Recruitment Solutions Compared
Hiring the right talent is one of the biggest drivers of growth, but choosing the right recruitment model can be just as important.
At Pivotal, we offer a range of flexible talent solutions designed to support businesses at every stage, from rapid scaling to specialist hires and long-term workforce planning.
Whether you need instant access to talent, end-to-end hiring support, or a fully embedded recruitment partner, this guide breaks down the differences between our services so you can choose what’s right for you.
Our Recruitment Solutions
Freelance / Contract - Fast, flexible access to specialist talent
Contingent (Agency) - Pay-on-success hiring for permanent or contract roles
Projects - Fixed-scope hiring delivery for defined goals or growth phases
Embedded - A dedicated recruiter integrated into your business
RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) - Fully outsourced, strategic talent function
Each model is designed to solve different hiring challenges, from speed and flexibility to scale and long-term impact.
Which Recruitment Model is Right for You?
Choosing the right approach depends on a few key factors:
Hiring volume - Are you hiring one role or scaling a team?
Urgency - Do you need hires this week or over the next 12 months?
Internal resources - Do you have an in-house talent team?
Budget & cost control - Do you want predictable costs or pay-per-hire?
Strategic vs reactive hiring - Are you building for the future or filling gaps?
Compare Recruitment Models
Speak to our Team
Understanding Each Solution
Freelance / Contract Recruitment
Best for: Immediate skills gaps, short-term projects, and specialist roles
When speed and flexibility matter most, freelance hiring gives you instant access to experienced professionals without long-term commitment.
Key benefits:
Rapid deployment of talent
Flexible scaling up or down
Ideal for niche or urgent requirements
Contingent Recruitment
Best for: Ad-hoc hiring with minimal upfront investment
Our contingent model gives you access to a wide talent network, with fees only paid on successful placements.
Key benefits:
No upfront cost
Fast access to pre-qualified candidates
Strong market knowledge and reach
Project-Based Recruitment
Best for: Scaling teams or delivering hiring plans within a defined timeframe
Projects offer a more structured, outcome-driven approach with a fixed cost and clear delivery timeline.
Key benefits:
Predictable pricing
Strategic hiring support
Built-in tools, insights, and reporting
Employer branding and EVP support
This model is ideal for businesses looking to scale efficiently while maintaining control over costs and quality.
Embedded Recruitment
Best for: Growing companies needing ongoing hiring support without building an internal team
Embedded recruitment gives you a dedicated talent partner working as part of your business, without the risk of a full-time hire.
Key benefits:
Fully aligned with your brand and culture
Significant cost savings (often up to 50%)
Faster hiring cycles
Long-term talent strategy development
This is the closest alternative to an in-house team – but with more flexibility and expertise.
RPO
Best for: High-growth companies needing a scalable, end-to-end hiring function
RPO is a strategic partnership where Pivotal manages all or part of your recruitment process.
Key benefits:
Fully scalable hiring infrastructure
End-to-end process ownership
Data-driven hiring decisions
Continuous optimisation and improvement
Unlike traditional agency models, RPO focuses on building a sustainable, long-term talent function, not just filling roles.
What We Deliver
Benefits of Working With Pivotal
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all recruitment. Our clients choose us because we combine:
Deep market expertise across Marketing, Sales, Media & Creative
Access to high-quality talent at scale
Flexible hiring solutions tailored to growth stages
Data-led insights and salary benchmarking
A strong focus on employer branding and candidate experience
We’ve supported 200+ clients, from scaling startups to global brands like TikTok, Skyscanner, and Tripadvisor.
How to Choose the Right Recruitment Model
If you’re unsure which route is best, here’s a simple guide:
Need hires immediately? → Freelance or Contingent
Scaling a team quickly? → Projects or Embedded
Building a long-term hiring function? → Embedded or RPO
Want predictable costs? → Projects or RPO
Hiring intermittently? → Contingent
Or speak to our team, we’ll help design the right solution for you.
Previous Work We’ve Done
Every hiring challenge is different, and so is every solution we build. From helping startups scale rapidly to supporting global brands with complex hiring strategies, our work speaks for itself.
Explore our case studies to see how we’ve helped businesses like yours grow.
Explore Our Recruitment Specialisms
If you’d like to dive deeper into the specific areas we support, explore our specialist recruitment pages below.
Our Recruitment Verticals
Growth Marketing Recruitment
SEO and GEO Recruitment
Amazon & Marketplace Recruitment
CRM, Loyalty and Retention Recruitment
Creative Strategist Recruitment
Retail Media Recruitment
Media Agency Recruitment
AI in Digital Advertising Recruitment
Creative & Design Recruitment
PR and Communications Recruitment
AdTech Recruitment
Media Planning and Buying Recruitment
Agency Marketing Recruitment
In-House Marketing Recruitment
Sales & Commercial recruitment
FAQs: Recruitment Solutions
What is the difference between RPO and a recruitment agency?
A recruitment agency focuses on filling individual roles, typically on a pay-per-hire basis. RPO is a longer-term partnership that manages part or all your recruitment process, improving strategy, systems, and outcomes.
When should I use an embedded recruiter?
Embedded recruitment is ideal when you’re hiring consistently and need a dedicated expert integrated into your team without committing to a full-time internal hire.
Which recruitment model is most cost-effective?
For high-volume hiring, embedded or RPO models are typically the most cost-efficient. For one-off hires, contingent recruitment may be more suitable.