- Average permanent fee
- 18-25%
- Median time-to-shortlist
- 10 days
- Replacement guarantee
- 60-90 days
How to choose a recruitment agency
Choosing a recruitment agency is one of the highest-leverage hiring decisions a company can make. The right partner compresses time-to-hire, raises the calibre of your shortlists, and protects your employer brand.
1. Define the role and the brief
Write a one-page brief that covers business context, scorecard, comp band, and success criteria at 30/60/90 days.
2. Shortlist 3 specialised agencies
Prefer specialists over generalists. Use this directory to filter by industry, service, and geography.
3. Ask the right questions
- Where have you placed similar roles in the last 12 months?
- What is your average time-to-shortlist and offer-acceptance rate?
- How do you calibrate after the first batch?
4. Run a paid trial
A short paid pilot beats a long RFP for most roles below the C-suite.
5. Measure and iterate
Track shortlist quality, interview-to-offer ratio, and 6-month retention.
Frequently asked questions
How much do recruitment agencies cost?+
Permanent placement fees typically range from 15% to 30% of first-year compensation. Executive search is often a fixed retainer.
Retainer vs contingency?+
Retainers align incentives for senior, hard-to-fill roles. Contingency works well for high-volume or mid-level hires.
Hire pre-vetted candidates in 60 minutes.
- AI-matched shortlists from across the ecosystem
- Direct intros from leading recruitment agencies
- Hire 5x faster, with full transparency