Recruitment Consultant
Job Description:Recruitment consultants help employers to find new employees.
Job Category:What you will do:
Your day-to-day duties might include:
- ‘cold calling’ companies to generate new business
- interviewing and testing job seekers, to create a pool of people ready to fill vacancies
- matching candidates to suitable jobs
- screening and shortlisting candidates before employers interview them
- meeting targets for the number of vacancies taken or the number of people placed into jobs
- keeping records of clients, employers and vacancies
- negotiating your agency’s fees
- ‘headhunting’ – finding and approaching candidates for executive or specialist jobs
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of human resources and employment law
- business management skills
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
As well as:
- administration & organisational skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work on your own
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Entry Requirements:
To become a Recruitment Consultant, you don’t need specific GCSE subjects, but a strong foundation in certain subjects and skills can be advantageous in preparing for this career. Recruitment Consultants are responsible for connecting job seekers with job opportunities and working with employers to fill job vacancies. Here are some relevant GCSE subjects and skills:
- English Language: Strong communication skills, including writing, speaking, and listening, are essential for building relationships with clients and candidates, writing job descriptions, and conducting interviews.
- Mathematics: Basic mathematical skills can be beneficial for tasks such as salary negotiations, understanding financial terms, and calculating compensation packages.
- Business Studies: Knowledge of business principles and human resources can be valuable for understanding the recruitment and staffing industry, employment law, and best practices in hiring.
- ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Familiarity with computer applications and digital tools is crucial for managing candidate databases, job postings, and communication through email and social media.
- Psychology: Understanding human behavior and motivation can be helpful in assessing candidates and making successful job matches.
- Critical Thinking: The ability to think critically and analyze candidates’ skills and qualifications is essential for matching them to suitable job opportunities.
- Sales and Marketing: Recruitment often involves marketing job opportunities to candidates and “selling” the job to potential candidates. Understanding sales and marketing principles can be beneficial.
- Customer Service: Good customer service skills can help in building relationships with clients and candidates, as well as addressing their needs and concerns.
Post School
Previous experience in sales, marketing or customer services, or the right skills and attitude, could help you get into this type of work.
Some new recruitment consultants are graduates. You can enter recruitment with any degree, although some employers may prefer one more closely related to the industry they find staff for, like human resources, marketing or public relations.
You could get into this role through an apprenticeship.
Working Hours and Environment:
You’ll usually work standard office hours. In some jobs you may need to work outside office hours, contacting clients or interviewing candidates.
The work is mainly office-based, but you’ll also spend some of your time visiting your client companies.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience you could move into business development or management, or set up your own agency.