Need an Alternative to Korn Ferry? Here Are 5 Great Staffing and Recruiting Companies for Remote Hiring

Korn Ferry delivers results for companies seeking executive talent and high-level professionals. But maybe their premium pricing doesn't align with your budget for mid-level roles. Maybe you need to build a remote team, not just fill a C-suite position. Or maybe you want a partner who specializes in building permanent teams rather than focusing on leadership consulting.

Whatever brought you here, there are strong alternatives to Korn Ferry worth considering.

The executive search and staffing world is full of companies promising "top talent" and "industry expertise." But they operate in fundamentally different ways. Some focus on leadership placements while others build full teams. Some specialize in specific regions or functions. And the gap in pricing transparency, service delivery, and partnership approach can be dramatic.

This guide covers five alternatives to Korn Ferry for hiring remote talent. We'll break down what each company does well, who they serve best, and where they fall short.

TL;DR: Quick Comparison of Korn Ferry Alternatives

For those who want the bottom line upfront, here's our take:

• Near: If you want to hire high-performing talent in Latin America, including executive-level talent, and want a recruiting partner who prioritizes cultural fit and long-term retention over transactional placements, Near's white-glove service delivers A-players who grow with your company.
• Randstad: If you need enterprise workforce solutions spanning multiple countries with both temporary and permanent options, Randstad's 39-country infrastructure handles complex, multi-location hiring at scale.
• Robert Half: If you're hiring specialized professionals in finance, accounting, or technology and need deep vertical expertise with proven placement track records, Robert Half's 75-year history serves mid-to-large enterprises.
• Adecco: If you need to fill dozens of positions across multiple countries quickly, Adecco moves fast at enterprise scale.
• Hays: If you're looking for specialist recruitment across technology, construction, finance, or other professional verticals with global reach, Hays' 50+ years of industry-specific expertise covers 32 countries.

Full Breakdown: 5 Korn Ferry Alternatives for Remote Hiring

Let's acknowledge the obvious first.

All of these companies connect businesses with remote talent. They screen candidates, coordinate interviews, and handle parts of the hiring process.

Those are baseline expectations for any reputable international staffing or recruiting firm or executive search firm.

What actually matters are the differences in specialization, service models, pricing transparency, geographic focus, and whether they're optimized for executive search, permanent team building, or temporary placements.

Here's what sets each apart.‍

1.Near

Near (Hire With Near) is a full-service staffing and recruiting agency that helps US companies of all sizes hire top-performing remote talent in Latin America across finance, accounting, sales, software engineering, AI, data, design, marketing, operations, and virtual assistance.

When you're hiring 5, 10, or 50 remote team members, you don't need the complexity of executive search consultants or the overhead of massive global staffing networks. Near operates differently. We're built for companies that want premium recruiting without enterprise bureaucracy or six-figure placement fees.

We find you A-players who integrate into your culture and stay for years, not just profiles to review. Near operates more like an extension of your internal recruiting team that happens to specialize in Latin America.

Our 97% placement success rate and 4.9 G2 rating come from focusing on what actually matters: finding high-quality candidates who grow with your company long-term. This approach builds lasting partnerships. Companies return to hire whole teams through Near after experiencing what dedicated recruiters who care about quality can deliver.

Key features

• LatAm specialization: Exclusive focus on Latin American talent with recruiters and talent hunters on the ground who know the market inside out, so you can access the 30–70% cost savings compared with hiring in the US.
• Speed and quality: Curated video shortlists delivered in 3-5 days, most roles closed in under 3 weeks.
• Transparent pricing: Clear upfront pricing with no hidden fees. One-time placement fee or monthly staffing fee. Plus, you always know exactly what your hires earn.
• Retention focus: 80% of hires stay 2+ years. 180-day replacement guarantee. Pre-vetted talent pool of 45,000+ candidates plus active sourcing.
• Cross-functional coverage: Finance, accounting, sales, marketing, customer support, operations, engineering, design, data, and more. If the role can be done remotely, we can source for it.
• White-glove service: Same team consistency, one point of contact as you scale. 9.1+ client satisfaction score.

Best for: Startups and mid-market US companies wanting to build loyal, integrated remote teams in Latin America. Companies that value transparency, speed, and working with a recruiting partner who understands quality over just filling seats quickly. 

Limitations: If you need someone for just 2 to 3 months with no long-term relationship, a traditional staffing or staff augmentation company makes more sense.

‍2.Randstad

Randstad operates as the world's largest staffing provider with $25 billion in annual revenue, 40,000+ employees, and physical presence through 4,720 offices across 39 countries. The Dutch-headquartered company places 2+ million people in jobs annually through a combination of traditional branch-based staffing and digital talent platforms.

The company's scale becomes evident in its operational reach. Randstad claims to fill one position every three seconds and maintains relationships with 280,000+ client companies globally. Their business model spans temporary staffing (64% of revenue), permanent placement, and enterprise workforce management through solutions like RPO and MSP.

Randstad's technology infrastructure includes the Randstad Talent Platform connecting candidates to opportunities, Monster.com for job seekers (acquired 2016), and proprietary AI tools for matching and screening. The company operates through specialized brands, including Randstad Technologies, Randstad Healthcare, and Randstad RiseSmart for career transition services.

Key features

• Global infrastructure: 39-country presence with 4,720 offices, 40,000 employees, 280,000+ client companies. 
• Multi-service model: Temporary staffing (64% of revenue), permanent placement, temp-to-perm, RPO, MSP, career transition, and outplacement services through multiple specialized brands.
• Technology platform: Randstad Talent Platform, Monster.com integration, proprietary AI matching, automated screening tools for high-volume hiring.
• Industry coverage: Broad specializations including IT/technology, healthcare, finance, engineering, logistics, administrative, manufacturing, and professional services.
• Enterprise scale: Serves Fortune 500 companies requiring multi-location, multi-country workforce solutions with established compliance and payroll infrastructure across regions.
• Physical + digital model: Combines traditional branch network with digital platforms for candidates preferring in-person or online interactions.

Best for: Large enterprises and Fortune 500 companies needing multi-country, high-volume workforce solutions with both temporary and permanent options. Organizations requiring established global infrastructure, compliance capabilities across dozens of jurisdictions, and the ability to scale from dozens to thousands of placements.

Limitations: For startups and mid-size companies hiring 5-20 people, Randstad's enterprise-scale infrastructure and processes may feel like overkill. If you need deep specialization in one particular vertical (like only finance or only legal), firms with exclusive focus on that area may provide more targeted expertise. Pricing requires custom quotes with no online transparency. 

3. Robert Half

Robert Half operates as the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, founded in 1948 and now generating $7.24 billion in global revenues. The publicly traded company (NYSE: RHI, S&P 500 member) maintains 300-400+ locations across 17-18 countries and placed 174,400 professionals in 2023. Unlike generalist staffing agencies, Robert Half concentrates exclusively on five professional specializations: finance and accounting, technology, legal, marketing and creative, and administrative and customer support.

The company serves 60%+ of Fortune 1000 companies and 35% of Fortune Global 500 enterprises through specialized divisions, including Accountemps, Robert Half Technology, Robert Half Legal, The Creative Group, OfficeTeam, and Management Resources for senior-level finance professionals. Their business consulting subsidiary Protiviti adds management consulting capabilities alongside traditional staffing.

Robert Half emphasizes remote talent placement using proprietary AI for location-agnostic candidate matching and provides secure virtual workstations for remote onboarding. Their focus on specialized professional roles differentiates them from generalist staffing competitors.

Key features

• Vertical specialization: Exclusive focus on five professional verticals: finance/accounting, technology, legal, marketing/creative, administrative/customer support with dedicated divisions.
• Blue-chip client base: Serves 60%+ of Fortune 1000 and 35% of Fortune Global 500 companies. Strong relationships with enterprise decision-makers.
• Multiple engagement models: Temporary/contract staffing, permanent placement, executive search through Management Resources, project-based staffing, managed services.
• Remote placement emphasis: Proprietary AI for location-agnostic matching, secure virtual workstations, established remote onboarding processes for distributed teams.
• Professional consulting: Protiviti subsidiary provides management consulting, internal audit, risk management, and technology consulting alongside staffing.
• Industry expertise: Deep knowledge in professional services, financial services, technology, healthcare, and other sectors requiring specialized talent.

Best for: Mid-to-large enterprises needing specialized professional talent in finance, accounting, technology, legal, or creative functions with established vertical expertise. Companies seeking both temporary and permanent placements with dedicated recruiters who understand specific professional domains. Organizations comfortable with premium pricing for specialized recruitment services.

Limitations: G2 rating of 2.6/5 stars from 17 reviews reveals communication breakdowns and ghosting issues. Pricing remains completely opaque with no online disclosure, and rates are described as "steep" in multiple reviews. Limited LatAm presence for companies looking to hire nearshore with offices only in Brazil and Chile.

4. Adecco

Adecco operates as the world's second-largest staffing provider with $10.5 billion in revenue, 25,000+ recruitment experts, and a massive physical presence of 3,800 branches across 62 countries. The Swiss-based company places 600,000+ people in jobs daily and maintains a database of 17 million candidates in the US alone. Adecco's "omni-channel strategy" combines extensive local market presence with digital platforms, emphasizing geographic reach and rapid deployment capabilities.

The company claims a 93% fill ratio compared to the 25% industry average and targets reaching 850,000 daily placements. Adecco's scale allows for mass hiring capabilities while maintaining local market expertise through its global branch network.

Key features

• Massive scale: 3,800 branches across 62 countries, 25,000+ recruiters, 600,000+ daily placements, 17 million US candidates in database.
• Comprehensive services: Temporary staffing, permanent placement, executive search, RPO, BPO, MSP through Adecco powered by Pontoon, Master Vendor Programs, training through Aspire Academy.
• Industry breadth: IT, sales, marketing, administrative, industrial, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, financial services, retail, aerospace, energy, maritime, government, legal, accounting, engineering, hospitality.
• High fill ratio: Claims 93% fill ratio vs. 25% industry average. Rapid deployment for urgent or mass hiring needs.
• Local + global model: Combines physical branch presence for local market knowledge with digital platforms for efficiency and reach.
• Flexible scaling: Handles everything from single placements to mass hiring of 5,000+ positions with established processes.

Best for: Companies needing urgent or mass hiring with tight deadlines. Organizations requiring multi-location hiring across international operations. Traditional industries like manufacturing, logistics, and industrial sectors valuing physical branch presence and local market expertise. Businesses seeking flexible scaling from 1 to 5,000+ hires.

Limitations: G2 rating of 4.5/5 stars based on only 5 reviews provides minimal credibility due to extremely limited sample size. Pricing transparency remains low with complex fee structures requiring custom quotes, and conversion fees for temp-to-perm can reach $6,000 for specialized roles. No visible LatAm-specific nearshore programs despite broad geographic coverage.

5. Hays

[Screenshot of Hays homepage]

Hays positions itself as a global leader in specialist recruitment with over 50 years of experience, operating in 32+ countries with approximately 12,800 employees. The company emphasizes industry-specific expertise and vertical specialization, differentiating itself from generalist staffing firms through deep knowledge in technology, construction, finance, legal, marketing, sales, supply chain, and other professional specializations.

Hays was recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as one of the Largest Staffing Firms and Largest IT Staffing Firms in the US in 2023, and named a Market Leader by Everest Group in both MSP and RPO global rankings. The company's 23-year US track record focuses on contract and permanent staffing across technology and construction sectors primarily.

Unlike broad-based staffing providers, Hays positions itself as specialists who understand specific industries deeply, allowing their recruiters to identify cultural fit and technical capabilities more effectively for professional-level roles.

Key features

• Industry specialization: Focused expertise in technology, construction, finance, legal, marketing, sales, supply chain, HR, and other professional verticals with dedicated specialist recruiters.
• Global reach: 32+ countries, 12,800 employees, strong presence in UK, Asia-Pacific, Continental Europe, and Latin America with growing US operations.
• Workforce solutions: Permanent placement, temporary/contract staffing, RPO, MSP, career transition services, employer brand positioning, early careers programs.
• Market leadership recognition: Named Market Leader by Everest Group in MSP and RPO. Recognized by SIA as top IT staffing firm in US.
• Technology platform: Digital tools for talent matching, assessments for role fit, market insights and salary benchmarking resources for clients and candidates.
• Advisory services: Career coaching, skill development, leadership programs, compensation consulting beyond traditional recruitment.

Best for: Companies seeking specialist recruitment for professional roles in technology, construction, finance, or other verticals where industry-specific knowledge matters. Organizations needing global reach with local market expertise across 32+ countries. Businesses comfortable with established large-firm processes and enterprise-level workforce solutions.

Limitations: No G2 review provides insufficient data for credible assessment of service quality and client satisfaction. Pricing transparency absent with no publicly listed fee structures. Service experience appears to vary significantly by location and account size.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Korn Ferry Alternative

Each company on this list delivers results for its target clients. The differences come down to what you actually need from a staffing or recruiting partner.

The right choice depends on your company size, the positions you're hiring for, your geographic preferences and timeline requirements.

If you're building a remote team in Latin America, Near's approach centers on being a true recruiting partner rather than a transactional vendor. We prioritize transparency, quality, and comprehensive support throughout the hiring journey and beyond. Our focus on permanent placements, cultural fit, and long-term retention differentiates us from firms emphasizing high-volume or temporary staffing.

If you need traditional enterprise staffing with global reach, Robert Half, Randstad, Adecco, and Hays each bring different strengths to specific industries, regions, and use cases with established processes across dozens of countries.

The best way to determine what's right for your situation is to have real conversations about your specific needs and get a complete picture of what each company offers.

To explore whether Near's approach fits your needs, schedule a free, no-commitment consultation call. We can discuss our process, pricing, and provide salary benchmarks for the roles you're looking to fill.