If you’re in the job market, you’ve more than likely dealt with at least a few recruitment consultants.

 

Have a look at what one recruitment consultant does at work each day

We spoke to a recruitment consultant, and this is what they had to say:

As a recruitment consultant, my job is to recruit the best possible candidates for my clients. It takes a lot of hard work, time, and commitment to find the right people, and I often spend hours online sourcing CVs of potential candidates. But that’s just the start of the process.

Once I find candidates, I need to set up interviews to assess their personalities and skill sets, do reference and qualification checks, and at the same time, I have to keep my clients happy. Often, when candidates are not close by, I do interviews via Skype to get a sense of who a person is and whether they will fit into my client’s business environment.

 

What does my average day look like?

My day starts off with a team meeting at 08:00 every morning. I need to make sure I come prepared, as I need to give my team an update on the open positions I am working on, as well as on any positions I have successfully filled. After this, I check my emails to see if anything important has arrived since I left the office.

Today, I’m waiting to see whether a candidate will accept an offer from one of my clients. I’ve worked hard finding the right person, but the candidate is dragging his heels in signing the contract. I’ll have to call him later to see whether he has any concerns about the job and if he does, whether I can answer them.

The rest of my day is filled with candidate interviews, client meetings, creating job descriptions, doing reference checks, and sourcing CVs online.

 

What skills do you need if you want to be successful in this industry?

If you want to work as a recruitment consultant, you will need:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Good customer service skills
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Networking skills
  • Time management skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Research and administration skills

The pros of being a recruitment consultant:

  • You usually work on commission, meaning that your earning potential increases with every person you place.
  • You get to work in a team.
  • You learn the art of negotiation – which is a skill you will use throughout your life.
  • Through networking, you make good connections that you can use in the future.

The cons of being a recruitment consultant:

  • You have to maintain a positive attitude while doing a demanding and stressful job that often involves working after hours.
  • You sometimes have to deal with candidates who are not open and honest with you about their skills, qualifications, and other personal information.
  • You need to be resilient, as the industry is not for the faint-hearted. While some days may be great, others may be extremely challenging.

Top tips for aspiring recruiters:

Here is some advice for anyone considering a career as a recruitment consultant:

  • Don’t ever lie on your CV – you will eventually get caught out.
  • Dress for the part – when you’re invited for an interview, dress up (even if the culture of the company is quite relaxed). Remember, first impressions count.
  • Always make sure you arrive on time for an interview – there are no excuses for being late.
  • Work on your interpersonal skills – these skills will help you build crucial relationships with clients and candidates.
  • Work on being flexible and adaptable.
  • Consider studying a relevant course in HR.

 

Do you have any questions about a career in recruitment? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

Note: This article was originally published on 10 November 2014, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.