For companies

Recruiting channels compared – which fits your position?

Which channel brings the right person fastest? The main channels with their strengths, costs and typical uses.

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The main channels

Job ad

Job boards and your careers page reach active job seekers. Many applications, a lot of screening.

Recruiter

Also reaches professionals who aren't actively looking. Fee usually only on success.

Temporary staffing

Fast and flexible for temporary needs. Billed by the hour.

Active sourcing

You approach candidates yourself, e.g. on LinkedIn. Cheap but time-consuming.

How to choose the channel

  1. 1

    How urgent is the position?

    Very urgent: temporary staffing or a recruiter. With lead time: a job ad or active sourcing.

  2. 2

    How in demand is the profile?

    The rarer the qualification, the less a job ad alone achieves.

  3. 3

    Permanent or temporary?

    Staffing fits projects and peaks; key roles need a permanent hire.

  4. 4

    Must it be discreet?

    For succession or restructuring, no open ad – better anonymously via recruiters.

  5. 5

    How much time does your team have?

    If there's no time for screening, hand the search over.

Costs at a glance

Job ads cost a few hundred to over a thousand euros per ad depending on the job board, recruiters usually 20 to 35% of the annual salary on success, temporary staffing an hourly rate. Often the most expensive is the open position itself.

What does your open position cost?

Combine instead of either–or

The fastest hires use several channels at once.

  • Referrals first

    Ask your team – referrals are fast and often a good fit.

  • Job ad for common profiles

    For common jobs, a good ad brings enough applications.

  • Recruiters for specialists

    For rare profiles and leadership roles, use direct approach.

  • Staffing to bridge gaps

    Until the permanent hire is in place, temporary staffing keeps things running.

  • Measure results

    Track time to hire and cost per hire for each channel.

Two channels, one posting

On SilentHire one anonymous posting reaches verified recruiters and, for temporary staffing jobs, staffing agencies with a verified permit. Every proposal comes with a fee or billing rate, and the platform is free for you.

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Costs only arise if you hire through a recruiter – at the terms they state up front.

Frequently asked questions: recruiting channels

Which recruiting channel is the cheapest?

Referrals and your own careers page cost the least money but often the most time. Include the cost of the open position – a faster, pricier channel can be cheaper overall.

Which channel is the fastest?

For temporary needs usually staffing; for permanent hires a recruiter with suitable candidates in their network.

When is a recruiter worth it?

For specialists and leaders, when the job ad isn't working or the search must stay discreet.

What is active sourcing?

The company directly approaching suitable candidates itself, e.g. via LinkedIn or XING. It reaches people who aren't actively looking but takes a lot of time.

Can I use several channels at once?

Yes, that's usually the fastest way. Just settle duplicate introductions with recruiters in advance.

Last reviewed: 1 November 2026