Recruitment fees can look like a lot for a few CVs. Here is what a good agency does for the fee, how agencies charge, and what to ask before you sign.
The common ways agencies charge
- Contingency: you pay only if you hire someone the agency introduced. It is common for many roles, but it rewards speed over depth.
- Retained: part of the fee is paid up front and the agency commits to the search. It is common for senior and hard-to-fill roles.
- Fixed fee: an agreed price for the search, set out before it starts.
Fees are often set as a percentage of the hire’s first-year salary, but structures vary from agency to agency. Ask for the terms in writing before the search begins.
What the fee should buy
- A brief agreed with you before the search.
- A real search for people who are not actively applying, not just a job advert.
- Screening and assessment against the brief.
- A short, strong shortlist, with the reasoning behind each candidate.
- Support through interviews, the offer and the notice period.
- A replacement if the hire does not work out early on.
If an agency sends twenty CVs and leaves you to sort them, you are paying for a mailing service.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many candidates will we see, and by when?
- How do you assess candidates before we meet them?
- What happens if the hire leaves in the first few months?
- Who will run our search, and how often will we hear from them?
How we work
We put our terms in writing in the proposal, agree the brief before we search, and send 3 to 5 candidates in an average of 5 days. Each comes with a written case covering fit, motivation, pay, notice period and risks, so you can see why we put them forward.
