<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2000
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           _________________________

                                   FORM S-8
                            Registration Statement
                                     under
                          The Securities Act of 1933
                           _________________________

                           KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
Delaware                                                  95-2623879
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                       1800 Century Park East, Suite 900
                        Los Angeles, California  90067
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                           _________________________

                KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD PLAN
                           (Full title of the plan)
                           _________________________

                                 Peter L. Dunn
                       1800 Century Park East, Suite 900
                        Los Angeles, California  90067
                                (310) 843-4100
                     (Name, address and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)

                                   Copy to:

                               Steven B. Stokdyk
                              Sullivan & Cromwell
                      1888 Century Park East, 21st Floor
                        Los Angeles, California  90067

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                    Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities to be Registered            Amount to be        Offering Price      Aggregate             Amount of
                                                Registered          Per Share*          Offering Price*       Registration Fee
<S>                                             <C>                 <C>                 <C>                   <C>
====================================================================================================================================
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share         6,000,000           $34.78              $208,680,000          $55,092
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>


*Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(c) and (h), based on the average of the high and low prices of the
Common Stock of Korn/Ferry International  (the "Company") as reported on The New
                   York Stock Exchange on November 1, 2000.

                                       1
<PAGE>

                             EXPLANATORY STATEMENT



     Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement
registers additional securities of the same class as other securities for which
a registration statement, also filed on Form S-8 and relating to the Korn/Ferry
International Performance Award Plan, is effective.  Therefore, this
Registration Statement consists only of the following:  the facing page, the
required statement (regarding incorporation by reference) set forth below, the
required opinions and consents, and the signature page.

     This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents
of Registrant's earlier registration statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
333-73147 filed with the Commission on March 1, 1999 and the post-effective
amendment to Form S-8 filed with the Commission on October 26, 1999.  After
giving effect to this filing, an aggregate of 13,000,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock have been registered for issuance pursuant to the
Korn/Ferry International Performance Award Plan.


                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Pursuant to the above-mentioned instruction to Form S-8, the only exhibits
required with this filing are the opinions and consents, as listed below.


Item 8.  Exhibits.

     See the attached Exhibit Index that follows the signature page.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant, Korn/Ferry International, certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of
California, on this 8th day of November, 2000.

                                     KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL



                                 By:    /s/  Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray
                                    Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
                                    Executive Vice President

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Korn/Ferry International, do
hereby constitute and appoint Peter L. Dunn and Elizabeth S.C.S Murray, and each
of them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for each of us and in each of our names, places
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this
registration statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as each of us might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or his/her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             Signature                                 Title                             Date
             ---------                                 -----                             ----
<S>                                    <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Richard M. Ferry                   Chair of the Board and Director               November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Richard M. Ferry

/s/ Windle B. Priem                    Chief Executive Officer, President            November 2, 2000
------------------------------------    and Director (Principal Executive
Windle B. Priem                         Officer)

/s/ Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray            Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer            November 8, 2000
------------------------------------    and Executive Vice President
Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray                 (Principal Financial Officer)
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                                  <C>                                          <C>

/s/ Donald E. Jordan                   Senior Vice President of Finance              November 8, 2000
------------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
Donald E. Jordan

/s/ James E. Bartlett                  Director                                      November 1, 2000
------------------------------------
James E. Bartlett

/s/ Frank V. Cahouet                   Director                                      November 3, 2000
------------------------------------
Frank V. Cahouet

/s/ Peter L. Dunn                      Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Peter L. Dunn

                                       Director
------------------------------------
Timothy K. Friar

                                       Director
------------------------------------
Sakie T. Fukushima

/s/ Patti S. Hart                      Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Patti S. Hart

/s/ Scott E. Kingdom                   Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Scott E. Kingdom

/s/ Charles D. Miller                  Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Charles D. Miller

/s/ Gerhard Schulmeyer                 Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Gerhard Schulmeyer

</TABLE>
                                       4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                                 <C>

/s/ Mark C. Thompson                   Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Mark C. Thompson
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.              Description
------------             -----------
 <S>                  <C>
         5.1             Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the
                         validity of the Common Stock.

        23.1             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

        23.2             Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).

          24             Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
</TABLE>

                                       6
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KORN FERRY INTERNATIONAL", "cik": "0000056679", "assigned-sic": "7361", "irs-number": "952623879", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0430"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-49580", "film-number": "756414"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1800 CENTURY PARK EAST", "street2": "STE 900", "city": "LOS ANGELES", "state": "CA", "zip": "90067", "phone": "3105521834"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1800 CENTURY PARK EAST", "street2": "STE 900", "city": "LOS ANGELES", "state": "CA", "zip": "90067"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2000
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           _________________________

                                   FORM S-8
                            Registration Statement
                                     under
                          The Securities Act of 1933
                           _________________________

                           KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware                                                  95-2623879
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)
1800 Century Park East, Suite 900
                        Los Angeles, California  90067
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                           _________________________

                KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD PLAN
                           (Full title of the plan)
                           _________________________

                                 Peter L. Dunn
                       1800 Century Park East, Suite 900
                        Los Angeles, California  90067
                                (310) 843-4100
                     (Name, address and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)

                                   Copy to:

                               Steven B. Stokdyk
                              Sullivan & Cromwell
                      1888 Century Park East, 21st Floor
                        Los Angeles, California  90067

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                    Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities to be Registered            Amount to be        Offering Price      Aggregate             Amount of
                                                Registered          Per Share*          Offering Price*       Registration Fee
====================================================================================================================================
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share         6,000,000           $34.78              $208,680,000          $55,092
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(c) and (h), based on the average of the high and low prices of the
Common Stock of Korn/Ferry International  (the "Company") as reported on The New
                   York Stock Exchange on November 1, 2000.

                                       1
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

     Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement
registers additional securities of the same class as other securities for which
a registration statement, also filed on Form S-8 and relating to the Korn/Ferry
International Performance Award Plan, is effective.  Therefore, this
Registration Statement consists only of the following:  the facing page, the
required statement (regarding incorporation by reference) set forth below, the
required opinions and consents, and the signature page.

     This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents
of Registrant's earlier registration statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
333-73147 filed with the Commission on March 1, 1999 and the post-effective
amendment to Form S-8 filed with the Commission on October 26, 1999.  After
giving effect to this filing, an aggregate of 13,000,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock have been registered for issuance pursuant to the
Korn/Ferry International Performance Award Plan.

                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Pursuant to the above-mentioned instruction to Form S-8, the only exhibits
required with this filing are the opinions and consents, as listed below.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     See the attached Exhibit Index that follows the signature page.

                                       2
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant, Korn/Ferry International, certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of
California, on this 8th day of November, 2000.

                                     KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL

                                 By:    /s/  Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray
                                    Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
                                    Executive Vice President

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Korn/Ferry International, do
hereby constitute and appoint Peter L. Dunn and Elizabeth S.C.S Murray, and each
of them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for each of us and in each of our names, places
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this
registration statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as each of us might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or his/her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature                                 Title                             Date
             ---------                                 -----                             ----
/s/ Richard M. Ferry                   Chair of the Board and Director               November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Richard M. Ferry

/s/ Windle B. Priem                    Chief Executive Officer, President            November 2, 2000
------------------------------------    and Director (Principal Executive
Windle B. Priem                         Officer)

/s/ Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray            Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer            November 8, 2000
------------------------------------    and Executive Vice President
Elizabeth S.C.S. Murray                 (Principal Financial Officer)
3
/s/ Donald E. Jordan                   Senior Vice President of Finance              November 8, 2000
------------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
Donald E. Jordan

/s/ James E. Bartlett                  Director                                      November 1, 2000
------------------------------------
James E. Bartlett

/s/ Frank V. Cahouet                   Director                                      November 3, 2000
------------------------------------
Frank V. Cahouet

/s/ Peter L. Dunn                      Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Peter L. Dunn

                                       Director
------------------------------------
Timothy K. Friar

                                       Director
------------------------------------
Sakie T. Fukushima

/s/ Patti S. Hart                      Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Patti S. Hart

/s/ Scott E. Kingdom                   Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Scott E. Kingdom

/s/ Charles D. Miller                  Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Charles D. Miller

/s/ Gerhard Schulmeyer                 Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Gerhard Schulmeyer
4
/s/ Mark C. Thompson                   Director                                      November 8, 2000
------------------------------------
Mark C. Thompson
5
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.              Description
------------             -----------
5.1             Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the
                         validity of the Common Stock.

        23.1             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

        23.2             Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).

          24             Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
6