Recruitment Consultant
First things first and in case you didn't know...
A recruitment consultant's role is matching job seekers with employers, which may sound simple, but in reality it is far from!
A recruitment consultant interacts with many job applicants and represents a client company to vet and hire the best possible candidates for a role. As a recruitment consultant, you can expect to write job vacancy posts or advertisements, interview applicants and perform background checks and finally hire them. You may also provide career advice, salary information and training requirements.
The role is crucial to corporations that deal with a lot of employees, as it is difficult to keep track of every individual. The recruitment consultant is the perfect job to help companies ensure they have the best possible employee that has the necessary skills and requirements yet also fits in the company culture. This means that to succeed in the role, having the ability to look further than the accomplishments on a person's CV and implore their character and personality is a positive.
They also work in a variety of sectors, i.e. IT, teaching, finance, creative, engineering, logistics, science, and pharmaceuticals, and cover the full spectrum of job types/roles.
Key skills/talents
Becoming a successful recruitment consultant requires a unique blend of competences and skills. Here are some essential qualities:
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Excellent communication skills: Both verbal and written.
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Strong interpersonal skills: Building rapport with clients and candidates.
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Persuasion and negotiation skills: To close deals and resolve conflicts.
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Time management and organisational skills: Juggling multiple clients, multiple tasks and deadlines.
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Resilience: Dealing with rejection and setbacks, and indeed helping applicants deal with this.
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Sales and business development skills: Generating new leads and new clients.
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Market knowledge: Understanding industry trends and job market dynamics.
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IT proficiency: Using recruitment software and databases.
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Knowledge of human resources and employment law: Ensuring compliance with regulations and providing accurate advice.
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Ability to work well with others: Collaborating with colleagues and clients using empathy and sensitivity where needed
Qualifications required
There are several ways to embark on a career in recruitment. You can pursue a university course, enrol in an apprenticeship program, gain relevant experience through various roles, or apply directly to recruitment agencies.
While a university degree isn't always mandatory, it can be advantageous. Although any degree can be applicable, some employers may prefer candidates with backgrounds in human resources, marketing, or public relations. Additionally, if you're interested in specialising in a particular industry, having a relevant degree or industry experience can significantly enhance your chances of landing a role. For instance, a degree in pharmacy or a background in pharmaceutical sales could be beneficial for those seeking to enter pharmaceutical recruitment.
For more information on apprenticeship programmes, give UCAS a look: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/apprenticeships?query=recruitment
For more information about wider HR qualifications, click here: https://www.cipd.org/uk/learning
Rules and regs
All employment agencies in the UK must be registered with the EAS, which is the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/employment-agency-standards-inspectorate
Data Protection Act! We’ve referenced it on a lot of our career write-ups, but that’s because it’s key. You must ensure compliance with data protection regulations when handling personal information: https://www.gov.uk/data-protection
We also talk about insurance a lot, so consider getting some professional indemnity insurance to protect against potential claims, below are links to two insurance providers who offer this, as examples…
https://www.policybee.co.uk/recruitment-agency-insurance
https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance/recruitment-consultants
Remuneration framework
The salary for recruitment consultants varies based on experience, education, location and company. On average, you can expect a salary of around £25k per year, however, the levels ‘typically’ look like this:
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Trainee recruitment consultants start on a basic annual salary of £18,000 to £25,000.
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Recruitment consultants' average salaries are around £24,000 to £30,000, with senior consultants earning in the region of £28,000 to £35,000, excluding bonuses or commission.
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Managers with 10 to 15 years' experience can earn more than £40,000 (excluding bonuses or commission).
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Directors can earn well above £60,000
Once bonuses and commission are included, the total average salary can increase to around or just over £40,000 for consultants, £60,000+ for managers and £90k+ for Directors.
The main benefit of the role is the opportunity to earn high OTE (on-target earnings) salaries depending on your sales performance. Some companies may also provide a company phone, car and end-of-year rewards depending on performance.
How to get started
To break into the recruitment industry, consider gaining experience through internships, volunteering, or entry-level roles in HR or sales.
Entry-level HR roles will need some qualifications, so see the CIPD link above for these.
Additionally, networking with recruiters and industry professionals can be invaluable. Once you've built your foundation, apply to recruitment agencies for entry-level positions or trainee programs. If you have a specific industry or niche in mind, consider specialising in that area to leverage your expertise.
Most people tend to start ‘in-house’, which means working in HR and managing recruitment for a wider business. But the other option is working for a recruitment agency, who hold multiple big contracts.
In Nicki’s case, she had spent many years working in the creative industry, and so took a sideways move into recruitment, via a recruiter she knew well, and had used as an employer herself.
Job site links
It almost feels ironic having this section for this type of role, but recruiters need jobs, too; so for recruitment consultant roles, the main places to look are simply all the usual job sites, like Indeed and Reed, and of course, as Nicki quotes a few times during the chat, Linked In.
Linked In is massive in the job/recruitment world, for both jobs and to use once you are a recruitment consultant: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs
Associations or official bodies to register with
Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC): The leading professional body for the recruitment industry: https://www.rec.uk.com
Association of Professional Recruitment Consultants (APRC): A smaller, more specialised association: http://www.aprc.co.uk
As a recruitment consultant you can also join a union, if you so wish. The main 2 for the industry are Unison & Prospect:
And for all HR matters, courses and information, you can register with The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD): https://www.cipd.org/uk/membership/why-choose-cipd-membership
Progression pathway
The different levels and pay scales are shown above under remuneration, so it really comes down to how ambitious you are and how far you want to take it.
Your progression pathway may differ depending on what kind of recruitment you are managing.
Are you managing it in-house for a single employer, or as part of an agency that’s used by businesses/brands/employers? If the former, your options may be somewhat limited, because these roles tend to report into HR, and if the wider HR world (and progressing within it) isn't for you, then you’ll need to depart to the agency side to progress.
Agency progress looks like the scales listed above, but in addition to that, there are options to work on a freelance basis, and lots of companies like that now - working with freelancers, rather than agencies - it can feel a lot more personal. Or you could set-up your own agency and employ other consultants to work with you .And indeed multiple agencies, if you’re super ambitious.
There are a few solid options open to you, so be open-minded, but at the same time, mindful as you map out your recruitment career.
Additional Information/links
A ‘cheat’ guide to getting into recruitment: https://hrtalentiq.com/get-into-recruitment
This blog by ‘Simply in Business’, covers a lot of information relating to expectations, legal requirements and more: https://www.simplicityinbusiness.co.uk/blog/the-rules-and-regulations-recruiters-must-be-aware-of