Recruitment Career Guide

 

Potential Roles in Recruitment

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Although many job roles in the recruitment sector are alike, employees can choose to niche into a specialist area and focus on a particular industry, employer, or business model.

Recruitment consultants typically work in a recruitment agency and act as a ‘middle-man’ between hiring companies and job seekers. A recruitment consultant job involves working closely with clients (the employers) to identify their business needs before actively sourcing suitable candidates to apply. In many cases, the recruitment agency does not receive payment from the client until the newly-appointed candidate has been in position for a set time (generally around three months).

Recruitment account managers work with large companies and organisations with high hiring demands. Recruitment account manager jobs are best suited to employees with excellent interpersonal skills who can build ongoing and trusting relationships with their clients. Account managers usually visit their clients on-site, so they spend time away from the office regularly and must have the use of a car or other vehicle.

In-house recruitment officers are employed by one company or organisation, working closely with the company management team, understanding the business needs and taking ownership of the company recruitment processes. In-house recruitment jobs involve managing the entire hiring process from start to finish and providing ongoing employee training and support. In-house recruitment teams often work closely with the company’s Human Resources department.

 

Salary and Career Progression

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Recruitment jobs range from trainee and entry-level roles to highly specialised consulting and managerial positions. Recruitment consultants and account managers working for an agency may receive additional benefits on top of their salary, like a company car, laptop and performance-related bonuses.

Recruitment consultants can start at entry-level, on around £15,000 for a training contract, rising to £35,000 for senior roles. Commission-based pay means that high-performing recruitment consultants can increase their salaries significantly. Top recruitment consultants can earn upwards of £60,000.

Recruitment account managers can advance their careers by working on larger and more prestigious accounts, specialising in one industry sector, or moving into a managerial role. Typical salaries for recruitment account managers are between £20,000 and £58,000, although the pay is mainly commission-based, so it can vary month by month.

In-house recruitment officers take home a set payment every month rather than earning commission-based pay. Salaries vary depending on the employer’s size but typically range from £22,000 to £53,000. Larger employers with a substantial workforce can usually offer more opportunities for career progression and higher salaries than smaller companies.

 

Qualifications, Education and Experience

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Recruitment consultants do not need a university degree to enter the profession, but it can be helpful for those who wish to progress to senior roles. The following may be beneficial:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A**-C)
• 2-3 A Levels
• A Bachelor’s degree in any subject
• An apprenticeship or other recruitment training
• Experience in the industry in which you want to specialise, e.g. IT or healthcare
• Membership of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
• A clean driving license

Recruitment account managers do not need specific qualifications but may find the following useful:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A** – C)
• 2-3 A Levels
• A Bachelor’s degree in any subject
• An apprenticeship
• Direct experience working in recruitment
• Experience working in an agency setting
• A good understanding of the industry in which you want to work
• Membership of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
• A clean driving license

In-house recruitment officers are often responsible for a company’s entire recruitment process, so they must demonstrate a high level of qualifications and experience to secure a position. They can benefit from the following:

• 4-5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A** – C) and 2-3 A Levels
• A Bachelor’s degree
• A proven track record working in recruitment
• Experience working in-house
• Demonstrating transferable skills if coming from an agency background
• Experience in record-keeping and handling confidential documents
• Membership of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation

 

Skills

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Recruitment consultants work with multiple clients and candidates and must have excellent interpersonal skills, as well as:

• Determination and resilience
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Confidence
• Ability to think ‘outside the box’
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Motivated by working for a commission

Recruitment account managers must be able to build relationships with different clients and be driven by earning commission. Useful skills include:

• Self-motivated and ambitious
• Hard worker
• Excellent communication skills
• Pleasant and friendly nature
• Determination and resilience
• Diplomacy and tact
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Motivated by working for a commission

In-house recruitment officers must be able to support a workforce and act in the interests of both the employer and the employees. Valuable skills include:

• Strategic thinking
• Ability to see the bigger picture
• Excellent communication skills
• Supportive and friendly
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
• A supportive and encouraging nature
• Good organisational skills

 

Working Hours

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A career in recruitment typically involves working standard office hours, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm. You are unlikely to be expected to work evenings, weekends or bank holidays.

 

Notable Locations

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Recruitment agencies can cover their local area, larger regions or the whole of the UK. The larger and well known recruitment companies often cover multiple locations, while some, including Hays and Reed, have offices worldwide.

Notable UK locations include:

• Glasgow
• Birmingham
• Manchester
• London
• Bristol

 

Notable Companies

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• Reed: a well-established recruitment agency working across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
• Blue Arrow: has over 70 offices across the UK; they specialise in hospitality, logistics and the public sector, among other industry sectors.
• Hays: works across 28 countries, specialising in finance, healthcare, construction and IT recruitment.
• Morgan Hunt: located in major cities in the UK, covering numerous industry sectors, including charities, education and social care.
• Robert Half: award-winning London-based recruitment agency that champions staff diversity and work-life balance.
• Michael Page: global recruitment company with offices in the UK. It offers support with career progression, generous employee benefits and uncapped commission.

 

Next Steps

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Sign up to JobLookup for the latest recruitment jobs straight to your inbox, and read The Ultimate Jobseeker Guide for tips and advice on landing your dream recruitment role.