In today’s fiercely competitive engineering talent market, companies are under immense pressure to attract and retain top-tier candidates. Engineering Managers are frustrated by underperforming teams due to unfilled roles, while HR departments are stretched thin trying to meet hiring demands. Many organisations rely on a Preferred Supplier List (PSL) of recruitment agencies to streamline hiring — but what if that very system is the root of the problem?
The PSL Paradox
At first glance, a PSL seems like a smart move: a vetted list of recruiters, standardised fees and simplified procurement. But in practice, it often leads to a race to the bottom. Here’s why:
Shared Talent Pools: Most agencies on your PSL are also working with your competitors. That means the same candidates you’re reviewing are being pitched to rival companies — often simultaneously.
Reactive Recruitment: PSL agencies typically rely on job ads and active job boards. You’re only seeing candidates who are actively looking — not the high-calibre, passive talent who are already excelling in their roles.
Fee-Driven Priorities: When fees are driven down, so is the recruiter’s incentive to prioritise your business. Their goal becomes placing a candidate — any candidate — with whichever PSL client responds first.
The result? Compromised hiring decisions, missed opportunities and a revolving door of talent.
A Smarter, More Ethical Approach
At Tiro, we believe recruitment should be strategic, ethical, and tailored. That’s why we’ve built our model around exclusive partnerships — not PSLs.
No Poaching Policy: We uphold a strict ethical code. We never poach from our clients, ensuring long-term trust and collaboration.
Market Mapping, Not Job Ads: We don’t wait for candidates to come to us. We proactively map the market, identify top talent, and approach them confidentially — even if they’re not actively looking.
Fewer Clients, Deeper Relationships: We limit the number of clients we work with to ensure each receives our full attention and strategic insight.
Geography-Agnostic Head Hunting: Whether your team is in Manchester or Munich, we find the right talent — wherever they are.
The Competitive Edge
By working exclusively with Tiro, you’re not just filling roles — you’re building a long-term hiring strategy. We help you stay ahead of the competition by securing the talent others don’t even know is available.
