Every staff augmentation provider says the same things on its homepage. Top talent. Rigorous vetting. Seamless onboarding. The words are free, so they're worthless as a filter. What tells you who's real is a short list of specific questions, and how comfortable the provider is answering them.
Key Takeaways
- Ask for the rejection rate. A provider that doesn't track it isn't vetting hard.
- Ask for the retention number, measured at six months, not a vibe.
- A flat, published price beats a custom quote you can't compare.
- A real replacement guarantee in writing is the difference between a partner and a broker.
Start With Vetting, in Numbers
Anyone can say "we vet carefully." Ask what percentage of applicants they accept. A serious provider knows the number and it's low. We pass about 3%, and we'll tell you exactly which five stages get us there. If the answer is fuzzy, the vetting is too. For what good vetting looks like, see the 5-stage process.
Then Retention
Vetting quality shows up later as retention, so ask for that too. What share of placed engineers are still on the client's team at six months? Ours is 97%, against an industry average we estimate near 85%. A provider that places fast but churns is selling you a hiring problem on repeat.
The Questions Most CTOs Skip
| Question | Good answer | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| What's your rejection rate? | A specific, low number | "We're very selective" |
| Six-month retention? | Measured, in writing | No data |
| Who owns the IP? | You do, by contract | "It's complicated" |
| Replacement policy? | Free, defined window | Case-by-case |
| Pricing? | Flat, published | "Custom quote" |
That pricing row matters more than it looks. Opaque "custom" quotes exist to protect the provider's margin, not your budget. A flat published rate lets you compare in a minute and budget without a sales cycle.
Watch How They Sell
The sales process previews the working relationship. A provider that pushes you to sign before you've talked to an engineer, dodges the vetting questions, or buries the price is showing you how they'll behave once the contract is signed. A good partner is happy to be checked, because the answers are their pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the single most important question to ask?
The rejection rate. It's the cleanest proxy for how seriously a provider vets, and it predicts the retention you'll actually get.
Should I trust a provider without published pricing?
Be cautious. Opaque pricing isn't always a dealbreaker, but a published flat rate is a strong trust signal and saves you a sales cycle.
How important is the replacement guarantee?
Very. A defined, free replacement window means the provider has skin in the match working out, not just in closing the deal.
The Bottom Line
Ignore the homepage adjectives and ask five specific questions: rejection rate, retention, IP ownership, replacement terms, and price. The provider worth hiring answers all five without flinching. Ask us those questions.
Roberto Espinoza is CEO of Ruzora, which helps US startups hire pre-vetted senior LATAM engineers in 72 hours. See available engineers.
