Expert Networks vs Traditional Recruitment

Why are expert recruitment networks disrupting traditional agencies and LinkedIn Premium? Compare costs, quality, and earning potential across recruitment platforms.

Detailed Platform Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of expert networks, traditional agencies, and LinkedIn Premium

Feature	Expert Networks	Traditional Agencies	LinkedIn Premium
Expert Fee Share	75% to Expert	10-20% to Recruiter	Fixed subscription cost
Total Cost to Employer	15% success fee	20-25% success fee	£5k-£20k annual + time
Candidate Quality	Expert-vetted from networks	Database search + basic screening	Self-applied candidates
Time to Hire	2-3 weeks avg	4-8 weeks avg	6-12 weeks + screening time
Replacement Guarantee	90 days	30-90 days (varies)	None
Expert Earnings Potential	£25k-£75k+ annually	£5k-£15k annually	£0 (no referral program)

Why Expert Networks Are Disrupting Traditional Recruitment

The fundamental advantages that make expert networks superior to traditional agencies

Fair Fee Sharing

Expert Networks: 75% to expert who does the work

Traditional Agencies: 10-20% to recruiter, 80-90% to agency overhead

LinkedIn: No referral earnings, just subscription costs

Quality Through Networks

Industry experts refer people they know and trust from their professional networks, resulting in higher quality matches and cultural fit compared to database searches or cold applications through LinkedIn.

Aligned Incentives

Experts are incentivized to make quality referrals as their reputation and ongoing earnings depend on successful placements. Traditional agencies focus on volume and quick fills to maximize margins.

Real Cost Analysis for UK Employers

What you actually pay for each recruitment method (based on £80k salary hire)

Expert Networks

£12,000

15% success fee only. £9,000 to expert, £3,000 to platform. 90-day guarantee included.

Traditional Agencies

£16,000-£20,000

20-25% success fee. Only £2k-£4k to recruiter, rest to agency overhead. Variable guarantee terms.

LinkedIn Premium

£15,000+

£5k-£20k annual subscription + significant time investment + screening costs. No guarantee.

Real Migration Stories

Companies and professionals who switched from traditional methods to expert networks

"We were paying £25k per hire to traditional agencies with mixed results. Expert networks cut our costs to £12k while delivering higher quality candidates. Plus we know our placements are backed by industry professionals."

- Rachel K., Head of Talent, London Fintech (switched from Hays)

"As a former agency recruiter, I was only keeping 15% of fees. Now as an expert on the platform, I earn 75% and work with my existing network. I've made more in 8 months than my entire previous year at the agency."

- Marcus T., Tech Recruitment Expert (ex-Robert Half)

Ready to Leave Traditional Recruitment Behind?

Join the movement to fair, transparent recruitment where experts earn what they deserve and employers get better value.