Are recruitment agencies free?

Contingency-based & retained search fees

The services provided by recruitment agencies are typically free to job seekers. Instead, agencies are paid by other businesses (their clients) to provide an outsourced recruitment service.

The exact fee a recruitment agency charges can vary depending on the agency, the type of job, and other factors. 


Contingency-based fees

Some agencies charge a fee only if they successfully place a job seeker in a position. This fee is typically a percentage of the job seeker's first-year salary and is paid by the employer, not the job seeker.

Retained search fees

In some cases, particularly for high-level executive positions, recruitment agencies may charge a retainer fee upfront. This fee is paid by the employer and is typically a portion of the total fee, with the remainder paid upon successful placement.


It's essential to research and understand the fee structure of a specific recruitment agency before engaging their services.

If you'd like to learn more about how recruitment agencies work, including their payment structure, check out SEEK's article on six things you need to know when working with a recruiter. Additionally, you can click the button below to read our article on how recruitment agencies make money in Australia.

Are recruitment agencies free?

Are you looking for a job?

Are you looking for a job?

Now that you understand that recruitment agencies are free for job seeker, you should take a moment to check our current vacancies page.

At 11 Recruitment, we have a range of white-collar temp and perm jobs available. We're always on the lookout for top talent to place with our clients, so we encourage you to apply for any positions that are of interest.

If none of our current vacancies are right for you, you should register for job alerts. Then we’ll be able to notify you when we receive a position that matches your profile.



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