RPO: definition, how it works and what it costs.
RPO gets mentioned often and explained rarely. Here is what the model actually covers, who it is for, and how it is invoiced.
In short. RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) means handing all or part of your hiring to a provider who embeds a dedicated recruiter in your team, on a fixed monthly fee. It is the right answer when you have a run of roles to fill over time and do not want to hire a recruiter in-house.
What does RPO mean?
RPO stands for Recruitment Process Outsourcing. In practice, a recruiter or a team of recruiters works for you, with your tools and under your brand, as an extension of your HR function. They handle sourcing, screening, interview coordination and follow-up, within the scope you agree.
It is also called outsourced recruitment, exactly the same arrangement, named in plain words rather than by its acronym. If you want to see what it looks like in practice with us, the page outsourced recruitment in Lyon sets out the format, the lead time and what stays with you at the end.
How it works day to day
After scoping the needs and the priorities, the dedicated recruiter is operational quickly, often within days. They run the open searches, report each week against clear measures (open roles, candidates in process, timelines) and adjust the pace to your priorities. You keep the final decision on every hire. See our offer Agile RPO.
When RPO becomes the right answer
- A growth phaseSeveral roles to fill at once, over a defined period.
- No in-house recruiterYou want hiring capacity without creating the position.
- Peaks in activityA short but intense need that is hard to absorb internally.
- A need for methodBuilding a hiring process that does not exist yet.
What an RPO costs
RPO is invoiced as a fixed fee, usually monthly, based on the number of hires and the length of the assignment. Unlike contingency recruitment , which is paid per hire, this model spreads the cost. As soon as several hires run in parallel, it often works out cheaper than the sum of contingency fees. To choose between the two, read our guide contingency or RPO.
RPO, in plain terms.
What does RPO mean?
Recruitment Process Outsourcing: handing all or part of your hiring to a provider who acts as an extension of your team.
How is an RPO invoiced?
As a fixed fee, usually monthly, based on the number of hires and the duration, rather than as a percentage per hire.
RPO or a traditional agency?
A traditional agency finds one candidate for one role, paid on success. RPO puts a dedicated recruiter in your team, on a fixed fee, to handle a volume over time.
A run of hires to absorb?
We put a dedicated recruiter in your team within 72 hours. Describe what you need and we will scope the assignment.
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