The Gambit Guarantee
Guarantee Periods in Recruitment: Why They Matter (and Why We Go Further)
When you partner with a recruitment agency, you’re not just paying for CVs on your desk. You’re investing in expertise, industry knowledge, and ultimately, peace of mind for quality hiring. One of the ways recruitment agencies provide this peace of mind is through a guarantee period, but what exactly does that mean, and why does it matter?
Let’s break it down.
What is a guarantee period?
A guarantee period is the window of time after a candidate starts in their new role during which a recruitment agency commits to replacing the candidate, usually at no extra cost, if things don’t work out.
It’s a show of confidence from the recruiter that they believe in their process and if that placement doesn’t last, they’ll make it right.
Should recruiters offer a guarantee at all?
Absolutely. Recruitment is ultimately about building trust and long-term partnerships, not short-term wins. Guarantee periods help protect clients from risk and reinforce that the recruiter is genuinely invested in successful outcomes, not just a placement fee.
What is the typical guarantee period?
In New Zealand, most recruitment agencies offer guarantee periods between 30 to 90 days.
Many use a sliding scale meaning if a candidate leaves within the first month, you might get a full refund or free replacement. If they leave in the second or third month, you might receive a partial refund or replacement.
This sliding approach makes sense. The longer a candidate is in the role, the more the responsibility for retention shifts naturally to the employer, through onboarding, training, and culture.
But in practice, this can leave clients with only partial protection, especially in fast-moving technology markets, where even a great hire can exit early for reasons outside the client’s control.
The Gambit Guarantee: why we back ourselves to do better
At Gambit, we wanted to build something more robust than industry norms. That’s why we launched the 110% Gambit Guarantee:
If a candidate we place leaves during the guarantee period, we get to work immediately to find you a replacement, at no additional cost. If we can’t find a replacement, you’ll receive a 110% credit note of the placement fee, valid for 12 months.
It’s our way of putting extra skin in the game: if we don’t deliver, we don’t just refund, we give you more.
The guarantee period itself is straightforward:
90 days from the candidate’s start date if your invoice is paid within 10 calendar days.
30 days if payment is made later.
This keeps things clear and fair for both sides.
Why we do it: aftercare and real relationships
We know recruitment isn’t finished the day your new hire walks in the door. It’s about supporting clients and candidates through the crucial first months. That’s why aftercare is a core part of our process, regular check-ins, feedback, and staying close to both sides to make sure the fit is right.
As a boutique agency, we can do this properly. And because we believe in relationship-first recruitment (especially in New Zealand’s close-knit technology community), we put our guarantee where our mouth is.
In summary
Guarantee periods exist to build trust, reduce risk and demonstrate a recruiter’s commitment to quality. While the industry standard is often a sliding scale and limited coverage, at Gambit we back our ability to find the right fit with the 110% Gambit Guarantee.
Because to us, success isn’t just about making a placement, it’s about making the right placement that lasts.
If you’d like to chat about how our guarantee can support your next hire, feel free to reach out.
Thomas Hoksbergen | Founder | 09 355 8324 | thomas@gambitrecruitment.co.nz