Good hires prove themselves in weeks, not months. 90-day guarantees are recruiters admitting they don't trust their own work.
The guarantee game
Traditional recruiters offer 90-day guarantees because that's how long it takes for their bad hires to quit or get fired.
Think about it: If they were confident in their placements, why would they need three months of buffer?
What 60 days tells you
In 60 days, you know:
- If they can actually do the work
- If they fit with your team
- If they're learning and improving
- If they're going to stick around
Problems surface fast when someone's actually working. You don't need 90 days to spot a mismatch.
Other red flags to watch for
- "We work with everyone" - No specialization means no expertise
- 20-30% fees - You're subsidizing their inefficiency
- Exclusive contracts - They want to lock you in before proving value
- No work samples - They can't show you successful placements
What good looks like
Modern recruiting is transparent, fast, and confident:
- Flat fees that make sense
- 60-day guarantees (problems show up fast)
- Candidates who can demonstrate their work
- References that actually worked with them