Abstract: In a recruitment context, it can be difficult to determine the best third-party recruiter to help fill an open job. The disclosed system includes a recommendation engine that determines the best recruiter to help fill an open job, either for another recruiter to collaborate in a split-fee placement or for an employer having the opening. For a given candidate or job opening that becomes available and that is represented by a given user, the system analyzes disparate work information from users' transactional systems, including various criteria about their past transactions (job placements, geography, timeliness, etc.) and their current candidates to produce a recommendation. The user representing the subject candidate or job opening may then be notified of potential other users, and connected with them through an online system, in order to complete a collaborative placement.