Headhunting firms in Taiwan: 104 Headhunting, Cake, 1111's 愛客獵, and international vs. local headhunters compared
Headhunting services commonly seen in Taiwan fall into roughly four types: services attached to job banks or job platforms (104 Headhunting, 1111's 愛客獵 service, Cake Headhunting), international headhunters (Adecco, Michael Page, Robert Walters), platform models (HuntByte, where multiple freelance consultants recommend candidates together), and independent headhunters based in Taiwan (such as Step1ne). Each firm's published fee structure differs: 104 Headhunting states 20%–35% of annual salary, while most international firms don't publish their rates. Which one to choose mainly depends on the role, your budget, and how you want to work together.
This article is written by Step1ne, and Step1ne is also on the comparison list. To keep it fair, each company's information is taken only from what that company publishes on its own website, with sources; anything not on the website is marked “not disclosed on website” rather than filled in by guesswork.
1What types of headhunting firms are there in Taiwan?
| Type | Examples | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Attached to a job bank or job platform | 104 Headhunting, 愛客獵 (from 1111), Cake Headhunting | Backed by a large talent database with broad coverage |
| Foreign headhunters | Adecco, Michael Page, Robert Walters | Many international offices; strong in foreign-company and multinational roles |
| Platform-based | HuntByte | One point of contact for the company, with several consultants recommending candidates at once |
| Independent local headhunters | Step1ne, etc. | Know Taiwanese corporate culture well; usually one consultant handles the search directly |
To learn what a headhunting firm is and how to choose one, see How to choose a headhunting firm in Taiwan: 7 criteria.
2Side-by-side: fees and licenses (publicly available on official sites)
| Service | Type | Employer fees (as stated on official websites) | Employment service license (listed on the website or not) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 獵才 (104's headhunting service) | Affiliated with a job bank | 20%–35% depending on annual salary level, charged only when the hire starts | Website states 10 consecutive years of Grade A in Taiwan's Ministry of Labor evaluation; license number not found on its website or in the Taipei City registry |
| Accurate (愛客獵) | Originated in the 1111 group | A percentage of the candidate's annual salary; rate not published | Taipei City Employment Service License No. 0389 |
| Cake headhunting | Run by a job platform | Charged after the hire starts; percentage not disclosed | License number not found on its website or in the Taipei City registry |
| HuntByte | Platform-based | Flexible commission; rate not disclosed | License No. 私業許字第 3551 號 |
| Adecco | Foreign companies | Not disclosed on website | Website states it is a Level A private employment services agency; license number not found on its website or in the Taipei City list |
| Michael Page | Foreign companies | Not disclosed on website | 北市就服字第 221 號 (Taipei City Government public register) |
| Robert Walters | Foreign companies | Not disclosed on website | License number not found on its website or in the Taipei City registry |
| Step1ne | Taiwan-based, independent | Charged on success; for permanent roles, from about 1.5 months' salary on average, depending on the role and contract | Taipei City employment services license No. 0363; rated Grade A by the Taipei City Department of Labor |
Besides the company website, you can check license numbers against the "Private Employment Services Agency Evaluation Results" list published by the Taipei City Government. "Not found" doesn't mean unlicensed: the license may have been issued by another city or county or by the Ministry of Labor. The most reliable way is to ask the agency for its license number directly before engaging them and verify it.
3Key points of each firm
104 獵才 (104's headhunting service)
Operated by 104 Corporation (一零四資訊科技), it centers on 104's talent database and covers roles from general manager, vice president, and CFO down to manager level and specialists, for companies of any size. Its website states fees of 20%–35% depending on annual salary tier, charged only upon hire, and it also offers a “Key Talent Service” that lets companies search the talent pool themselves. According to its website, the most placements in 2025 were in electronics, ICT, and semiconductors.
Accurate (愛客獵)
According to its website, it grew out of the executive search center of the group behind 1111 (a Taiwanese job site) and became an independent brand in 2021. It serves executives, mid- to senior-level managers, and professionals, with an emphasis on confidential hiring. Its FAQ states that if a candidate leaves during probation, it will recommend a replacement free of charge.
Cake headhunting
The headhunting service offered by the job platform Cake, covering roles from junior to mid/senior level, with strengths in IT, semiconductors, electronics, and finance. Its website states that fees are charged only after the hire starts and that there is a guarantee period, with details depending on the service contract; it also offers high-volume hiring, staffing, and Employer of Record (EoR) services.
HuntByte
Its website describes itself as "not another headhunting firm" but a platform where multiple freelance headhunting consultants and referrers recommend candidates together; the company deals with a single point of contact, and the role is opened to the platform's consultants to compete in referring candidates. Suited to mid-to-senior, scarce or long-open roles.
Adecco
A multinational HR group headquartered in Switzerland, established in Taiwan in 1989, with branches in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Its permanent recruitment is split into executive, professional, and high-volume hiring, and it also offers staffing, outsourcing, and training.
Michael Page
A multinational recruitment firm offering permanent, contract and executive search placements in Taiwan, plus executive assessment, board search and compensation consulting. Its specialist functions cover accounting and finance, engineering and manufacturing, technology, sales, HR and more.
Robert Walters
Entered the Taiwan market in 2011, offering permanent recruitment, executive search and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO). Its website states that each client is assigned a consultant familiar with its industry, with specialties including semiconductors, electronics and industrial, software, and accounting and finance.
Step1ne
A Taiwan-based recruiting service with openings in both Taiwan and Japan, offering permanent recruitment, executive search, and temporary staffing on a success-fee basis — you pay only when the candidate starts work. We combine AI pre-screening with consultant review, and our actual engagements include semiconductor fab construction, BIM and MEP integration, finance and accounting, and management roles. See our corporate recruiting plans for details.
4How to choose: match it to your situation
| Your situation | Worth prioritizing |
|---|---|
| Multinational companies, cross-border roles, English communication required | Foreign headhunters |
| Already using a particular job bank or job platform | A headhunting service attached to that platform, with easy access to its database |
| The role is very hard to fill and you want several consultants referring candidates at once | Platform-based |
| Taiwanese companies that want the same consultant involved throughout | Independent local headhunters |
| Limited budget and you want to search talent databases yourself | Self-service talent database plans from job sites |
Whichever option you choose, results depend mostly on the consultant handling your search. Before you engage anyone, run through the seven criteria, and check fee details against How Are Headhunter Fees Calculated?.
5FAQ
Is there a ranking of headhunting firms in Taiwan?
There is no official ranking of headhunting firms. The closest official reference is the evaluation grade (e.g. Grade A) that Taiwan's competent authority gives private employment service agencies; you can ask a firm for its evaluation results and license number to verify. Rankings online are mostly compiled by individual writers, with inconsistent standards.
How does 104's headhunting service charge?
According to the official site of 104's headhunting service, fees are 20%–35% depending on the annual salary level, charged only after the candidate successfully starts; the actual percentage is negotiated case by case.
What's the difference between local Taiwanese and multinational headhunting firms?
Multinational search firms have offices in many countries and suit foreign companies and cross-border roles; local Taiwanese firms know how Taiwanese companies make decisions and their culture, and usually have the same consultant handle the search directly. Either way, check whether the consultant actually assigned to you knows your industry.
Can I engage several headhunters at the same time?
Yes, unless you've signed an exclusive agreement. If you use several at once, set rules in the contract for who gets credit for duplicate referrals; the common practice is that the firm that referred the candidate first, with a written record, takes precedence.
Which type fits your opening?
Tell us the job title, headcount and salary band, and a consultant will tell you plainly which type of headhunter suits you—and if another type would suit you better, we'll say so.
Talk with a consultant on LINEFurther reading: How to choose a headhunting firm in Taiwan · How to find a headhunting consultant · How headhunting fees are calculated · Finding headhunters for tech and semiconductors
Compared them and want to ask? Tell us the role and headcount, and we'll tell you which option fits.
Take the hiring-model assessment first Ask a consultant on LINE・104 Hunter: Service overview, About us
・Accurate: About us and FAQ, Corporate executive search
・Cake: Recruitment consulting services
・HuntByte: About, Employer plans, Terms of use
・Adecco: About us, Permanent recruitment
・Michael Page: Services
・Robert Walters: Permanent recruitment
・Taipei City annual evaluation results for private employment service agencies placing local workers in domestic jobs (Taiwan Government Open Data Platform)
・If any company's information has been updated, its official website takes precedence.