Agree the working search brief
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
Summarise the agreed problem, requirements, scope, responsibilities and next decisions. Confirm the document with the appropriate stakeholders before substantial delivery begins under the agreed commercial process. Record changes and their implications for timing or scope. Keep the working brief distinct from legal engagement terms, while ensuring the two do not contradict each other. A clear brief reduces disputes about what was promised and why the strategy changed. Revisit it when material evidence or business conditions shift.
Worked example
A client adds a new geographic territory after research begins. The recruiter documents the scope change and agrees its delivery implications rather than absorbing it invisibly and missing the original commitments.
Put it into practice
Write a one-page confirmation and a scope-change note for your fictional search.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
State what changed, why, who approved it and how the plan is affected. Keep candidate communications aligned with the new brief and do not silently apply new requirements to earlier assessments.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.
- GOV.UK: Set up a business
UK starting point. Business structure and obligations depend on the circumstances.