Why Companies Switch RPO Partners (and What They Wish They Knew Sooner) 

by: Justin King, Solution Design Director |
August 27, 2025

Choosing the right RPO partner isn’t easy — and sometimes, it takes a misstep to get clarity. 
 

We’ve worked with dozens of companies who came to us after a disappointing experience with another provider. Here’s what they shared about why they made a change — and what they wish they’d asked the first time around. 

Top reasons companies switch RPO partners 

1. They got great sales talk — but poor delivery. 

“The implementation was rocky, and they never really recovered.” 

What they wish they knew: Ask about post-sale delivery model, account team structure, and success metrics. 

Questions to ask: 

  • Who will be running my account day-to-day? 
  • How do you ensure a smooth handoff from sales to delivery? 

2. They didn’t get the strategic partnership they were promised. 

“We wanted consultative insights — not just transactional support.” 

What they wish they knew: Not all RPOs are strategic. Many operate more like high-volume staffing firms. 

Questions to ask: 

  • What advisory support is included? 
  • Can you share examples of how you’ve helped clients evolve their TA strategy? 

3. They lacked industry-specific or role-specific recruiting knowledge. 

“We were constantly educating them on the roles we needed to fill.” 

What they wish they knew: Industry expertise matters, but it isn’t everything. Skills often transfer. For example, hiring aseptic manufacturing talent in life sciences looks a lot like hiring in food production, where strict protocols are the norm. 

Questions to ask: 

  • Can you share examples of how you’ve successfully recruited for positions that require transferable skills? 
  • Can we meet recruiters who have filled roles like ours before? 

4. They were inflexible when needs changed. 

“When our priorities shifted, they couldn’t adapt fast enough.” 

What they wish they knew: True RPO partners build flexible delivery models and proactive sourcing strategies. 

Questions to ask: 

  • How do you scale up or down if our needs change? 
  • What’s your average time to pivot when hiring goals shift? 

Final thought: 

You don’t always know what to ask — until you’ve lived through the wrong partnership. That’s why clients stay with Advanced RPO: we’re agile, transparent, consultative, and accountable from day one. 

Thinking about switching? Let’s talk through your goals — and whether we’re the right fit. 

Schedule a 15-min consult or Download our partner assessment