Why are recruitment fees so expensive?

This question comes up a lot.

The honest answer is simple.
It depends on what you expect from your recruiter.

This is not really about cost.
It’s about value.

If you want a recruiter to run the full hiring process, a 20 percent fee makes sense.

That usually includes:

• Proactive sourcing

• Structured interviews

• Clear shortlists

• Strong candidate experience

• Employer brand representation

• Offer management

• Rejection handling done properly

That takes time.
It takes skill.
It takes accountability.

You are paying for expertise and delivery.
Not just CVs.

If all you want is a handful of CVs emailed across, then a 20 percent fee will feel high.
And that reaction is fair.

You are not receiving the full service.
So paying for it feels out of balance.

The key point is this.

This is your choice.

Once you understand that, it may be time to step off the multi-agency merry-go-round and work with a specialist who adds real value.

Same fee, very different outcomes

Recruitment is not one standard product.
The industry covers a wide range of service levels.

For the same 20 percent fee, you could work with:

• A boutique firm delivering a full, end-to-end search

• Or a volume-driven agency posting your job and forwarding every response

The fee might look identical.
The outcome rarely is.

That’s why calling recruitment “expensive” misses the point.

The better questions are:

• What am I actually getting for my fee?

• Who is doing the work?

• How involved are they in the process?

What we do at The HR Guys

We work with clients who want quality over volume.

Most of our assignments are retained or exclusive.
That allows us to focus fully on getting it right first time.

Our approach includes:

• End-to-end HR recruitment

• Time invested in understanding your business

• Clear, consistent communication

• A structured and respectful candidate journey

This way of working also supports fair and inclusive hiring.

For retained roles, we go further:

• Blind CV reviews

• Assessment interviews led by experienced HR consultants

• Consistent evaluation at every stage

This keeps decisions focused on skills and experience.
It helps reduce unconscious bias.

Clients value this detail because it leads to stronger, more diverse teams.

It comes back to value

Fees only feel expensive when the value is unclear.

When expectations are aligned, recruitment becomes a partnership.
Not a transaction.

If you want to talk through what level of support makes sense for your business, let’s have a conversation.

No sales talk.
No pressure.

Just a straightforward discussion about what you need and whether we’re the right fit.