Alternatives
An alternative to a generalist tech recruiting agency
Generalist agencies fit broad hiring needs. Specialists fit the hires that can break a system.
| Dimension | TTR | Generalist agency |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Blockchain, AI, fintech, SaaS | Wide range of roles and sectors |
| Technical qualification | Distributed Systems Filter on every candidate | Varies; ask how it is done |
| Best for | Mission-critical and executive hires | Broad, well-defined hiring needs |
01
Where a generalist fits
A generalist agency is a reasonable choice when you are hiring across many functions, when roles are well-understood and when the market for them is broad. It offers range and one point of contact.
02
Where specialisation matters
When the role owns consensus code, a ledger, an inference path or a platform migration, the cost of a wrong hire is measured in incidents, not onboarding time. Specialists carry the vocabulary to understand a candidate's work and the network to find people who have done it.
03
Questions to ask any agency
- Who technically assesses candidates?
- Who owns this mandate day to day?
- What does a bad outcome cost me, in writing?
- Can you explain the role back to me in my own terms?
04
What TTR does differently
TTR concentrates on four verticals, applies the Distributed Systems Filter to every candidate and keeps the founder in the decision. TTR reports 3–5 days to initial introductions and 14–21 days to offer as firm benchmarks, not a promise for every mandate.
FAQ
Direct answers
- Why not just use a generalist?
You can. For critical technical hires the question is whether the agency can qualify candidates against your specific system.
- Can TTR hire outside its four verticals?
The focus is blockchain, AI, fintech and SaaS. Adjacent mandates can be discussed in the intro call.
- How do I evaluate a recruiter's technical depth?
Ask them to explain the role back to you, name the failure modes it must prevent and describe how candidates are assessed.
Next step
Put the mandate in front of Emily
Bring the role, even if the scope is unsettled. The intro call is where we pressure-test it and confirm guarantee terms.