What is the difference between RPO and Direct Hire?

Advice from experts · 3/3/2023 · 1 min read

What is the difference between RPO and Direct Hire?

Recruitment is a crucial aspect of any business, as the success of the company largely depends on the quality of its employees. However, recruitment can be a daunting task, especially for small or medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or expertise to handle the process effectively. Two common options available to companies are Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Direct Hire. In this blog, we will compare these two options and explore the advantages of each.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

RPO is a type of business process outsourcing (BPO) that involves transferring all or part of the company's recruitment processes to an external service provider. RPO service providers act as an extension of the client company's HR department, managing the entire recruitment process from sourcing and screening to onboarding. RPO providers use their expertise, technology, and resources to attract, screen, and hire candidates for the client’s company.

Advantages of RPO:

  1. Cost-effective: RPO providers can help companies save money on recruitment costs, as they have economies of scale, which means that they can negotiate better rates with job boards, recruitment agencies, and other service providers.

  2. Faster recruitment: RPO providers can handle large volumes of recruitment quickly and efficiently, which means that companies can fill their vacancies faster.

  3. Expertise and resources: RPO providers have a team of experts and access to the latest technology and tools, which means that they can attract and hire the best candidates for the client company.

Direct Hire

Direct hire is the traditional method of recruitment, where companies use their internal resources to find, attract, screen, and hire candidates. Companies use their own HR department or work with recruitment agencies to find the best candidates for their vacancies.

Advantages of Direct Hire:

  1. More control: Companies have more control over the recruitment process and are typically hiring for a smaller number of roles. 

  2. More personalized: Companies can personalize their recruitment process to fit their specific needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Choosing between RPO and Direct Hire depends on the company's recruitment needs and resources. RPO is an excellent option for companies that need to handle large volumes of recruitment and want to save costs. Direct hire is a good option for companies that want more control over the recruitment process and want to ensure that they are hiring candidates that fit their culture and values. Ultimately, the choice between RPO and direct hire comes down to the company's recruitment priorities and the resources available to them.