Build your agency's operating system — playbooks, SOPs, and recruiter training that don't live in one person's head

ZeroTwo helps recruiting agencies build the internal operating layer that survives when the founder is off the floor: intake call playbooks, sourcing methodology documentation, outreach standards, submission format guides, client update templates, and offer-close process guides — stored in shared Projects and updated over time. Plus recruiter coaching prompts that train junior recruiters on objections, qualification, and candidate handling without requiring the founder to be in every conversation.

Build your agency playbook

Agency Operating System — TalentFirst Recruiting

Playbook & SOP Build

Playbooks built6 — intake, sourcing, outreach, screening, submission, reporting

SOPs documented12 standard operating procedures

Junior recruiter trainingObjection handlers + qualification scripts

Shared Projects setup3 client workspaces — all context persistent

Onboarding time (new recruiter)2 weeks vs. 8 weeks — playbook-driven

ZeroTwo

The 6 playbooks cover every stage of the search: intake call guide, sourcing methodology, outreach sequence standards, screening and shortlist process, client submission format, and weekly reporting. I've also built 4 coaching scenarios for junior recruiters — how to handle 'I'm not looking,' how to qualify comp on the first call, how to ask about notice period without awkwardness, and how to re-engage a candidate who's gone quiet.

Agency Playbook Library

Intake call playbookQuestions, flags, criteria extraction, role brief format

Sourcing methodologyTalent map process, boolean library, channel priority

Outreach standardsSequence structure, tone, personalization rules, timing

Screening and submissionRubric use, shortlist format, one-pager template

Client reportingWeekly update format, metrics, blocker framing

Intake Call Playbook — Key Sections

Pre-call prepReview prior JDs, comp data, client history

Must-have extraction5 key questions + how to rank by weight

Deal-breaker identification3 probes — what gets a candidate rejected immediately

Comp alignmentHow to flag misalignment without losing the client

Debrief and documentationWhat to produce within 24hrs of the call

Junior Recruiter Coaching Scenarios

Scenario: 'I'm not actively looking'How to respond — keep conversation alive

Scenario: comp qualificationHow to ask comp without awkwardness

Scenario: candidate gone quietRe-engagement framework — day 3, day 7, day 14

Scenario: offer-stage cold feetHow to probe concerns without creating pressure

Scenario: counteroffer situationHow to stay helpful while protecting the placement

SOP Examples — Standard Formats

SOP: ATS hygieneTagging, disposition codes, note standards

SOP: submission checklistWhat must be present before every client send

SOP: candidate communication cadenceWhen to reach out, how often, by what channel

SOP: weekly reportingWhat data to collect, when to send, who reviews

SOP: search closeWhat to do at placement — debrief, review request, pipeline update

Agency operations tools built for recruiting agencies

Agency knowledge that lives in systems, not in one person's head

Most small recruiting agencies run on the founder's instincts — until they hire a junior recruiter and realize those instincts aren't written down anywhere. ZeroTwo builds the playbooks that package what the founder knows into a system every recruiter can follow.

Junior recruiter coaching on real scenarios, not theory

ZeroTwo generates coaching scenarios for the situations junior recruiters face but rarely get trained on: 'I'm not looking,' comp qualification, gone-quiet candidates, offer-stage cold feet, and counteroffer handling — each with a specific framework the recruiter can follow in the call.

Playbooks that compound over time

ZeroTwo stores playbooks in shared Projects that every recruiter accesses — and updates them as the agency learns. A playbook that improves with every search becomes an institutional advantage that compounds; a recruiter who carries the knowledge in their head leaves with it.

How to build recruiting agency playbooks with ZeroTwo

Step 1

Audit what knowledge currently exists (and where)

Share examples of how the agency currently runs each stage — the intake call questions you usually ask, the sourcing approach, the submission format you prefer. ZeroTwo identifies the patterns and gaps, then starts building the documentation.

Step 2

Build the playbook library

ZeroTwo produces the playbooks for each stage: intake call guide (with questions, flags, and debrief format), sourcing methodology doc (talent map process, boolean library), outreach standards, screening and submission guides, and the weekly reporting template.

Step 3

Build recruiter coaching scenarios

ZeroTwo generates coaching scenarios for the hardest junior recruiter conversations — passive candidate objections, comp qualification, gone-quiet re-engagement, offer-stage cold feet — with a call framework, opening line, and example dialogue for each.

Step 4

Store in shared Projects and update over time

ZeroTwo organizes all playbooks, SOPs, and coaching scenarios in a shared Project workspace — so every recruiter has access, and every update improves the institutional knowledge base. When a search reveals a new wrinkle, the playbook gets updated.

Step 1

Audit what knowledge currently exists (and where)

More ways to use ZeroTwo for agency operations and recruiter training

Build intake call playbook

Build an intake call playbook — pre-call prep, must-have extraction questions, deal-breaker identification probes, comp alignment approach, and the debrief and documentation checklist for within 24 hours of the call.

Build sourcing methodology guide

Build a sourcing methodology guide for the agency — talent mapping process, boolean string library, sourcing channel priority, and what constitutes a completed sourcing phase for each search.

Write objection handler for 'not looking'

Write a coaching script for the 'I'm not actively looking' objection — opening acknowledgment, how to keep the conversation alive, what to say next, and how to close with a low-friction CTA that respects the candidate's position.

Write comp qualification coaching script

Write a coaching script for qualifying candidate comp expectations on the first call — how to ask, how to handle reluctance, how to frame the range without anchoring too early, and how to document the outcome.

Write gone-quiet re-engagement framework

Write a framework for re-engaging a candidate who's gone quiet — Day 3 check-in, Day 7 different angle, Day 14 final touch — with specific messaging for each touchpoint and how to assess whether to continue pursuing.

Write offer-stage coaching script

Write a coaching script for handling a candidate who's gone cold at offer stage — how to probe concerns without creating pressure, what the most common concerns are, and how to address each without threatening the placement.

Write counteroffer handling playbook

Write a counteroffer handling playbook — how to prepare candidates before an offer is extended, what to do when a counter is received, how to present the client's response, and how to close without creating an ultimatum.

Build new recruiter onboarding guide

Build a 2-week new recruiter onboarding guide — what to learn in week 1 (agency standards, playbooks, tools), what to do in week 2 (shadow, first intake, first sourcing), and what the 30-day competency checklist looks like.

Write search close SOP

Write a search close SOP — what to do at placement: debrief documentation, client review request, candidate check-in, ATS update, pipeline review for similar searches, and what to add to the agency playbook from what you learned.

Build agency operating system overview

Build an agency operating system overview — the 6 core processes every search follows, the tools and templates associated with each, the accountability at each stage, and how the system is maintained and updated over time.