Glossary
What is rebate period?
A rebate period is the agreed window after a placed candidate starts during which the recruitment fee is partly refunded, or the search is re-run free, if the candidate leaves.
Rebate terms are part of every agency agreement and are worth reading closely. A sliding scale, where the refund falls the longer the candidate stays, is common; so is a free replacement search instead of cash.
A long, generous rebate period is a signal that the agency expects its placements to stick, because it is the agency, not the client, that carries the cost when they do not.
What is a typical rebate period for a tech recruitment agency?
Terms vary by agency and agreement, with eight to twelve weeks common for permanent placements and longer for retained leadership searches. Always check whether the rebate is cash or a replacement search, and what conditions apply.