Direct Hire.
Full-cycle recruiting for permanent roles.
We own the entire search from intake to offer. Sourcing, screening, interviewing, reference checks, and negotiation. You only pay when the right candidate accepts. Senior recruiters on every search. No junior handoffs.
Book a Call- Pay only when the right candidate accepts
- Senior recruiter owns your search start to finish
- 3 to 5 vetted candidates, not a resume dump
- 45-day replacement guarantee on every placement
From first call to first offer.
- 01
Deep intake call.
We learn your team, culture, comp range, and what a great hire actually looks like before we source a single candidate.
- 02
Targeted sourcing.
Network first, outreach second. The best permanent hires are not on job boards. We find them anyway.
- 03
Vetted shortlist in 5 to 10 days.
3 to 5 candidates, fully screened and briefed. Every submission includes a written recruiter note on why this person fits.
- 04
Offer and post-placement support.
We deliver the offer, support negotiation, and check in at 30 and 60 days to make sure the placement holds.
Why 52 Limited Direct Hire?
Pay on acceptance only
No upfront fees. Our fee is earned when the right candidate accepts your offer and starts.
Senior recruiters only
The recruiter who takes your brief owns the search. No junior coordinators, no handoffs mid-search.
3 to 5 vetted candidates
We deliver a curated shortlist. Every candidate has been screened, interviewed, and reference-checked.
Passive candidate outreach
The best permanent hires are not actively looking. We reach them through 20 years of network relationships.
Reference checks included
We conduct reference checks before submission so you can make offers with confidence.
45-day replacement guarantee
If the placement does not work out within 45 days for performance reasons, we re-run the search at no charge.
Roles we place on direct hire.
Let's find your
next hire.
Tell us the role. We'll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a placement guarantee and how does the 45-day window work?
- If a candidate we place leaves voluntarily or is terminated for performance reasons within 45 days of their start date, we source a qualified replacement at no charge. The clock starts on the first day of employment. The guarantee requires that the role, compensation, and responsibilities remain consistent with what was presented to the candidate during the search. We have honored every replacement request in our history.
- How long does direct hire recruiting take for Portland tech and creative roles?
- We deliver the first curated shortlist, typically three to five candidates, within five to seven business days of a signed agreement. The total time from intake to accepted offer averages two to three weeks for most technology, digital, and creative roles. Highly specialized or senior roles can run four to six weeks. We move faster than the national average because we stay close to the Portland talent community year-round.
- What is the difference between a contingency fee and a retained search fee?
- Contingency means you pay only when we place a candidate. This is our default model for most direct hire searches. Retained search involves an upfront investment and is used for executive-level or highly confidential searches where we dedicate exclusive capacity. Both models use a percentage-of-first-year-salary fee structure. We recommend the right model based on role seniority and urgency, not what is better for our margin.
- How do you source passive candidates who are not actively looking?
- Most strong candidates are not on job boards. They are heads-down at their current jobs and respond only when a recruiter they trust reaches out with the right opportunity. We have spent 20 years building direct relationships with Portland-area technology, digital, and creative professionals. We pick up the phone. We attend community events. We know who is happy, who is quietly open, and who would move for the right role.
- Does a placement guarantee cover voluntary resignation or only termination for cause?
- Our guarantee covers both voluntary resignation and performance-based termination within the 45-day window. If a candidate leaves for any reason other than a material change in the role, compensation, or work conditions on your side, we replace them. We put this in writing before the search begins. Read the actual language before signing with any firm, not just a summary.