Recruiting is expensive. Sometimes too expensive.
Between job boards, recruitment agencies, LinkedIn licenses, ATS and sponsored campaigns, the recruitment budget can quickly explode.
And yet… some tools remain under-exploited even though they offer a much higher return on investment. Such is the case with cooptation and internal mobility particularly via a dedicated digital platform.
But in concrete terms, what is the ROI of a solution like Keycoopt? How does it compare with other channels? We take a look at the figures.
Traditional channels increasingly expensive
Job boards, LinkedIn sourcing, recruitment agencies, ATS… These solutions now represent a substantial investment.
| Channel | Average cost per year (typical company with 500 to 2000 employees) |
|---|---|
| LinkedIn Recruiter Corporate | 9,000 per user |
| Hellowork (annual package) | 8 000 à 50 000 € |
| Indeed | 30,000 on average |
| Recruitment agency | 10,000 to €15,000 / recruitment |
And with no guarantee of success. High volume, low conversion. Profiles are often unqualified, uncommitted, and recruitment times are getting longer.
Did you know?
Between them, Indeed and LinkedIn capture 70% of the French recruitment market and 53% of the global market.
A duopoly that imposes its conditions, notably on the prices of sponsored campaigns, without always guaranteeing a return commensurate with the investment.
Co-optation and internal mobility, under-exploited but highly profitable levers
Internal mobility: a win-win strategy
Many companies are still unaware of the potential of in-house talent. And yet :
- An existing employee knows the culture, the tools and the teams.
- It’s up and running faster.
- It costs considerably less to recruit and integrate.
- Employees see the prospect of development within their company and remain loyal to it.
In 2025, companies that develop an active internal mobility strategy will save up to 30% on their recruitment budget.
To find out more
Read our article on the advantages of internal mobility
Co-optation, a low-cost source of quality talent
Co-optation is based on a simple and highly effective principle: employees recommend profiles from their network.
Key benefits :
- Average cost per recruitment divided by 3 to 4
- Access to hidden profiles, not visible on job boards because they are not actively searching.
- 80% of co-opted profiles are still in post after 1 year (vs. 55% on average for all channels combined).
- Higher profile quality, because the co-operator associates his image with that of the person he is recommending.
Our co-optation program promotes the company through our employees and their networks, attracting the best candidates.
Geoffroy Saint-Antoine, Director of Recruitment and Talent Development at Foncia
To find out more
See our article on the benefits of co-opting
Key figures for 2025
| Indicator | Traditional recruitment | Referral recruitment and internal mobility solution |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost / recruitment | 3 000 à 12 000 € | 400 to €1,000 (including co-optation bonuses) |
| 12-month retention rate | 55% | 80% |
| Average recruitment time | 45 to 60 days | 20 to 30 days |
Lack of structure and appropriate management
Despite their effectiveness, co-option and internal mobility remain under-exploited. For lack of structure, leadership, visibility or tools.
Implementing a co-optation or mobility strategy involves much more than simply posting vacancies on the intranet.
- Structuring application feedback channels
- Involving employees in the program
- Monitor and manage results
- Make the experience seamless for everyone (HR, managers, co-opters)
A digital platform to professionalize these levers
This is where Keycoopt can make the difference.
- White-label internal mobility and cooptation platform
- Easy to integrate into existing systems
- Turnkey animation
- Integrated ROI tracking KPIs
- Already used by +150 companies (KPMG, Groupe BPCE, Roullier, Chronopost…).
Without taking the place of ATSs or job boards, Keycoopt acts as a complementary strategic HR channel: less costly, more engaging and highly profitable.
Keycoopt’s digital solution really came to us in a very simple way, and it allows us to manage co-optation with real traceability. The results have exceeded our expectations.
Vincent Bichon, Jobs & Careers Manager, Crédit Mutuel Loire Atlantique, Centre Ouest
To recruit better, faster and at lower cost, it’s no longer a question of expanding sourcing at all costs, but ofintelligently activating the resources already present in the organization. Your employees are the best ambassadors for recommending profiles aligned with your culture.
Your in-house talent, on the other hand, is often just waiting for an opportunity to evolve.
These two levers – cooptation and internal mobility – offer measurable ROI, both in terms of effectiveness and commitment.
