With hopefully light at the end of the tunnel as more people get their vaccination, business of also types and sizes will be ramping up their operations and productions again.
And this must be good news for the recruiting industry as busy HR Managers rush to fill vacancies.
Equal opportunities and diversity in the workplace are, rightly so, also a continued hot topic according to a survey by SHRM. As many as 57% of recruitment agencies said that their talent scouting strategies are designed to attract a diverse range of candidates. However, that leaves 43% who do not have a strategy in place.
Diversity is not just a social issue, it is increasingly becoming a business issue with financial benefits for companies who employ a diverse workforce. Looking ahead, those recruitment agencies who attract a diverse workforce within their own organisations will reap the benefits in an increasingly competitive market.
But it is not just the people that make up the workplace that is changing. The way in which we work is also going through a shift now and it is something that recruiters should have their eyes on.
So, what is a Recruiters Role?
Recruiters will work from resumes or by actively soliciting individuals qualified for positions. A recruiter’s job includes reviewing a candidate’s job experiences, negotiating salaries, and placing candidates in agreeable employment positions. Recruiters typically would receive a fee from the hiring employers.
Recruitment consultants are responsible for attracting candidates for jobs and matching them to temporary or permanent positions with client companies. They also provide advice to both clients and candidates on salary levels, training requirements and career opportunities.
But the reality is if you are willing to put up with bad and ugly sides of the job, recruitment can be an amazing career. It will allow you to hit your financial goals and actually can teach some real valuable life skills along the way. You will make some great friends and maybe even find love!
New Technologies
Of course, recruitment is evolving every year, and recruiters are adapting as the industry is influenced by new technologies, just like other industries, and new technology improves our jobs, makes them easier, and also brings new challenges.
New sourcing tools make all recruiters and sourcers more effective. They help us to find contact details for candidates faster than ever before, but they do not turn those candidates into new employees with one click.
Reasons why Graduates are Choosing a Career in Recruitment
So, you have finished university, earned your degree and are eager to get started with your career. You have got a great education, talent, and enthusiasm in abundance – the only problem is, you are not sure what to do next.
With so many options to choose from, it is not always easy making key career decisions. This is particularly the case if your degree does not guide you into a specific profession, such as law, accounting, or medicine.
There are hundreds of different graduate schemes to choose from, and each have their own merits.
Before diving into one or the other, you want to make sure you have fully considered your options. If you have got academic ability, interpersonal skills, commercial nous and a competitive edge, there will be plenty of employers looking to hire you.
It is just a case of establishing where your main attributes lie, and what you would really like to do.
Demand for Talented People
As the UK economy continues to improve and demand for talented people increases, many employers are finding they need specialist help to identify and attract skilled candidates.
This is where recruitment agencies, and the consultants they employ, come in. Using their knowledge, expertise and judgment, recruiters can match talented candidates to business’ job vacancies, providing the expertise they need to growth their business.
As most companies will say their most valuable commodity is their people, this is your chance to make a real impact on the economy and business growth.
With more organisations using recruiters, the industry is continuing to expand. As such, agencies are not only seeking skilled professionals for the businesses they work with, but they are also looking to add talent to their own workforces.
There is significant demand for enthusiastic, ambitious professionals – those who can build connections, negotiate, and influence, solve problems, and manage relationships. As such, there are great career prospects for graduates interested in careers in the recruitment sector.
What do Recruiters Actually Do?
Recruitment consultants have a multi-faceted role. They work as marketers, networkers, problem solvers, interviewers, and negotiators as they strive to find the perfect match between job seeker and employer.
There is no telling where the perfect candidate may be hiding – it is the recruiter’s job to find them, get them engaged, and assess their suitability for the role. Once a match has been made, consultants advise both candidates and hiring managers on issues such as salary, training, benefits, and other practicalities.
While recruitment is a business development role – recruiters are expected to be target driven and excel in sales – in the end it is a people business and recruiters aim to build relationships with professionals in the market. This involves gaining trust which takes time and dedication – something that recruiters should have in spades!
Therefore Is Recruitment a Good Career?
There are plenty of reasons why recruitment careers appeal to many graduates.
1. High remuneration
There are strong financial incentives for performance, meaning talented recruiters can be very well remunerated. The more successful you are in delivering the recruitment solutions clients need – and hitting your targets – the better you will be rewarded.
2. Progression opportunities
Top performers can advance quickly into more senior leadership roles. This is an industry in which professionals are judged on performance – not by time served or waiting for the next rung in the ladder coming available.
3. Scope for development
Recruitment agencies invest in their staff, knowing they are potentially the business leaders of the future. There will be scope for training, coaching and mentorship, to help you come onboard successfully, become acclimatised to the industry and develop your career. And many new entrants are surprised with the practical business experience they gain – meeting with business leaders, assessing their resourcing challenges and tailoring solutions to help them growth their businesses.
4. Contractual benefits
Many recruiters offer a variety of other employment benefits to their employees, including pensions contributions, private healthcare, reward schemes, car allowances and childcare support.
5. Variety of work
Recruiting is a varied role in which no two days are ever the same. As a consultant, you have got targets to hit, but you have also got a degree of autonomy and flexibility. On any given day, you could be out and about meeting clients and candidates, negotiating contract rates, attending events, running interview sessions, or trying to finalise important deals.
6. A challenge
Not everyone can thrive as a recruitment consultant. You need to be an independent-minded self-starter, have a high level of confidence, and developed communication and influencing skills. It also pays to be driven, creative, flexible, and resilient. The job can be challenging, but there can be immense job satisfaction – in addition to the extrinsic rewards – when you successfully find someone a new career opportunity or help a company in its growth agenda.
Therefore, in summary, agencies are eager to identify the next generation of recruiting talent, meaning there are plenty of attractive roles available for the right graduates. Working as a recruitment consultant, you have the opportunity to really show what you can do – and be well-rewarded for your achievements, even at an early stage.
It is not hard to get into recruiting. It is hard to be successful though. Most of the entry level recruiting positions you are going to see -the lowest hanging fruit- will be in an agency setting. Recruiting in an agency is less about recruiting and more about sales.
Good luck!