not exclusive
- Suitable for Director-level and below
- Available for existing client relationships
Available for select roles and established client relationships. Contact us to discuss fit.
All fees are based on total first-year cash compensation (base + target bonus). We're happy to discuss structure on a call.
Fit Check
We're not right for everyone.
Here's how to tell.
We'd rather tell you upfront than waste your time. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so — and we might be able to point you in the right direction.
We're a strong fit if…
- You're an IT services, consulting, or digital transformation firm hiring a revenue leader
- The role is VP of Sales, CRO, Client Partner, Practice Head, or senior enterprise AE
- You want a recruiter who understands your business model — not just the job title
- You've made a bad hire before and want a more rigorous process this time
- You're willing to move quickly when the right candidate is in front of you
- You value quality over volume and won't be satisfied with a stack of 40 resumes
We're probably not the right fit if…
- You're looking for IT staffing, contract placements, or developer recruiting
- The role is outside IT services, consulting, or enterprise technology sales
- You need someone to post a job and sort inbound applications
- You're running a parallel process with 5 other recruiters and want the fastest resume
- Budget is the primary decision driver and you're looking for the lowest fee
- You need a hire in under two weeks with no flexibility on timeline
Social Proof
What clients actually say.
Monica placed our VP of Sales in 38 days. More importantly, he's still here three years later and has tripled the team. That's the metric that matters.
We'd worked with four other search firms before Purple Stack. The difference was that Monica actually understood what a Client Partner does in a consulting firm. The intake call alone was worth the engagement.
She told us our comp plan was below market before she even started the search. That kind of honesty is rare. We adjusted, and we got the candidate we wanted.
Common Questions
Questions we get asked.
How long does a typical search take?
Most searches close in 6–10 weeks from kickoff to accepted offer. The biggest variable is your interview process — the faster you move on strong candidates, the faster we close. We'll tell you at the outset if we think your timeline is realistic.
What if we've already started interviewing candidates on our own?
That's fine. We can run a parallel search and you keep any candidates you've already sourced. We only charge a fee on candidates we introduce. We'll be transparent about who we're reaching out to so there's no overlap.
What does the 90-day guarantee actually mean?
If the placed candidate leaves or is let go within 90 days of their start date — for any reason — we re-run the search at no additional fee. The only exception is if the role itself is eliminated. We've rarely had to invoke this, but it's there.
Do you work with companies outside the US?
Our primary focus is North America, but we've placed candidates in Canada and have worked with US-based firms hiring for international roles. If you're outside North America, reach out and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help.
Can we engage you on a contingent basis for a VP-level role?
We prefer retained for VP and above because it gives us the exclusivity and bandwidth to do the search properly. That said, we've done contingent work for long-standing clients on senior roles. It's a conversation — contact us and we'll discuss.
How do you handle confidential searches?
We handle confidential searches regularly — replacing a sitting leader, exploring a restructure, or making a hire before a public announcement. We never disclose the client name until a candidate has been screened and both sides have agreed to proceed.
Ready to talk?
A 30-minute call with Monica is all it takes to know if we're the right fit for your search.