Direct placement
Contract-to-hire and direct placement
Our recruiters find, screen and present candidates for permanent IT roles, as a direct hire or after a contract-to-hire period. Engineers from our own delivery teams help with the technical screening, so the people you interview can do the work.
Compare the models
How the four models compare
When each one fits, who owns the work, how involved your team is and how it is billed.
Managed services
- What it is
- Our team manages some or all aspects of your platform for you.
- When to choose it
- You want someone else to support and maintain an application or platform.
- Your involvement
- Lower. You set priorities and service levels; Smart Data handles monitoring, support and updates.
- Project ownership
- Smart Data. We own the deliverables, you review the outcomes.
- Billing model
- Usually a monthly contract, set by the systems covered and the response times.
- Best for
- Application or platform maintenance and other managed service needs.
Scoped projects
- What it is
- A discrete set of work that Smart Data manages and delivers from beginning to end.
- When to choose it
- You have a specific project that you want estimated and executed by a partner.
- Your involvement
- Lower. You set the goals and review milestones; Smart Data plans, builds and delivers.
- Project ownership
- Smart Data. We own the deliverables, you review the outcomes.
- Billing model
- Time and materials or fixed bid. Both options come with up-front pricing.
- Best for
- Defined programs: modernization, migrations, new platforms.
Staff augmentation
- What it is
- Smart Data developers join your internal team for a period of time.
- When to choose it
- You need to supplement your team with specific skills for a period of time.
- Your involvement
- High. You manage the project, we provide expert talent.
- Project ownership
- You. Our people follow your lead.
- Billing model
- Monthly contract.
- Best for
- Addressing temporary gaps, scaling quickly, avoiding hiring delays.
Contract-to-hire or direct placement
- What it is
- Smart Data sources individuals for you to hire permanently.
- When to choose it
- You're adding permanent IT staff and want help finding the right people.
- Your involvement
- You interview the pre-screened candidates we present.
- Project ownership
- Shared. We source and screen candidates; you interview and make the call.
- Billing model
- A one-time placement fee, or a monthly contract during contract-to-hire.
- Best for
- Permanent hires screened before you meet them.
Who runs the search
Recruiters and engineers on the same search
- Recruiters run the searchSourcing, first conversations and the candidates worth your time.
- Engineers run the technical screenPeople from our own delivery teams check the skills the role needs.
- You make the callYou interview the shortlist and choose who joins.
Heather Colvin
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Two ways to hire
Contract-to-hire or direct hire
The same search and the same screening. The difference is when the person joins your staff.
Contract-to-hire
See the work before you commit
- How it works
- The person starts on our contract inside your team. When you are ready, they join your staff.
- When it fits
- A new role, or one where you want to see how someone works first.
- How it is billed
- Monthly while they are on our contract.
Direct hire
On your staff from the first day
- How it works
- We find and screen candidates, and you hire the one you choose directly.
- When it fits
- A role you know well, where you want the person on staff from day one.
- How it is billed
- A one-time placement fee.
Other ways to work with us
The other delivery models
Next step
Tell us about the role
The position, the skills and the team it joins. We start the search from there.
A short call about the role
The skills, the team and whether contract-to-hire or direct hire fits.
You review screened candidates
Profiles of people who match the role, technically screened before they reach you.
You interview and decide
Interviews on your schedule. You choose who joins, as a direct hire or contract-to-hire.