FAQ
Questions, answered.
The things job seekers and employers ask us most — fees, guarantees, timelines, and how working with Harbor actually works. No hedging, no fine print surprises.
Candidates
For job seekers
What it costs (nothing), how contract employment works, and how to stay safe from recruiting scams.
Never. Our service is 100% free for job seekers — no fees, no deductions, no exceptions. Employers pay us. If anyone claiming to represent Harbor Recruitment asks you for payment, gift cards, banking details, or to cash a check on their behalf, it is a scam: stop contact and report it to fraud@harborrecruitment.com so we can act on it.
Three quick checks: real Harbor recruiters email only from the @harborrecruitment.com domain; you can call our main line at +1 (530) 423-3091 and ask to be connected to them by name; and we will never ask you for money or banking details at any point in the process. If any one of those checks fails, it isn't us — report it to fraud@harborrecruitment.com.
You're a W-2 employee of Harbor Recruitment (or the Canadian equivalent, with full source deductions) while on assignment. That means taxes are withheld from each paycheck, you're covered by workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, and you're paid weekly. We don't place workers as 1099 independent contractors for standard assignments.
Yes — eligible contractors can enroll in medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus a 401(k) with matching in the US or RRSP matching in Canada. Eligibility timelines are shown with each assignment offer, and our team walks you through enrollment during onboarding.
Case-by-case, and always in partnership with the hiring employer — sponsorship is ultimately the employer's decision. Each posting on our site carries a work-authorization note so you know where you stand before you apply. If your situation is complex, tell your recruiter up front and we'll be straight with you about which roles are realistic.
We place talent in all 50 US states and every Canadian province, with offices in San Francisco (HQ), Austin, New York, Toronto, and Vancouver. Remote roles are part of the core business — postings are flagged Remote–US or Remote–Canada — and our contracts and payroll are compliant on both sides of the border.
Employers
For employers
How fees, guarantees, and timelines work when you hire through Harbor.
Direct hire is success-based: you pay a percentage of first-year base salary (typically 20–30% in the North American market), invoiced only when your hire starts, and backed by our 90-day replacement guarantee. Executive search is retained, usually 25–35% of first-year compensation with an engagement fee. Contract staffing is one all-in hourly bill rate covering the contractor's pay, payroll taxes, workers' comp, and insurance. Temp-to-hire conversions use a declining fee schedule.
For most professional roles, expect a shortlist of vetted candidates in 3–5 business days. Contract roles often move faster — sometimes within 48 hours. Executive searches run deeper on research and typically present a full slate within a few weeks. Your account manager commits to a date at kickoff and reports progress against it.
Your contractor starts on Harbor's payroll. When you're ready to bring them on permanently — most clients decide within 3–6 months — you convert them to your payroll and pay a conversion fee that declines the longer the contract has run. After a threshold number of hours, many conversions are free. The exact schedule is in your agreement before anyone starts.
Every direct hire carries a 90-day replacement guarantee: if the hire leaves or doesn't work out within the first 90 days, we rerun the search at no additional fee. It's our standard term because we'd rather stand behind the match than argue about it.
We place talent in all 50 US states and every Canadian province, with offices in San Francisco (HQ), Austin, New York, Toronto, and Vancouver. Remote roles are part of the core business — postings are flagged Remote–US or Remote–Canada — and our contracts and payroll are compliant on both sides of the border.
Didn't find your answer? Call us at +1 (530) 423-3091 or email hello@harborrecruitment.com — a real person replies, usually within one business day.
Ready for what’s next?
Whether you’re making your next career move or building your next team, a real person at Harbor is ready to help — usually within one business day.