Overview
Recruitment consultants are responsible for attracting candidates for jobs and matching them to temporary or permanent positions with client companies. You’ll build positive relationships in order to gain a better understanding of your clients’ recruitment needs and requirements.
Working as a recruitment consultant, you’ll attract candidates by drafting advertising copy for use in a range of media, as well as by networking, headhunting and through referrals. You’ll screen candidates, interview them, run background checks and finally match them to clients.
You also provide advice to both clients and candidates on salary levels, training requirements and career opportunities.
Responsibilities
As a recruitment consultant, you’re the vital link between clients and candidates. The role is demanding and diverse. It involves:
using sales, business development, marketing techniques and networking to attract business from client companies
visiting clients to build and develop positive relationships
developing a good understanding of client companies, their industry, what they do, their work culture and environment
advertising vacancies by drafting and placing adverts in a range of media, such as newspapers, websites and magazines
using social media to advertise positions, attract candidates and build relationships
headhunting – identifying and approaching suitable candidates who may already be in work
using candidate databases to match the right person to the client’s vacancy
receiving and reviewing applications, managing interviews and tests and creating a shortlist of candidates for the client
requesting references and checking the suitability of applicants before submitting their details to the client
briefing the candidate about the responsibilities, salary and benefits of the job
preparing CVs and correspondence to forward to clients regarding suitable applicants
organising interviews for candidates as requested by the client
informing candidates about the results of interviews
negotiating pay and salary rates and finalising arrangements between clients and candidates
offering advice to both clients and candidates on pay rates, training and career progression
working towards and exceeding targets that may relate to the number of candidates placed, a value to be billed to clients or business leads generated
reviewing recruitment policies to ensure effectiveness of selection techniques and recruitment programmes.
Skills
You’ll need to show evidence of the following:
excellent interpersonal and communication skills
sales and negotiation skills
a goal-orientated approach to work
the ability to handle multiple priorities
problem-solving ability
the ability to meet deadlines and targets
ambition and the determination to succeed
tenacity
confidence and self-motivation
time management and organisational skills
team-working skills
creativity.
You must also enjoy working in a high-pressure environment and the responsibility that comes with it.
Work experience
Experience in sales, marketing or any customer-oriented role is useful for starting a career in the recruitment industry. Active membership of student societies also shows that you have the necessary communication skills to succeed.
Recruitment consultancies often accept applications from those without recruitment industry experience, as long as they demonstrate the right combination of skills and personal qualities.
