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comparison

RPO vs contingency recruitment: which model is right for you?

Side-by-side comparison of recruitment process outsourcing and contingency hiring.

By CosmoQuick Editorial 5 min read
RPO break-even
~30 hires/yr
Contingency fee
15-30%
RPO cost/hire
30-60% lower at scale

RPO vs contingency

Both models solve hiring problems — but at different scales and cost structures.

RPO

Full or partial ownership of your hiring funnel. Best for >30 hires/year.

Contingency

Pay-on-success per role. Best for niche or executive hires.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mix both?+

Yes — many companies run RPO for volume roles and contingency or retained search for leadership.

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