What is Contingency Recruitment?

Contingency recruitment involves outsourcing talent acquisition to a professional recruitment company. Unlike retained recruitment agencies, contingency agencies receive payment only when an employer hires their candidate. This saves your business money and ensures you find a suitable candidate swiftly.

How does contingent recruitment work?  

If a company wants to hire through a contingent recruitment agency, it must provide a detailed job description for the role. Then, the agency and company will agree on the recruiting fee. The company will pay it if the agency finds a candidate whom the company hires. This typically equals 20% of the salary for the advertised role.  

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Next, the agency will promote the role and reach out to business connections to find a suitable match for the position. They will review top talent pools and can also screen candidates through an in-person meeting or call. The CVs and details of promising candidates will be submitted to the company.

The company can then review the applicants and decide which to take to interview. The interviews are conducted internally, and if one of the agency’s submissions is hired, then the agency will be paid.

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Benefits of contingency recruitment  

With the contingency recruitment process, the business avoids upfront costs and only pays for successful candidates. This no-win, no-fee arrangement helps your business save money and improve your hiring strategy. It also motivates the agency to find a suitable match.  

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Agencies can compete against other agencies or your internal hiring team to fill a role. This means the hiring process is quicker, and your team can prioritise other responsibilities. The agency will then filter incoming job applications.  

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Contingency recruitment does not require a long-term commitment, unlike retained recruitment. This means you are not tied to a specific agency.

At ACS Staffing Solutions, we offer traditional contingent recruitment and recruitment management services. This gives you the best of both worlds. To learn more, contact the ACS team on 01604 704058 or email info@acsstaffingsolutions.co.uk.