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 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 develop your skills
mainly 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
- BA (Hons) degree in Recruitment Practice
- Masters 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 various short courses to help 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 House
47 Vaughan Way
Leicester
LE1 4SG
Tel: 0116 251 7979
http://www.ento.co.uk
15 Welbeck Street
London
W1G 9XT
Tel: 020 7009 2100
http://www.rec.uk.com
151 The Broadway
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200
http://www.cipd.co.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Most recruitment consultants earn a basic salary plus
commission.
- Basic starting salaries are usually between £16,000 and
£18,000 a year.
- With experience, this can rise to between £20,000
and £40,000 plus commission.
Figures are a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday,
although some agencies may open later or on Saturday
mornings.
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):
Recruiter
Online
Recruitment
Careers in
Recruitment
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