How do I see how a recruitment agency tracks placed candidates who leave early?

Begin by asking how the agency learns a placement has ended. Does a recruiter check in with the candidate and client at set points, or does it wait for a call? The answer shows whether early leavers are tracked or simply discovered. Ask to see whatever record exists, even if it is a spreadsheet.

Then look at the guarantee terms in the client agreements. Ask what the agency promised if a placement ended early, and how often it had to honour that promise. Ask for examples where it replaced a candidate, gave a credit or refunded a fee. Have your accountant check how these were recorded in the books, and ask your lawyer to review the wording.

Finally, look for patterns. Do early leavers come from certain clients, role types or recruiters? A pattern may point to poor screening or to a difficult client. Ask what the agency changed afterwards. Speak with a recruiter about what they learned. Agencies that learn from early exits are usually easier to run. Ask whether recruiters are rewarded for placements that last, or only for placements made, because incentives usually shape the screening.

Key takeaways

• Ask how the agency finds out about early exits, not only whether it records them.
• Compare guarantee wording in client agreements with what the agency actually did.
• Look for patterns by client, role type and recruiter, and ask what changed.
• Ask whether recruiters are rewarded for placements that last or only for those made.