Expert networks vs recruitment agencies
A side-by-side comparison of four ways UK companies hire senior engineers: an expert network like ExpertsCircle, a contingency recruitment agency, retained search, and doing it yourself with job ads and LinkedIn. What each costs, when you pay, and why you should believe the candidate is good.
The comparison at a glance
Typical UK market ranges for permanent senior hires. Agency terms vary, so always read the contract.
| Feature | ExpertsCircle | Contingency agency | Retained search | Job ads and LinkedIn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost of a senior permanent hire | 15% of first-year salary | 15–25% of first-year salary, often 20–25% for senior tech roles | Often 25–33% of first-year salary | Advert or seat licence fees, plus your team’s time |
| Paid upfront | Nothing | Nothing | Usually a first instalment when the search starts | Yes, whether or not you hire |
| When the fee is due | Only if you hire someone we introduced | When the candidate starts | In stages: start, shortlist, placement | When you buy the advert or licence |
| Who finds the candidate | A senior expert from their own network | A recruiter searching job boards and databases | A search consultant who approaches people directly | Your own team |
| Why you should believe the candidate is good | A vouch from someone who has worked with them or examined their work | The recruiter’s screening call | The consultant’s assessment and report | The CV and your own screening |
| What you see before committing | The candidate’s first name and the vouch, free to read | An anonymised or full CV | A shortlist report | Every application |
| Volume of CVs to read | Low: one introduction at a time | Medium to high | Low: a short shortlist | High |
| Exclusivity | Not required | Usually not required | Usually exclusive | Not applicable |
| Best fit | Senior engineering hires where judgement matters more than volume | Roles you need filled quickly from a wide pool | Executive and board-level roles | Junior or high-volume roles with many applicants |
What a £100,000 senior engineer costs to hire
Fee only, on a first-year base salary of £100,000
ExpertsCircle
15%, only if you hire. Nothing upfront.
Contingency agency
20–25%, typical for senior tech roles, due when the hire starts.
Retained search
Often 25–33%, part paid before you see a shortlist.
More on how UK agencies price, rebates and what to check in a contract: how much recruitment agencies charge in the UK.
What is actually different
Evidence, not a keyword match
An agency matches CVs to a job description. A vouch is a named expert saying what they saw when they worked with the candidate or examined their work.
You decide before you commit
You read the vouch for free, then choose "I’d like an intro" or "Not for me". You agree the 15% before you see the full profile.
Fewer, stronger introductions
We do not send a stack of CVs. Each introduction comes from someone putting their own name behind it.
Questions employers ask
Is an expert network cheaper than a recruitment agency?
Usually, for senior roles. ExpertsCircle charges 15% of the first-year salary, only if you hire. UK contingency agencies typically charge 15–25%, often 20–25% for senior tech roles and more for hard-to-fill ones, and retained search firms often charge 25–33% with part of it upfront.
What is the difference between an expert network and a recruitment agency?
An agency recruiter searches for people who match a job description and screens them. On ExpertsCircle, a senior expert introduces someone they have worked with or whose work they have examined, and writes a vouch that says what they saw.
When is a recruitment agency the better choice?
When you need many hires at once, a wide pool quickly, or roles outside senior engineering. Agencies are built for volume; we are built for a small number of strong, vouched introductions.
Can I use ExpertsCircle alongside an agency?
Yes. We do not ask for exclusivity, and there is no fee unless you hire someone we introduced.
Hiring a senior engineer?
Read a vouch for free. You pay 15% of the first-year salary, and only if you hire.
You’ll speak to Robiul, founder
Robiul IslamLinkedIn profile of Robiul Islam (opens in a new tab)
Industry expert?