As organisations face increasingly complex hiring landscapes – characterised by skills shortages, evolving candidate expectations, and fluctuating hiring demands – choosing the right recruitment model has never been more important. Among the most talked-about strategies today are Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Embedded Talent. Both offer scalable hiring support beyond traditional in-house teams, but each takes a very different approach.
So how do you decide which is right for your organisation? We will unpack the following to:
At first glance, RPO and Embedded Talent models may seem similar. Both aim to optimise recruitment by providing external expertise and reducing strain on internal teams. But the way they operate – and the experience they deliver – is distinctly different.
RPO is a strategic outsourcing model in which an organisation hands over all or part of its recruitment processes to a third-party provider. That provider, like Omni, takes end-to-end responsibility: from sourcing and screening candidates to onboarding, employer brand activation and amplification. On top of this, the organisation will benefit from cutting edge recruitment technology that is embedded in the RPO provider’s solutions.
Think of RPO as a fully managed service, designed for organisations looking to streamline and professionalise hiring at scale. It often involves standardised processes, service level agreements (SLAs), and longer-term contracts.
In contrast, the Embedded Talent model places Recruitment Business Partners directly into your organisation – culturally, operationally, and often physically. Embedded recruiters act as an extension of your internal team, collaborating closely with hiring managers, aligning with company values, and responding in real time to changing needs.
Embedded Talent is flexible and immersive. While it may use some of the same tools and expertise as RPO, its strength lies in its integration and agility, making it feel like your recruitment team – just supercharged because it’s not in house, it’s not outsourced, it’s just right.
The right model depends on your hiring maturity, business goals, and internal capability.
RPO works best when recruitment needs are predictable, scalable, and part of a broader transformation agenda. It’s especially effective for businesses wanting to centralise recruitment under a single provider with clear accountability.
Embedded Talent thrives in environments where speed, culture fit, and collaboration are essential. It provides all the benefits of an in-house recruiter—but with the added experience, tools, and networks of a specialist partner.
Let’s break down the most common hiring challenges – and how each model addresses them:
At Omni, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to recruitment. The real power lies in understanding your organisation’s specific needs and choosing the model – or combination of models – that aligns best with your goals.
Whether you’re scaling rapidly and need talent partners embedded in your teams, or you’re looking to transform recruitment across business units, we can help you find the right fit.
RPO and Embedded Talent aren’t competing solutions – they’re strategic tools. The key is knowing when, and how, to use them.
Very. You choose the level of support, duration, and areas of focus – whether that’s day-to-day hiring, talent strategy, employer branding or all of the above. With Embedded Talent, you only pay for what you need, when you need it.
Unlike traditional recruitment agencies or full RPO models, Embedded Talent integrates into your culture, processes and employer brand. It’s a more agile, personalised approach – giving you all the benefits of in-house recruitment, without the long-term overheads.
Embedded Talent is ideal for SMEs, scale-ups, or organisations without a dedicated talent acquisition team. It’s also a smart choice for larger businesses needing short-term strategic support or specialist recruitment skills during growth, transformation or change.
Embedded Talent Solutions offer flexibility, cost efficiency, and access to expert recruitment support without the commitment of a full RPO. You get high-quality hiring expertise, tailored to your needs, with the ability to scale up or down as your business changes.
Embedded Recruitment places experienced recruiters directly into your business, acting as an extension of your team. Whether onsite or remote, they manage your hiring needs from within your organisation, offering strategic and hands-on support – all under your brand.
