[ talent quality ]

THE BAR
IS THE
PRODUCT.

We don't earn anything unless we place someone who stays. Here's exactly how we vet.

91%
still active at 12 months
across all placements, 2024–2025
avg candidates screened per placement
to produce one shortlist slot
14d
replacement guarantee
if a placement leaves in the first two weeks, we redo the search free
12%
of briefed searches we turn down
because the role isn't fillable at the stated comp or scope
[ 01 / the filter ]

Four things we do before we send anyone.

01

The Matcher reads the portfolio.

Not keyword-scanned. Read. We look at what was actually built, not the job titles it was built under. A mid-level eng with the right GitHub tells us more than a staff title with no shipped work.

02

We ask the uncomfortable questions first.

Why are you leaving? What went wrong at the last place? What salary do you need, not want? What stack do you never want to touch again? Most recruiters save these for round three. We ask them in the first call.

03

We check the references before we send, not after.

Standard agency practice: send the candidate, let the company catch the problems. Ours: we call a reference before the shortlist. Usually someone the candidate didn't list.

04

We only send three.

If we can't find three candidates we'd hire ourselves, we say so. We don't pad the list to look productive. A thin shortlist with notes beats a fat one without.

[ 02 / disqualifiers ]

What gets someone off the list.

Applying for "Senior" with 18 months of experience
Gaps explained differently in two separate calls
Can't name a specific technical decision they pushed back on
References who are friends, not managers or direct reports
"Open to anything" with no actual preference stated
Portfolio that lists tools used but no problem solved

// these don't automatically disqualify — they trigger a second conversation. if the answer is good, they stay in. if not, they don't.

[ 03 / guarantee ]

14-day replacement. No questions.

If a placement leaves or doesn't work out within 14 days, we redo the search at no charge. We've had to use this six times in three years.

We track this because it's the only honest measure of whether we matched well or just placed fast.

Brief us →
// placement guarantee · terms
14-day window starts on day 1
applies to any reason for departure
one replacement search, same brief
no charge, no conditions
// does NOT apply if role changes
// significantly post-offer