Career Path for Recruiter

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in recruiting, there are a few key things you should know. First and foremost, recruiters play a vital role in helping companies find the best talent for open positions. They also assess candidates’ qualifications and match them with appropriate job opportunities. In addition, recruiters often act as liaisons between employers and potential employees, guiding the hiring process.

If you’re looking to enter this exciting field, it’s essential to understand the many different paths you can take to become a recruiter. This article will provide an overview of some standard career options available to those interested in beginning a career as a recruiter.

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Recruiter?

A recruiter is an individual who typically works for an organization in a full-time capacity, staffing positions within the company, or representing clients. Recruiters can play different roles depending on their employer, acting as liaisons between existing employees and hiring managers for internal jobs or headhunters to find qualified candidates outside their organization.

A recruiter’s responsibilities typically involve:

Finding and screening qualified candidates.
Scheduling interviews.
Conducting reference checks.
Following up on employment decisions.

In some cases, recruiters may work independently for a third-party professional employer organization (PEO) or human resources services firm.

2. What Does a Recruiter Do?

The recruiter’s role is to find suitable employees for their client companies. They are responsible for contacting applicants, sorting applications, interviewing candidates, and creating shortlists of the best ones. Recruitment agencies usually have several clients that they supply with workers regularly, but they will also take on specific projects if another company requests them.

3. What Is the Difference Between an Agency Recruiter and a Retained Search Recruiter?

Recruiters typically work on either an agency or retained basis. For example, an agency recruiter is paid per head by their recruiting company for successfully filling a position. This means that the more people the recruiter places, the more money they make. On the other hand, a retained search recruiter typically works on a retainer basis, meaning that they are paid an annual salary regardless of how many people they place. This type of recruiter generally receives higher compensation than agency recruiters.

The different payment structures mean that retained search recruiters often focus more on working with suitable candidates rather than filling job orders quickly. Furthermore, because retained recruiters typically work for a single client with a direct relationship with the organization, they are better equipped to assist hiring managers in finding precisely what they need.

4. How Does Candidate Experience Differ Between Agency and Retained Recruiters?

The main difference between an agency recruiter and retained search recruiter is autonomy. Since an agency recruiter is paid per head, they often feel obligated to fill a job order as quickly as possible. As a result, the candidate experience can vary widely based on which agency is assigned to a particular recruitment process. On the other hand, since retained recruiters work with a hiring manager to find the perfect fit for their organization, they go through the hiring process and only extend offers to candidates they feel are 100 percent qualified.

Additionally, agency recruiters conduct most of their work over the phone and typically only meet candidates in person when they make a final offer. Conversely, retained search recruiters may spend 15-20 hours interviewing top candidates before presenting them to a hiring manager. Getting to know the candidate allows the recruiter to build a working relationship on which both parties can rely.

5. What Skills Do I Need?

Some of the skills you need to be a recruiter include

The ability to help to hire managers to find the right candidate for a position
A genuine interest in helping people succeed
Good communication skills, both written and verbal
An understanding of how to read resumes
Proficiency with various software programs such as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), shared calendars, and time trackers
Usability of social media in search for qualified candidates
The ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
An understanding of the general hiring process (i.e., how long does it take to fill a position?)

6. What Educational Requirements to Become a Recruiter?

To become a recruiter, you typically need a college degree. However, this can vary according to the company you work for.

According to Monster.com, recruiters typically need a bachelor’s degree in business or marketing along with some professional certification such as SHRM-CP (Human Resource Certification). To work as a recruiter at most organizations, applicants typically need 2-3 years of experience working in human resources or recruiting, along with proven success. However, there are entry-level jobs available for those who have no experience.

7. How Do I Become a Recruiter?

To become a recruiter, you typically need to start with entry-level employment in an organization’s HR department. After obtaining sufficient experience and knowledge of the general hiring process, you can begin pursuing promotions within the company or jumpstart your career by moving to another organization.

While many recruiters find their positions through a friend or family member already working in the field, you can also search for available jobs on job boards such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com.

Once you have experience in recruiting under your belt, you can consider finding a job as a retained search recruiter or staffing agency recruiter. Both types of recruiters are responsible for helping hiring managers find the best candidates for job openings. However, retained search recruiters focus on working with one company to fill an open position. In contrast, staffing agency recruiters work on a contract basis with hiring managers to fill multiple jobs.

8. How Long Does it Take to Become a Recruiter?

It takes much less time to become a recruiter than it does for other careers. Monster.com indicates that the average time spent in school is typically two years, and you can begin applying for jobs right after graduation. However, if you are entering an entry-level position, you may need more than two years of experience.

9. What Is the Average Salary of a Recruiter?

Recruiters are the people who find new employees for companies. They’re usually not the ones hiring, but instead, they’re responsible for finding qualified candidates to fill open positions.

The average salary of a recruiter is around $42,800, which can vary depending on experience and location of employment. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median earning for a recruiter is $46,900.

While recruiters typically work for companies, they typically work under a manager who reviews their performance and assigns them projects. The BLS also reports that the median salary of a human resources manager is $95,670.

10. What Is the Job Outlook for Recruiters?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there were 323,700 recruiters employed in 2014. The government expects this number to grow by 13% through 2022, which is faster than average and will create about 25,000 new jobs.

The job outlook for recruiters is expected to average out at 7% growth, which is a little faster than average. This is because of the increase in business and job openings.

11. Top Recruiting Companies for a Recruiter

There are many top recruiting companies for a recruiter. Some of the most notable ones include:

Manpower Group
Randstad
Kelly Services
Robert Half International
Adecco
Manpower Group
Aerotek

These companies have a long history of providing quality recruitment services to businesses of all sizes. They have a large pool of talented recruiters, and they are always looking to expand their reach by partnering with new businesses.

12. Best Colleges to Study Recruitment

If you’re interested in a career in human resources or recruiting, several excellent colleges study the field.

The best colleges will offer a comprehensive curriculum covering all aspects of HR, from recruiting and interviewing to benefits and payroll.

They’ll also have strong connections with local businesses, so you can start building your network right away.

Here are five of the best colleges for studying recruitment:

University of Wisconsin
Penn State University
Alliance Manchester Business School
Montclair State University
Bryant & Stratton College – Main Campus

These schools all have a strong curriculum and a proven track record in the recruiting world. If you enroll in one of these colleges, you’ll be on your way to a promising career.

Conclusion

So, what’s the best way to become a recruiter? The path to becoming a successful recruiter is not always straightforward. There are many different ways to enter this career field, and the most important thing is finding the best route for you. It’s also essential to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in recruiting and job search techniques. If you’re looking for a career change or start your own recruiting business, these tips should give you a good starting point. Are you ready to take on the challenge of being a great recruiter? Let us know how we can help!