Directory/Skills Directory/Retained Search

Retained Search skill

Supports retained and executive search: engagement and milestone fee structure, kickoff agenda, longlist to shortlist, slate presentation, client status updates and guarantee-period check-ins. It also helps explain retained versus contingent search to prospective clients.

  • Pipeline and ATScategory
  • No scriptsinstructions only, sends nothing
  • Any AI appupload, or copy and paste

Our review

Grade B

A rare retained-search focus, though mostly prompts and tips.

View the source (opens in a new tab)How to install

What the Retained Search skill does

Best for
Executive search consultants
Author
tuanductran
Needs
Nothing beyond your AI assistant
License
MIT
Runs in
Claude, Gemini CLI, Gemini Enterprise, Gemini app (as a Gem), ChatGPT, Codex, Grok

Our review

Grade B

A rare retained-search focus, though mostly prompts and tips.

Safety check: Instructions only. No scripts, no outside calls, no install commands.

Read the full skill on its source page (opens in a new tab)

How to use Retained Search in Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok

Claude upload

  1. Download the skill from its source. A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file inside; zip that folder if it is not zipped already.
  2. In Claude, open Settings (or Customize), then Skills, then Upload.
  3. Upload the skill ZIP as it is. Don't unzip it.
  4. Check it is switched on.
  5. Test it: start a new chat and type Use retained-search, then paste what you have.

Team and Enterprise owners may need to allow skills first.

ChatGPT Business, Enterprise or Edu upload

  1. Download the skill from its source. A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file inside; zip that folder if it is not zipped already.
  2. In the sidebar, click Plugins, then the Skills tab.
  3. Click Create, then Upload from your computer, and pick the skill ZIP.
  4. ChatGPT scans it, then uses it on its own or when you @ mention it.

An admin has to switch skills on for the workspace first.

ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Free paste

  1. Copy the SKILL.md text from the skill's source page (ChatGPT).
  2. In ChatGPT, click Projects, then New project, and name it after the skill.
  3. Open the project's Instructions and paste.
  4. Start a chat inside that project and paste what you have: your notes, a job order, a pipeline list or a client's email.

These plans have no skill upload. A project keeps the instructions for every chat inside it.

Gemini Enterprise upload

  1. Download the skill from its source. A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file inside; zip that folder if it is not zipped already.
  2. In the Gemini Enterprise web app, click Skills in the menu.
  3. Click +, then Upload skill, pick the skill ZIP and click Import.
  4. Call it with / in a chat, or let Gemini pick it up on its own.

Standard, Plus and Pay-as-you-go editions can upload. An admin has to switch skills on first.

Gemini app paste

  1. Copy the SKILL.md text from the skill's source page (Gemini Gem).
  2. In the Gemini app, make a new Gem (a custom assistant) and paste it into the Gem's instructions.
  3. Chat with that Gem whenever you need the skill.

Grok paste

  1. Copy the SKILL.md text from the skill's source page (Grok).
  2. Paste it into a chat with your Grok Bot. The first line asks it to save the skill with Skill Creator.
  3. Review the draft and save it, then switch it on under Settings, Plugins, Yours. Call it with / in a chat.

Developers folder

  1. Download the skill from its source. A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file inside; zip that folder if it is not zipped already.
  2. Gemini CLI or Antigravity: unzip into .gemini/skills/ in your project, or ~/.gemini/skills/ for every project.
  3. Claude Code: ~/.claude/skills/, or install a whole pack as a plugin from our GitHub repo. Grok Build: .grok/skills/.

Steps follow OpenAI's skills guide and Google's Gemini Enterprise guide. Menu names change, so check there if a label looks different.

Tools that pair with this skill

Full directory

Connect the MCP server too, so your assistant can act inside the tool while it follows this skill: Loxo.

Guide: How Recruiters Can Use Claude: Setup, Projects, Folders and 8 Real Use Cases (2026)

Questions

Is the Retained Search skill free?

The skill file is published openly by tuanductran under the MIT license. It needs nothing beyond your AI assistant.

Does Retained Search work in Gemini?

Yes. Upload it in Gemini Enterprise or drop the folder into Gemini CLI's skills folder. In the regular Gemini app, paste its instructions into a Gem.

Can I trust it with my data?

It has no scripts and sends nothing anywhere. Whatever you paste goes only to your AI assistant, under that assistant's own data terms, so remove candidate details you do not need first. It can still steer how the assistant answers, so read it before you use it.

More skills like this

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Linked to tuanductran's own page, not copied here. The grade is Work Insiders' opinion on the day we read the file; authors can change their files at any time. How we make money.