What is recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)?

Hiring the right talent is a talent in itself—but even the most skilled HR teams can find the process overwhelming. That’s why many companies turn to recruitment process outsourcing (RPO).

Instead of handling sourcing, screening, interviews, and onboarding in-house, businesses partner with RPO providers to manage hiring from start to finish. The result? Faster hires, better candidates, and lower costs through streamlined operations and access to broader talent networks.

But is RPO right for your company? This guide explains how it works, the different models, and how to decide if it’s the best fit for you.

What is recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)?

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is a talent acquisition strategy where a business partners with an RPO provider that manages part or all of the business's hiring. Unlike staffing agencies that simply fill positions, RPO services take a broader approach—handling recruitment marketing, candidate sourcing, employer branding, and onboarding.

For many companies, managing the hiring process in-house—from sorting through resumes to screening candidates—is too time-consuming and costly. RPO providers take on these tasks, helping businesses secure top talent more efficiently. While HR teams oversee other responsibilities like internal policies, employee development, and benefits administration, RPO recruiters focus entirely on talent acquisition.

However, RPO providers don’t manage payroll, compliance, or other aspects of international employment. Companies that need support beyond recruitment may benefit more from an employer of record (EOR). While RPO providers help businesses attract and hire talent, an EOR handles payroll, benefits, and legal requirements in international markets—making it a better fit for companies expanding globally.

How does RPO work?

Hiring isn’t just about filling vacancies—it’s about finding the right people at the right time in the most efficient way. That’s exactly what recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) does.

Here’s how it works:

1. Establishing the RPO agreement

Every RPO partnership starts with a formal agreement that defines the project’s scope, timeline, and cost. This sets clear expectations, defines responsibilities, and, in some cases, includes exclusivity—meaning sourced candidates won’t be shared with competitors.

2. Understanding hiring needs and job descriptions

Once the partnership is in place, the company and RPO provider refine job descriptions, focusing on key competencies like technical skills, leadership, and cultural fit. Market analysis helps set competitive salaries and identify talent trends, ensuring that the strategy attracts top candidates efficiently.

3. Talent sourcing and social media recruiting

With roles clearly defined, the RPO provider proactively searches for candidates using AI-driven tracking systems, job boards, and social media, actively reaching both active and passive talent rather than waiting for applications. This targeted approach also strengthens employer branding, helping position the company as a top choice for candidates.

4. Screening candidates and conducting interviews

As applications come in, the RPO team filters resumes, conducts structured interviews, and evaluates candidates using hiring data and assessments. This facilitates a faster, higher-quality selection process while reducing the burden on internal teams.

5. Managing offers and onboarding

Once the company selects a candidate, the RPO provider manages salary negotiations, background checks, and compliance. A structured onboarding process ensures a smooth transition by handling paperwork, benefits, and IT setup, helping new hires integrate quickly and successfully.

6. Optimizing recruitment and scaling for growth

RPO providers don’t just fill positions—they also continuously refine hiring strategies, track performance, and scale recruitment efforts based on business needs. Unlike staffing agencies, which focus on short-term placements, RPO is designed for long-term success, helping companies remain competitive as talent demands evolve.

Types of recruitment process outsourcing

Companies need different levels of recruiting support, whether filling a few roles or outsourcing the entire hiring process. To meet these needs, RPO offers flexible models with pricing options like pay-per-hire, monthly fees, or flat project rates. Here’s how the most common models work:

1. On-demand or project-based RPO

On-demand RPO helps companies hire quickly for short-term needs, such as ramping up for a seasonal rush. On-demand RPO providers charge a flat project fee or cost-per-hire and supply recruiters, sourcing tools, and hiring strategies to get the job done fast. It's a flexible, low-commitment solution—once hiring is complete, the engagement ends. 

2. Enterprise full lifecycle RPO

Enterprise RPO providers manage the entire hiring process, from writing job descriptions to interviewing and onboarding. A dedicated team works alongside the company's HR team and uses tools like AI-powered tracking systems, recruitment marketing, and data analytics to improve hiring outcomes. These RPO providers typically charge a monthly management fee plus cost-per-hire.

3. Hybrid-select or staff augmentation RPO

With hybrid RPO, companies control hiring decisions while outsourcing specific tasks like sourcing, screening, and recruitment marketing. This model helps businesses scale during hiring surges or fill specialized roles without committing to full outsourcing. Providers charge a monthly fee based only on the number of recruiters or services used.

4. Contingent RPO

Contingent RPO providers charge only when a hire is made, similar to staffing agencies, but with a stronger focus on long-term hiring success. Using data-driven sourcing, they help companies find high-quality candidates quickly—whether for temporary, contract, or high-volume roles. This pay-per-placement model is ideal for businesses that need to scale their workforce fast, such as logistics companies hiring seasonal drivers.

The benefits of recruitment process outsourcing

From shortening hiring cycles to expanding access to top talent, RPO helps companies hire smarter and more efficiently. Here’s how:

• Reduces hiring costs and fills roles faster: The longer roles stay vacant, the more costly recruitment becomes. RPO providers accelerate sourcing and screening, helping companies reduce cost-per-hire while ensuring that top candidates don’t slip through the cracks. Many RPO models also let businesses scale hiring efforts up or down as needed.
• Gives HR teams more time for strategic priorities: HR teams already have enough on their plate. Outsourcing recruitment allows HR to focus on employee relations, training, and retention while the RPO provider handles sourcing, screening, and interviews. This keeps hiring on track without overloading internal teams.
• Keeps hiring compliant and risk-free: Labor laws and anti-discrimination regulations change constantly. RPO providers stay on top of these evolving rules and adjust hiring processes accordingly to help companies avoid compliance issues and legal risks.
• Strengthens employer branding and candidate experience: First impressions matter. A slow, disorganized hiring process or unclear job descriptions can turn away top talent. RPO providers refine job postings, improve employer branding, and maintain smooth candidate communication, which makes companies more attractive to skilled professionals.
• Uses data to refine hiring strategies: Great hiring isn’t just about filling roles—it’s also about making data-driven decisions to help companies plan for the future. RPO providers use data to track hiring trends, predict staffing needs, and refine recruitment strategies to help companies stay ahead of workforce demands.

Should you consider an RPO provider?

If hiring is slowing your business down, an RPO provider can improve candidate quality, scale recruitment as needed, and help fill roles faster. If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to explore RPO:

• You need to scale hiring quickly: Whether ramping up for peak seasons or expanding into new markets, an RPO provider can adjust hiring efforts on demand.
• Your HR team is stretched too thin: If recruitment is pulling HR away from other priorities, outsourcing can relieve the burden while ensuring access to top talent.
• You’re struggling to attract quality candidates: RPO providers bring specialized expertise and recruitment marketing tools to help companies stand out in competitive talent markets.
• Your hiring process is too slow: If you’re losing great candidates to faster-moving competitors, an RPO provider can streamline hiring and reduce time-to-fill.
• You need a more strategic hiring approach: Instead of just filling open positions, an RPO provider helps optimize long-term talent strategy.

How to choose the right RPO provider

Not all RPO providers offer the same level of service. If you’re considering outsourcing recruitment, keep these factors in mind:

Look for advanced technology and capabilities

A strong RPO provider should offer AI-powered applicant tracking, recruitment marketing tools, and data-driven insights. Technology can automate sourcing, improve screening, and streamline workflows.

Ensure flexibility and adaptability

Hiring needs change over time, so your RPO provider should scale services up or down as needed.

Verify industry expertise and global reach

If expanding internationally, you need an RPO provider with deep market knowledge and access to global talent. The right partner should also support workforce planning and offer scalable solutions to keep pace with your growth.

Simplify global hiring and team management with an EOR

Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is great for finding talent, but they don’t manage international employment, payroll, or compliance. When hiring across borders, you need a solution that takes care of the entire employment process. That’s where an employer of record like Oyster can help.

With Oyster’s EOR services, you can hire, pay, and manage employees in over 120 countries—without setting up local entities or worrying about compliance. Oyster handles payroll, taxes, benefits, and legal compliance so you can focus on growing your business.

Why limit your talent pool when you can hire the best—anywhere in the world? Get started today and see how Oyster simplifies global hiring.