By Gordon Kramer, COO · Last updated: August 2026
Faster than most hiring managers expect: temporary placements can often start within days, because the right person is frequently already in our network and pre-vetted. Direct-hire searches take longer; how much longer depends on the role, the market, and your interview speed. We'll give you a realistic timeline in the first conversation rather than a one-size-fits-all promise.
1. Intake call: 30 minutes on the role, the person it supports, and how your office actually runs.
2. Role profile: we write it up and confirm it with you; for startups this often means shaping the role, not just filling it.
3. Sourcing: we search a network built over 45 years before we ever post anything.
4. Vetting: recruiter interviews, skills and scenario assessment, reference checks.
5. Shortlist: a small number of genuinely qualified people, not a stack of resumes.
6. Your interviews: we coordinate scheduling and gather feedback both ways.
7. Offer and start: we handle the negotiation conversation candidates find awkward.
8. Check-ins after the start date, with you and with the placement.
Use this checklist on anyone, including us:
1. Do they specialize in the role you're hiring, or place everything?
2. Do they have a real bench in your market, or will they start sourcing after you sign?
3. How deep is the vetting: interviews and references, or keyword matching?
4. Will they put the fee in writing early? (We will, in the first conversation.)
5. What exactly does the guarantee promise: replacement or refund, and for how long?
6. Will the recruiter who scoped your role be the one working it?
7. Can they give references from clients like you?
8. How do their candidates describe working with them? (Check reviews.)
Temporary for coverage and speed; temp-to-hire when you want to work together before committing; direct hire when you know the seat is permanent. Full comparison on our Services page; how every fee type works is explained on our fees page.
What if the placement doesn't work out?
◆ [Guarantee terms, same answer as fees page.]
What do you need from us to start?
A conversation. A job description helps but isn't required; shaping the role is part of the work.
Do you check references?
Yes, on every direct-hire shortlist candidate, with people who've actually worked with them.
Do you place outside the Bay Area?
Yes, nationwide: on-site, hybrid, and remote. We recruit in the candidate's market, wherever the role is.