Recruitment Consultant
What is the work like?
As a recruitment consultant, you would help employers to find suitable staff, and help people to find suitable jobs.
Your work may involve:
- taking vacancy details from employers
- ‘cold calling’ companies to generate new business
- interviewing and testing job seekers to build 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 for many industry sectors.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Employers will ask for a good standard of education, but your skills and attitude are often more important than your academic qualifications.
Good sales skills and an excellent telephone manner are important, so you will find it useful to have experience in customer service, sales or marketing.
You may need relevant experience and qualifications to work in an agency that specialises in a particular industry such as IT, engineering or nursing. Agencies that deal with high-level executive jobs may also prefer you to be a graduate, although this is not always essential.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working for an agency, you will mainly develop your skills on the job. Some large agencies run their own structured in-house training programmes for new entrants.
Your training may include working towards the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment and Selection, or the following qualifications from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC):
- Certificate in Recruitment Practice – aimed at people new to the recruitment industry
- Diploma in Recruitment Practice – usually for recruitment consultants with at least a year’s experience
- Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) degree in Recruitment Practice.
You can study for all of these qualifications by distance learning. The REC Certificate in Recruitment Practice is also available by short fast-track courses at study centres around the UK.
The Recruitment and Employment Federation and CIPD both offer a range of short courses to help you with your professional development throughout your career. See websites for more details about each organisation’s qualifications and training.
Where can I go for more information?
Kimberley House47 Vaughan Way
Leicester
LE1 4SG
Tel: 0116 251 7979
London
W1G 9XT
Tel: 020 7009 2100
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Most recruitment consultants earn a basic salary plus commission.
- Basic starting salaries are usually between £15,000 and £18,000 a year.
- With experience, earnings can rise to between £20,000 and £40,000, plus commission.
Figures are a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
The work is mainly office-based, but you would also spend some of your time visiting employers.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent communication and 'people' 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.
What opportunities are there?
You could work for recruitment companies ranging from branches of large national chains to small local agencies. Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, recruitment industry websites and on employers' own websites.
With experience, larger companies with a defined promotion structure may offer opportunities to move into business development or management. Alternatively, you could choose to set up your own agency.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
UK Recruiter
Recruiter
Online Recruitment
Life in Recruitment
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