Ask HN: Agency vs. internal recruiters?

Outside agency, with true domain expertise.

Typically found the best work on an mixed upfront fee, with a success-fee incentive arrangement due upon completing the hiring process.

Agency guys eat what they kill, they hustle. Internal guys (often HR Flunkies) lack business acumen and drive for results.

It helps to try to understand the recruiters business model. How is this person getting paid and what are their motivation to continue the relationship with you.

Internal - always, they have much more 'skin' in the game, and i've found typically have more motivation than some outside firm.