The permanent hire, made to hold.
When you have the headcount and need it filled right, CFA places architecture and design professionals vetted to stay: professionally referenced, matched by recruiters who read drawings, and backed by CFAeX skills certification.
Who it’s for.
A firm with confirmed, budgeted headcount making a long-term hire, for a role you intend to keep filled for years, where the cost of getting it wrong is a search you have to run twice. This is the considered match, not the fast fill.
How we de-risk a permanent hire.
CFAeX certification
Revit, AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Architecture proficiency tested against real project work — not a résumé line. Free for our candidates, and certified talent gets presented first.
Professionally referenced
We check references the way a partner would, on the work and the working relationship, so the person who shows up is the person we placed.
Design-native recruiters
People who read portfolios and match by sensibility, not keywords. Forty years of judgment about who holds up on which kind of work.
Four layers of vetting, one shortlist. You meet finalists, not a stack of applications.
How it works.
Brief
Tell us the role, level, software, and the kind of work. We calibrate to your studio, not a generic spec.
Vetted shortlist
A short list of finalists, each already certified and referenced. You interview people worth your time.
Place
You make the offer; we help close it and stay available after the start date.
Engagement.
Permanent placement is a one-time, direct-hire fee — invoiced when you and the candidate agree to terms, and payable within 30 days of their start date. It’s backed by our Permanent Placement Guarantee: if the hire leaves or doesn’t work out, you’re refunded in full within the first 30 days, two-thirds through day 60, and one-third through day 90. We stand behind the match, not just the introduction — tell us the role and we’ll walk you through the fee up front, in writing.
Not sure which model fits? Compare all three placement types — or read about the other two: Project-to-Perm · Project. Every placement is backed by CFAeX vetting, and our Salary Guide shows the market rate.
Common questions
What is permanent placement?
Permanent (direct-hire) placement is a full-time hire that CFA recruits, vets, and presents for a long-term role on your team. You make the offer and the hire is yours.
How does CFA de-risk a permanent hire?
Every candidate is professionally referenced and matched by recruiters who read drawings — and most carry CFAeX certification on real project work, which is free for them and strongly encouraged. You interview finalists rather than applications.
What does permanent placement cost?
Permanent placements are a direct-hire engagement with a standard fee and guarantee period. We confirm the terms in writing before a search begins.