Choose a recruitment agency in India by checking four things: whether it has placed people in roles like yours, how it evaluates candidates before sending them, how fast it shortlists, and what its fee, guarantee and ownership terms are. Ask for references from clients who hired similar roles.
Start with specialisation
Agencies differ in what they are built for: some for volume hiring across many locations, others for specific functions such as product, engineering or leadership. Ask which of the last 20 placements were in your function and at your seniority.
10 questions to ask before you sign
Use these on your first call. Clear, specific answers help you compare agencies fairly.
- Which similar roles have you filled in the last 12 months, and for which kinds of companies?
- How do you evaluate a candidate before sending the profile, beyond keyword matching?
- How soon will I see the first shortlist, and how many profiles will it contain?
- Will a senior recruiter own my search, or is it passed to a junior team?
- Where do your candidates come from: job boards, your own database, direct approach?
- Is the fee on fixed CTC or total CTC, and is there any retainer?
- What is the replacement guarantee, and is it a replacement or a refund?
- How long does a candidate stay your introduction, and does that apply if we reject them?
- How do you protect candidate data and our confidentiality?
- Can I speak to two clients who hired a similar role through you?
What a strong agency partnership looks like
Whichever agency you choose, these habits make a search go well:
- A written agreement and clear commercial terms before profiles are shared.
- Every profile arrives with current and expected CTC, notice period and an assessment against your must-haves.
- Candidates know your company and the role before they are submitted.
- A single point of contact who updates you on the search every week.
- Fees that match the role: success-based for most hires, retained only where the search needs it.
How HyrEzy answers these questions
HyrEzy is a recruitment agency for product companies and funded startups, hiring across tech and business functions since 2015. Every shortlisted candidate is scored on 19 dimensions by our Vantage AI and validated by a recruiter, with CTC, notice period and motivation confirmed. The first shortlist arrives within 5 working days, with zero retainer and a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good recruitment agency in India?
Shortlist agencies that specialise in your function, ask for recent placements in similar roles, compare their evaluation process and terms, and speak to two references before signing.
Should I use several agencies at once?
For hard or senior roles, one committed agency on an exclusive mandate usually performs better than several competing on the same CVs. For volume hiring, two or three can work.
What should an agency include with each profile?
Current and expected CTC, notice period, location, reasons for moving and an assessment against your must-haves.
Do recruitment agencies charge candidates in India?
Reputable agencies never charge candidates. The hiring company pays the fee.
Hiring for this role?
Get 5–8 candidates scored against your JD, validated by a recruiter and backed by evidence. Zero retainer; you pay only on a successful hire.