As a recruitment consultant, you would help employers to find suitable staff, and match people to permanent and temporary jobs. If you are a confident person, have sales skills and can communicate well with people, this could be a career you would enjoy.
In this job you will need to be a good negotiator. You will also need to be organised, professional and able to work towards targets.
There is no fixed entry route into this job. Some new recruitment consultants are graduates. Previous experience in sales, marketing or customer services could help you get into this type of work without a degree. You could also get into recruitment through an Apprenticeship.
The work
Your work may involve:
- taking vacancy details from employers
- ‘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
- building good relationships with employers so that they keep using your agency
- keeping in touch with job seekers on your agency’s books
- 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
You could work for various kinds of employment agency, dealing with permanent or temporary work at all levels in many different industries.
Entry requirements
There is no fixed entry route to become a recruitment consultant. There are different ways to get into this career. Some new consultants enter this job with a degree. Experience is highly valued by employers. With the right skills and attitude you could still enter this job without a degree.
As a graduate it’s possible to enter recruitment with any degree, although some employers may prefer one more closely related to the industry, for example:
- human resources
- marketing
- public relations
Some recruitment agencies specialise in a sector of work such as healthcare or gas and oil. You may be expected to have a degree or industry experience in the sector you wish to work in. For example, a degree in pharmacy or a background in pharmaceutical sales could help you get into pharmaceutical recruitment.
Whatever your qualifications, you’ll be expected to have great sales skills and be able to communicate with people at many different levels. You’ll also need to have excellent customer service and teamworking skills. You can get these skills from voluntary work at university, such as being an active member of societies, or you could have relevant work experience in areas like marketing, sales or public relations.
You could also develop your understanding of the recruitment industry by gaining some experience. Whether you’re studying or looking for work, you could try:
- work experience
- internships
- temporary employment
Getting experience in a recruitment agency will give you the opportunity to meet and network with people who already work in the industry. Your contacts could help you understand the industry better and may help you find longer term paid work in recruitment.
You may be able to get into this job through a recruitment Apprenticeship. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and types of skills employers need from their workers. Visit the Institute of Recruitment Professionals and Apprenticeships websites for more information.
Skills, interests and qualities
To be a recruitment consultant you should have:
- excellent communication and customer service skills
- good sales and negotiation skills
- a confident and positive attitude
- the ability to work under pressure and meet targets
- a professional manner
- good organisational and administrative skills
- the ability to work well in a team
