Recruitment consultant
A recruitment consultant is responsible for attracting candidates and matching them to temporary or permanent positions jobs with client companies. The jobs may vary from entry-level roles to directors and executives.
Recruitment consultants work with client companies, building relationships in order to gain a better understanding of their recruitment needs and requirements. They attract candidates by drafting advertising copy for use in a wide range of media, as well as by networking, headhunting and through referrals. They screen candidates, interview them, do background checks, and finally match candidates to their clients.
Consultants also provide advice to both clients and candidates on salary levels, training requirements and career opportunities.
A recruitment consultant's role is demanding and diverse and involves:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in human resources could be beneficial. Choosing to work for an agency that specialises in a market or industry related to your degree subject could also increase your chances.
Postgraduate study is not essential. You may find that relevant experience and skills are more useful.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
Work experience in sales, marketing or any customer-oriented role is useful for starting a career in the recruitment industry. Active membership of student societies may also help you give evidence that you have the skills needed.
Competition is fierce as the occupation attracts candidates from all disciplines, but the sector is growing constantly - more than 100,000 people currently work in recruitment consultancies. As a result, more entry-level vacancies are being generated, but entry is still very competitive.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
On-the-job training is offered to trainee consultants for the first few months. Larger firms offer induction or skills training for new staff members entering as trainee recruitment consultants. Short courses on specific aspects of the industry, run in-house or by external training providers, may cover:
A range of commercial training providers offer short courses specific to the skills required in the industry. It is also worth noting that the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) run personal development training for members.
Professional qualifications are also available through the REC and the CIPD. The REC offers three nationally-recognised professional qualifications in collaboration with Middlesex University Business School:
In practice, recruitment agencies do not consider professional qualifications essential, but if you wishing to gain a thorough understanding of professional practice and the industry you may find them valuable in the longer term. Personal membership of the REC is not a requirement, but can be of benefit in keeping your knowledge up to date and demonstrating professionalism to clients.
Typically, you will start work with a recruitment agency either as a trainee recruitment consultant or as a recruitment resourcer, depending on the size of the company. Both roles are entry level and include receive on-the-job training.
As a trainee recruitment consultant, you will be given a sales target in the first three months and progression will depend on your achieving your target. As a recruitment resource, your role will be to support recruitment consultants by sourcing new candidates for vacancies. You will be given a target for the number of new candidates you should find. As both roles are target driven, your progression is mainly based on you achieving your target over a period of three months to a year, during which time you will continue to receive training and mentoring. In terms of structure, there are relatively few levels of management in consultancy because of the individual target-driven culture.
Those interested in developing their career in recruitment may find professional qualifications and/or individual membership of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) useful, though this is not essential for career progression.
Opportunities for career development in recruitment depend on your willingness to progress, and the size and structure of your employing agency. With a strong performance, it is possible to progress to senior consultant and then to branch manager.
Further progression from consultant is usually to senior consultant or account manager, which might occur after a minimum of three years' experience. Progression to team leader or managerial positions will require enhanced people management skills and financial ability, but your key abilities will still lie in consultancy.
If you do not have management aspirations, recognition may come in the form of developing your own market, becoming involved in training new recruits or specialising in a specific area, such as executives, or a specific industry.
The industry has grown significantly in recent years and the number of recruitment agencies and consultancies has increased.
Employers range from national and international recruitment agencies to small local firms and from specialist sector-specific agencies to those that recruit for many sectors. Large consultancies such as Adecco, Blue Arrow and Michael Page International have branches worldwide and cover a variety of sectors, such as marketing, accounting, secretarial, IT, etc. Medium-sized consultancies have branches nationwide and small consultancies have perhaps just one office providing a broad-based service to a variety of local employers.
Specialist agencies that recruit for recruitment positions (known as recruitment to recruitment or Rec2Rec or R2R) are listed by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) . One such agency specialising in posts in Scotland is Leah Ley-Wilson .
Another useful resource is LinkedIn . As well as advertising jobs, this is primarily a professional networking tool, and most recruitment agencies now use it to build brand image and help source new candidates. This is a great tool to research potential employers.
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