A contingency recruiter is a professional who helps organizations find and hire employees on a temporary, or as-needed basis. Contingency recruiters typically work with businesses that do not have full-time HR staff or do not have the time or resources to conduct a search themselves.

The contingent recruiter's fee is typically structured as a percentage of the new hire's salary, so there is an incentive for them to find high-quality candidates. Contingency recruiters may also be paid a bonus if the candidate they present is hired within a certain timeframe.

Contingency recruiters typically source candidates through online job boards, social media, and their own networks. They may also work with staffing agencies to find candidates for specific roles. Once a pool of qualified candidates has been identified, the contingency recruiter will screen and interview candidates before presenting them to the client organization.