How to Hire IT Professionals in Türkiye via Agency

International companies already know where skilled IT professionals exist. However, the real chaos begins when you decide to get them to work for you.

There are many ways to reach such talent, but the most efficient method is often unknown to employers. Even after successfully hiring them, companies often want to avoid the ongoing responsibilities.

In this post, we discuss how to hire in Türkiye, outsourcing methods, the costs of hiring, and the right companies to partner with when employing IT professionals.

Picture of Özlem Çanakçı
Özlem Çanakçı

Author

Picture of Alp Atasoy
Alp Atasoy

Co-author

How to Hire IT Professionals in Turkiye via Agency
How to Hire IT Professionals in Turkiye via Agency

How to Hire IT Professionals in Türkiye via Agency

International companies already know where skilled IT professionals exist. However, the real chaos begins when you decide to get them to work for you.

There are many ways to reach such talent, but the most efficient method is often unknown to employers. Even after successfully hiring them, companies often want to avoid the ongoing responsibilities.

In this post, we discuss how to hire in Türkiye, outsourcing methods, the costs of hiring, and the right companies to partner with when employing IT professionals.

Picture of Özlem Çanakçı
Özlem Çanakçı

Author

Picture of Alp Atasoy
Alp Atasoy

Co-author

Table of Contents

Get in Touch with Us

Alp Atasoy

Alp Atasoy

Sales and Business Development Consultant

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Choose the Right Type of IT Recruitment Agency

Choose the Right Type of IT Recruitment Agency

If you are not hiring directly by registering your own legal entity and handling the complete process, then choosing the third party for hiring needs is the first critical step in Türkiye.

Not all hiring agencies operate in the same way. The goals for each agency differ based on hiring needs, budget level, and legal responsibility.

If you understand these key differences, you are already ahead of many employers who struggle with unnecessary costs, hiring risks, and a slow recruitment process.

IT Staffing & Recruitment Agencies

These are traditional recruitment agencies that focus on sourcing and placing IT professionals for companies in Türkiye.

How they work:

  • You share the job description and requirements
  • The agency searches for candidates using their database and networks
  • They shortlist and pre-screen candidates
  • You interview and select the final hire

Best for:

  • Companies hiring for specific IT roles
  • Short-term or long-term hiring needs
  • Businesses that want control over hiring decisions

Cost structure:

  • One-time placement fee
  • Typically 15%–25% of the candidate’s annual salary  
  • Paid after successful hiring (sometimes with replacement guarantee)

Key advantage: Fast access to pre-vetted local talent without building an internal recruitment team.

Limitation: You still handle employment contracts, payroll, and legal compliance.

Global Recruitment Firms

These are large international agencies. Such firms operate across multiple countries and have standardized hiring systems.

How they work:

  • Global talent pools across multiple regions
  • Structured hiring processes and compliance frameworks
  • Often serve multinational companies

Best for:

  • Enterprises hiring across multiple countries
  • Companies needing consistent hiring standards globally
  • Large-scale recruitment projects

Cost structure:

  • Higher placement fees than local agencies
  • Typically 20%–30% of annual salary (varies by role seniority and exclusivity)
  • May include retained search fees for executive roles

Key advantage: Strong global reach and access to international talent pipelines.

Limitation: Usually more expensive and less flexible compared to local agencies.

EOR & IT Outsourcing Agencies (Must Consider)

EOR (Employer of Record) and IT outsourcing agencies handle many more responsibilities than recruitment agencies. They are the legal employers for your employees, and you manage their operational tasks.

How they work:

  • The agency legally employs the worker in Türkiye
  • You manage the employee’s day-to-day tasks
  • Agency handles payroll, taxes, insurance, and compliance

Best for:

  • Foreign companies hiring in Türkiye without a legal entity
  • Fast market entry without setting up a local company
  • Risk-free hiring with full legal compliance

Cost structure:

  • Monthly service fee per employee
  • Either:
    • Flat fee (e.g., $199–$299 per employee/month)  
    • OR 5%–15% of employee salary  
  • Additional costs: salary + employer taxes + optional benefits

Key advantage: You can hire talent in Türkiye without establishing a local entity, while staying fully compliant with labor laws.

Limitation: Higher service fees compared to traditional recruitment agencies.

Define Your Hiring Requirements (Before Contacting an Agency)

Define Your Hiring Requirements Before Contacting an Agency

Once you have decided what type of agency you want to partner with, define what you are actually looking for. The reason behind most hiring delays and bad candidate matches is not agency failure, it’s the requirements you give to them, which are often vague, incomplete, and unrealistic.

If the agency has a well-defined hiring brief, it can source better candidates faster and reduce back-and-forth communication. This approach also benefits you by ensuring you only receive relevant shortlists.

Define the Exact Role Clearly

Start with a precise job title and scope of work.

For example:

  • Frontend Developer (React.js)
  • DevOps Engineer (AWS + Kubernetes)
  • Full Stack Developer (Node.js + React)

Avoid generic titles like “Software Developer” unless absolutely necessary.

List Required Technical Skills

Clearly separate must-have vs nice-to-have skills.

  • Must-have: core technologies required for the job
  • Nice-to-have: secondary tools or frameworks

This helps agencies filter candidates more accurately.

Experience Level Expectations

Define the seniority level clearly:

  • Junior (0–2 years)
  • Mid-level (2–5 years)
  • Senior (5+ years)
  • Lead / Architect

Without this, agencies may send mismatched candidates.

Budget Range and Compensation Structure

You should define:

  • Salary range (monthly or annual)
  • Benefits (if any)
  • Remote, hybrid, or onsite preference

This ensures candidates are financially aligned before interviews.

Location & Work Model

Specify:

  • Türkiye-based or international candidates
  • Remote / hybrid / office requirement
  • Time zone requirements (important for global teams)

Key insight: The more structured your hiring requirements are, the faster and more accurate your recruitment process becomes.

How the Agency Hiring Process Works (Step-by-Step Hiring Workflow)

How the Agency Hiring Process Works Step by Step Hiring Workflow

When you have selected the right type of agency model and have defined the hiring requirements, it’s time to engage with an IT recruitment agency. Now, the hiring process follows a structured workflow that is designed to deliver qualified candidates.

If you understand each step, you can manage expectations, speed up decisions, and avoid bottlenecks.

  1. Share Job Requirements

The process begins with you providing a detailed hiring brief.

This typically includes:

  • Job title and responsibilities
  • Required technical skills
  • Experience level
  • Budget and compensation range
  • Work model (remote, hybrid, onsite)

The clearer your requirements are, the more accurate the talent match will be.

  1. Candidate Sourcing (Database + Network)

The agency then starts sourcing candidates through multiple channels:

  • Internal candidate database
  • Professional networks and referrals
  • Job boards and sourcing tools
  • Passive candidate outreach

Top agencies target passive candidates in addition to active job seekers. They have a strong network due to their reputation, that is a plus point. 

  1. Pre-Screening (Technical & Cultural Fit)

Before sending candidates to you, the agency conducts initial evaluations.

This includes:

  • Technical skill assessment (basic to advanced, depending on role)
  • Experience validation
  • Communication and cultural fit screening

Due to this single step, you only receive relevant and qualified candidates and save your time.

  1. Shortlist Delivery (Within Days)

After screening, the agency shares a shortlist of candidates.

Typically includes:

  • Candidate profiles (CVs)
  • Screening notes or summaries
  • Salary expectations
  • Availability

Most agencies deliver the first shortlist within a few days. It depends on role complexity.

  1. Candidate Interviews

You then conduct interviews with selected candidates.

This may include:

  • Technical interviews
  • Live coding tests or assessments
  • Final cultural/managerial interviews

At this step, the agency coordinates from both sides. It focuses on scheduling and gathering the information.

  1. Offer, Hiring & Onboarding

Once you select a candidate:

  • You extend the job offer
  • The agency may assist in negotiation
  • Contract signing and onboarding begins

If you’re using an EOR or outsourcing agency, they will also handle:

  • Employment contracts
  • Payroll setup
  • Legal compliance and documentation

Top IT Recruitment Agencies in Türkiye

Top IT Recruitment Agencies in Turkiye

The right recruitment partner does not mean just availing the services. It’s about finding an agency that aligns with your hiring scale, technical needs, and expansion goals. Below are some of the most trusted IT recruitment agencies in Türkiye:

FMC Group

FMC Group is a well-established recruitment and consulting firm with over 15 years of experience as an Employer of Record in Türkiye.

They specialize in:

  • Mid to senior-level hiring
  • International companies entering the Turkish market
  • End-to-end recruitment support

What makes them stand out is their consultative approach. They work as a people-first agency and act as a local HR partner. FMC Group handles everything from candidate sourcing to contract negotiation.

Best for: Foreign companies needing both recruitment + compliance support

Gini Talent

Gini Talent is one of the fastest-growing IT recruitment agencies in Türkiye, known for its tech-focused hiring approach.

They offer:

  • IT staffing and recruitment
  • Employer of Record (EOR) services
  • AI-powered candidate screening
  • Global hiring support across 100+ countries

Best for: Companies building remote or distributed tech teams.

IT Talent Turkey

IT Talent Turkey (ITT) is a boutique recruitment agency. They focus on tech ecosystems specifically.

They are known for:

  • Fast hiring turnaround (often within weeks)
  • Strong local developer database
  • Startup-focused recruitment

Best for: Startups and scaleups needing fast, efficient hiring

Manpower Turkey

Manpower Turkey is part of the global ManpowerGroup, one of the largest workforce solutions companies worldwide.

They provide:

  • Large-scale IT recruitment
  • Workforce outsourcing
  • Talent management and training

Best for: Enterprises and high-volume hiring needs

Pro Strategy: How Most Companies Hire in Türkiye

Companies that enter Türkiye for hiring needs often begin with an EOR model without setting up a legal entity.

After initial hiring, they switch to recruitment agencies to build a stable, long-term team with full control.

A mix of EOR (flexibility) and direct hiring (cost efficiency) is commonly used during the growth phase.

Once hiring scales, companies establish a local entity to reduce costs and manage employees directly.

At this stage, companies also look for payroll, finance, and cash management services in Türkiye.

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