Areas of Evaluation
Practice Areas
CFRE evaluates recruiting and staffing firms across a growing range of industry sectors and functional disciplines. Each practice area is assessed using the CFRE Evaluation Framework, adapted with sector-specific indicators.
CFRE evaluates recruiting and staffing firms across distinct practice areas organized into industry sectors. Each practice area is assessed using the CFRE Evaluation Framework (CEF), adapted with sector-specific indicators developed in consultation with industry practitioners and academic researchers.
Practice Areas with Published Reports
Construction & Skilled Trades
Staffing and executive search for construction, electrical, HVAC, welding, MEP, engineering, facilities management, and industrial sectors.
10 reports publishedTechnology
Recruitment for cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development, fintech, EdTech, product management, and venture capital roles.
8 reports publishedFood & Beverage / Hospitality
Executive recruitment for restaurants, food manufacturing, hospitality operations, and beverage companies.
3 reports publishedFinancial Services
Executive search for finance, insurance, private equity, and venture capital firms.
4 reports publishedEnergy & Resources
Recruitment for energy, oil and gas, automotive, and maritime sectors.
4 reports publishedProfessional Services
Evaluations spanning architecture, life sciences, owner's representation, and regional executive search markets.
14 reports publishedSector-Specific Evaluation Adapters
While the core CFRE Evaluation Framework (CEF) applies universally across all practice areas, each sector uses a tailored set of sector-specific indicators to ensure evaluations reflect the unique demands of that industry. For example, construction and skilled trades evaluations weight licensure verification and rapid deployment capability, while technology evaluations emphasize retention rates and candidate technical assessment depth.
These adapters are developed in partnership with active industry practitioners. CFRE publishes sector adapter documentation alongside each report, ensuring full transparency in how evaluation criteria are calibrated for each practice area.
Request a Practice Area Evaluation
Recruitment firms, industry associations, and corporate talent leaders can nominate new practice areas for evaluation or request updated assessments within existing sectors.
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