Recruitment consultants match suitable job seekers to temporary and permanent vacancies in their client companies.
The Work
You could be:
interviewing job seekers, face to face, to build up a pool of people to fill jobs advertised by employers
placing adverts in various media, such as job websites, magazines, newspapers or journals
selecting and vetting possible staff to fill job vacancies
sending details of suitable candidates to employers and then sending selected candidates for interview
finding staff for an employer at very short notice
building good relationships with clients, keeping in touch by phone or visits
contacting new employers to generate new business and meet targets of vacancies collected or vacancies filled
keeping records of clients, employers and vacancies
specialising in recruitment for a particular sector, such as IT or engineering.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary depending on:
where you work
the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Salaries for recruitment consultants are normally paid as a basic wage plus commission. Basic salaries start in the range of £17,500 to £23,946 a year. Jobs are sometimes advertised with a basic salary and OTE (on target earnings). Experienced and senior staff can earn up to £32,000 a year or more. Earnings can exceed £50,000 with additional performance-related bonuses and benefits.
Conditions
You usually work in agency offices but may also travel to visit employers.
Hours are usually regular, Monday to Friday, but you may have to do some evening work, contacting potential clients or candidates.
This is a fast-paced profession that can be demanding and challenging.
Some agencies specialise in recruiting for one type of employment, such as legal work, ICT, accountancy, sales, catering, scientific work or clerical work. Others deal with a wide range of jobs.
You need a good general education.
Most agencies now prefer applicants with either sales experience or a degree, which can be in any subject.
Relevant experience and personality are more important than qualifications.
You might move into this work from personnel, marketing, sales, customer service or administration work.
Vacancies are usually advertised in the press and in jobcentres.
What Does it Take?
You need to be:
confident
good at selling and negotiating
determined and persuasive
able to work under pressure to meet deadlines and targets
able to enjoy working in a competitive environment
proactive, to find new business
able to work alone.
You need to have:
excellent communication skills
time management and organisational skills
good networking skills
a professional manner
a smart appearance.
Training
Training is partly on the job.
You could also take professional courses run by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), such as the Level 2 Certificate in Recruitment Resourcing (CertRR), the Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment Practice (CertRP)(QCF) and the Level 4 Diploma in Recruitment Management (DipRM).
Getting On
With experience, and possibly after taking the professional qualifications, you may be able to become a manager.
REC also offers a range of recruitment courses for all levels in the industry including operational, management and sales courses.
You could also move into training or specialise in a specific industry.
You could become self-employed and set up your own employment consultancy – the REC can give you help and advice to do this.
