How To Find and Hire a Recruiter

The struggle for talent rages on, and your company is trying to attract top-tier candidates. Your team is stretched thin, juggling too many responsibilities while key positions remain unfilled. 

If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. 

As the job market becomes more competitive, many businesses turn to professional recruiters for help. Whether you're a fast-growing startup, an established corporation, or a specialized industry player, a skilled recruiter can help you build a stellar team.

This guide will walk you through finding and partnering with the perfect recruiter for your business needs.

Why work with a recruiter?

The job market is complex and rapidly changing, making it challenging for companies to stay competitive in attracting top talent. Even the most well-connected organizations often struggle to find the right candidates, which is where recruiters excel.

Recruiters will uncover hidden talent and consistently deliver candidates who align with your company's vision and culture. Their expertise can help you:

• Access a wider pool of potential employees

• Take advantage of industry-specific networks

• Ensure you're considering all suitable candidates

Mistakes in the hiring process, even small ones, can have costly consequences. It costs almost $4,700 per employee to hire them, according to the latest data. Poor hires can decrease productivity or result in high turnover rates. Having a professional recruiter manage your talent acquisition significantly reduces these risks.

How to hire a recruiter

Recruiting requires more than picking someone from a list. You must know what you want and plan to find the right professional. Let’s explore the details of how to hire a recruiter. 

1. Assess your hiring needs and goals

When your company starts growing faster than you can hire, it might be time to consider a recruiter. But where do you start? First, take a step back and evaluate your hiring process.

Ask yourself these key questions:

1. What specific positions do you need to fill?

2. What hiring challenges is your company facing?

3. How do these roles differ from each other?

4. Is finding the perfect fit more critical than filling positions quickly?

With these answers in mind, set clear hiring goals. Think about whether you need a long-term recruiter who'll get to know your company's culture and growth plans, or if you just need help with a few interviews.

Then, choose between the types of recruiters:

• Specialist recruiters excel at filling hard-to-fill technical roles. Think like a senior geneticist in the biotech field. Specialists know the industry and can tap into networks you might not reach alone.

• Generalist recruiters can handle various positions across different departments. Think if you’re an ecommerce brand needing to hire for marketing, customer support, and IT. A generalist can help you fill all of those roles. 

2. Look for qualified recruiters

Online and traditional methods are two main ways to find a good recruiter.

Online platforms 

Digital marketplaces have made finding and engaging external contractors much easier. 

Fiverr offers a seamless way to connect with experienced hiring specialists for both short-term projects and long-term partnerships.

Search and filter 

Use the search function at the top of Fiverr's homepage by entering keywords such as "recruiter" or more specific terms like "technical recruiter," "headhunter for a job," or “LinkedIn recruiter”.

You can also browse categories like “HR Consulting” and then explore the “Talent Acquisition and Recruitment” subcategory. Toggle on “Pro services” to work with highly-vetted talent for more complex recruiting tasks. 

💡Tip: Refine your search results using filters such as seller level, location, budget, and delivery time to find the right recruiter.

Create a custom request

Publish a detailed project description outlining your specific recruitment needs. Qualified recruiters can then respond with tailored proposals. 

This is useful if you have unique requirements and prefer recruiters to present customized solutions.

Neo AI assistant 

Fiverr's AI assistant, Neo, streamlines your search for the perfect recruiter.

Neo starts by listening to your hiring objectives, asking probing questions to gather more details, and then recommending the most suitable recruitment professional based on your specific needs.

For instance, if you're seeking a specialist in tech recruitment, Neo can identify the best match for your requirements.

If you're satisfied with Neo's suggestion, you can easily connect by clicking the "Contact me" button. Neo will then draft an introductory message to the recruiter, which you can personalize before sending.

Traditional methods

Traditional recruitment methods are effective alongside modern online platforms. These include:

• Networking and referrals: Leveraging professional connections to find candidates or recruiters.

• Recruitment/staffing agencies: Specialized firms matching employers with potential employees.

• Job fairs and career events: In-person opportunities to meet multiple candidates.

• Print advertising: Posting job openings in newspapers or industry publications.

• Employee referral programs: Encouraging current staff to recommend potential hires.

These approaches offer personal interactions and can yield high-quality candidates, especially for niche positions. Recruitment agencies provide specialized expertise but may be costlier than digital methods.

While traditional methods can be time-consuming and have a limited reach, they complement online strategies. The personal touch of face-to-face meetings at events or through referrals can provide valuable insights into a candidate's fit.

3. Evaluate the recruiter’s expertise

Selecting a recruiter is more complex than it might seem at first glance. It's not just about finding someone with "recruiter" in their job title. 

Instead, it's about finding a partner who understands and meets your company's unique hiring needs.

When evaluating a recruiter's expertise:

• Look beyond the job title and examine their skills and experience in your industry.

• Check if they have the right credentials and a good reputation in the field.

• Consider recruiters with specialized knowledge in areas like tech or healthcare, as they can offer valuable insights and access to better candidates.

On Fiverr, you can review a recruiter’s seller profile and service description to identify the best option. Look for past work samples, client reviews and ratings, and skills and qualifications listed.

Some recruiters even publish a video on their seller profile to give you a better idea of who they are. In the following example, you can see the seller has over a decade of HR experience, including three years at the executive level working directly with C-suite leadership.

They specialize in helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups with HR needs, showing a clear niche and target market. Plus, they have a 5.0-star rating from 71 reviews. 

The "Pro" badge indicates that Fiverr has verified this seller for quality and service. And being a Level 2 Seller means they have a proven track record of meeting client expectations and maintaining high performance.

4. Screen candidates

You've found a promising recruiter profile. Their experience looks solid, and their reviews are glowing. 

But how do you know if they're the right fit for your unique needs? This is where Fiverr's messaging feature becomes your secret weapon. Simply hit “Contact me” on any seller profile to connect with a potential recruiter. 

Start by crafting a message that outlines your company's situation. Maybe you're a tech startup looking for your first CFO or an established retail chain expanding into e-Commerce. Whatever your story, share it with the recruiter. Their response will tell you volumes about their expertise and approach.

In Fiverr, you can even send the message to similar freelancers to improve your chances of getting a match. 

As you engage in conversation, keep an eye out for these elements:

• Is the recruiter familiar with the challenges specific to your field?

• Is their tone professional yet approachable? 

• Do they respond promptly and thoroughly?

This initial dialogue is your dress rehearsal for a potential working relationship. A recruiter who asks thoughtful questions and provides insightful answers during these chats will likely bring that same level of engagement to your hiring process.

5. Have an interview

A skilled freelance recruiter knows that interviews are key to finding the right candidates. When evaluating recruiters, get on a call to ask about their interview strategy. 

You can set up a Zoom call right inside Fiverr.

1. Go to your Inbox from the Orders page. 

2. Ask your freelancer to start a video call from their side.

3. The freelancer will see the video camera icon at the bottom of the chatbox. Click the video icon to start the chat.

4. The Zoom Video Call invitation will appear in your messages. Click Join to join the Video Call. 

On the call, the recruiter should be able to explain how they:

• Assess technical skills and experience

• Gauge cultural fit with your company

• Uncover problem-solving abilities

• Evaluate adaptability to change

• Identify candidates' career motivations

The right recruiter will tailor these elements to your specific needs, ensuring they find candidates who truly match your job requirements and company values. Their interview process should be thorough, revealing insights that go beyond what's on a resume.

6. Choose the right engagement model

When hiring a recruiter, choose an engagement model that fits your business. 

Consider:

• Number of hires needed: Are you filling one position or several?

• Frequency of hiring: Do you hire occasionally or constantly?

• Project duration: Is this a short-term need or an ongoing requirement?

• Budget constraints: What can you afford for recruitment services?

• Long-term growth plans: How fast is your company expanding?

These factors will guide you towards either project-based or ongoing recruitment:

• Project-based recruitment: Perfect for one-time or infrequent hires. It's flexible and cost-effective, ideal for specific roles or short-term needs.

• Ongoing recruitment: Suited for companies with rapid growth or constant hiring needs. This model builds a talent pipeline and provides consistent support.

Your choice affects costs, flexibility, and long-term results. Consider how each model aligns with your current needs and plans. The right fit ensures efficient hiring that supports your company's growth trajectory.

7. Make the offer and onboard

After identifying the perfect candidate, it's time to seal the deal and set them up for success. Craft a compelling offer that reflects the candidate's value and highlights your company's unique benefits. Be prepared for some negotiation, but stay within your budget constraints.

Once the offer is accepted, focus on creating a smooth onboarding experience. Start by sending welcome materials and setting up necessary accounts before their first day. 

When hiring through Fiverr, the platform offers several protections and streamlined processes:

• Secure payment system: Fiverr holds your payment in escrow, releasing it only when satisfied with the completed work.

• Clear project scope definitions: You can outline specific job requirements and deliverables upfront, ensuring you and the recruiter are on the same page.

• Milestone payment options: You can break payments into stages for longer projects, releasing funds as the recruiter meets agreed-upon milestones.

• Dispute resolution services: If issues arise, Fiverr provides a mediation process to help resolve conflicts between you and the freelance recruiter.

These features allow you to focus on integrating your new talent without worrying about the logistics.

How much does it cost to hire a recruiter

Knowing how recruiters make money is essential before hiring one. Most recruiters have multiple business models with different fees and standards.

1. Contingency fee: Recruiters aren't paid until they find you a job. This fee is usually a portion of the candidate's first-year salary. This option is popular with companies that want to reduce upfront costs and pay for results. Because recruiters only get paid if the job is filled, they may prioritize speed over quality.

2. Retainer fee: Paying the recruiter a portion of their fee upfront is more organized. This means the recruiter will only fill the position with your company. This method costs more than the contingency model, but it finds candidates who meet your exact needs more thoroughly.

3. Hourly rate: Some recruiters, especially Fiverr freelancers, let you set an hourly rate. This can help companies that hire frequently or for complex jobs that take a long time to fill. You can be flexible with spending, but the total cost depends on how long it takes to fill the position.

4. Flat fee: Some recruiters charge the same regardless of salary. Budget-conscious companies may like this model because it clearly states costs. However, the recruiter must want to find a good candidate, not just finish the job quickly.

After learning about these models, you can choose one that best suits your company's hiring needs and budget.

Tips for working with a recruiter

Communicating, trusting, and understanding the hiring process are essential to working with a recruiter. Here are some tips for a successful partnership.

• Set realistic timelines for the hiring process: Successful hiring requires setting achievable deadlines. It may take time to find the right person, especially for specialized jobs.

Discuss your goals with the recruiter and work out a timeline that works for both of you. To keep you and the recruiter on the same page, Fiverr's order management system lets you specify what you want and when.

• Be responsive to communication and feedback: Communication is key to a successful recruitment partnership. Answer questions, give feedback, and update recruiters. Communicating clearly and quickly avoids confusion and delays. 

Fiverr's messaging system lets clients and freelancers communicate clearly. This simplifies the hiring process, communication and responsiveness.

• Trust the recruiter’s expertise and market knowledge: Recruiters know the job market and can find great jobs. Trust their estimates of candidate availability, market trends, and salary expectations. Their experience can help you make smart choices, especially in a competitive job market. 

Remember that a good recruiter knows how to hire the best people, so their suggestions are based on experience and current industry knowledge.

• Be open to suggestions and candidate recommendations: The recruiter may present candidates who don't meet the original requirements but can succeed in the job. 

Listen to recruiters because they may find skills and experiences that can benefit your business in unexpected ways. They can help you find candidates you wouldn't have considered but would be great for your team.

Hire a professional recruiter on Fiverr today

Explore Fiverr's pool of qualified recruiting services and find the perfect professional to optimize your hiring strategy today. Whether you need help with candidate sourcing, screening, or full-cycle recruitment, Fiverr connects you with experienced freelance recruiting experts who can address your specific talent acquisition needs.

Sign up for free on Fiverr to streamline your process of finding and hiring a skilled recruiter.

Hire a recruiter FAQ

Is it worth it to hire a recruiter to find a job?

Hiring a recruiter can be worthwhile if you're seeking high-level positions, changing industries, or struggling to find suitable opportunities on your own. A good recruiter can provide access to unadvertised jobs, offer valuable insights into the job market, and help tailor your application to increase your chances of landing interviews.

How do I find a recruiter for my job?

First, specify your needs—that is, whether you need a generalist who can perform a range of tasks or a specialist in your field—and then look for a recruiter. 

By letting you sort recruiters by skills, services, and customer comments, Fiverr's Talent Acquisition and Recruitment category makes it easy. Networking within your field can also help you get good recommendations.

How do I reach a recruiter?

To reach a recruiter on Fiverr, simply search for "recruiter" in the platform's search bar and browse through the profiles of available professionals. Once you find a recruiter whose skills and experience match your needs, you can contact them directly through Fiverr's messaging system to discuss your project and get started.

Do job recruiters cost money?

Yes, there are various fee structures and engagement mechanisms. Recruiters may only get paid if they find a job for someone. They may charge an initial retainer or per hour. You can find a recruiter on Fiverr who fits your budget and needs at clear prices.