Feels like a Start Up - Creative Recruiter Onward Search Employee Review

2.0
Jan 17, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Most employees were very pleasant and nice -Fully remote -PTO isn't bad! -I enjoyed that we received weekly updates from the CEO, Eliana. -Starting rate/salary for recruiter positions is within market rate.

Cons

-Unrealistic expectations when it comes to metrics and maintaining "green status". The company itself was slow for several months to bring in new orders when the market was unstable. Managements solution was to pipeline continuously; however, you can't place talent if you have a lack of orders. -I have never experienced SO much change in a Senior Leadership Team (SLT) until I came to Onward Search. SVP's/VP's change constantly and they act like it's normal. Not to mention, my direct management changed three times while employed. When you have manager after manager leave, you know something isn't quite right. -Favoritism is definitely something that is evident here. I felt that my direct manager favored team members over myself and another colleague which would result in working less than favorable job orders and our submissions not being taken as seriously as the other members of the team. -Learning and Development (L&D) is just not up to the level it should be, especially when you have a delivery team that is brand new to the industry. My "OnRamp" was a PowerPoint deck that was reviewed by the L&D team. The system that is used to house all of the L&D videos is also outdated. -Commission structure is something that definitely needs to be evaluated. (I will not disclose amounts or percentages) As a recruiter, we put SO much work into finding excellent talent. And to be able to place that talent and only receive X% on certain accounts is a huge slap in the face. -This isn't necessarily a Con, it's more of a neutral. While the CEO, Eliana, does have office hours, I wish she had more of a presence in the teams. During the early part of my career with Onward, her office hours would be cancelled time after time and you only saw her on the company meetings/calls.

Explore other reviews about Onward Search

5.0
Feb 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong entrepreneurial mindset with real ownership and autonomy. Leadership encourages initiative, creative problem-solving, and building new ideas from the ground up. Great environment for self-starters who want to make an impact.

Cons

Must be quick on your feet! Priorities may shift quickly, requiring comfort with ambiguity and rapid change.

1
avatar
Onward Search Response
5mo
We’re thrilled to hear that our entrepreneurial culture and focus on ownership resonate with you. Creating an environment where people feel trusted, supported, and empowered to bring new ideas to life is core to who we are, and your feedback reinforces the importance of that commitment. As a growth‑minded organization, change is often part of the journey—but we remain focused on providing clarity, communication, and support to help our team navigate it successfully. Insights like yours help us continue strengthening that balance. Your encouragement to “keep doing what we're doing” truly means a lot. We're grateful to have you as part of Onward Search and excited to see what you build next.
3.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote for you year round

Cons

Not a lot of staffing oops and fairly new

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