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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

   

What is the role of a Recruitment Consultant?

What opportunities are there for career progression?

What rewards could a Recruitment Consultant expect?

What level of education does a Recruitment Consultant need?

What sort of work experience does a Recruitment Consultant need?

What makes a good Recruitment Consultant?

 

What is the role of a Recruitment Consultant?
The role of the Recruitment Consultant is fast paced, demanding and diverse. It is also very challenging and exciting and no two days are ever the same.

The role involves attracting business from client companies by using sales, business development and marketing techniques. This includes building relationships with clients by going out and meeting them, keeping in touch over the telephone and also in writing. It involves getting to know the client companies, what they do, how they operate and the general culture or atmosphere of the workplace. An important attribute for a recruitment consultant is the confidence to contact prospective clients and win their business.

Recruitment Consultants are also required to attract candidates by drafting advertising copy and using a wide range of media. It also involves screening candidates, interviewing them and selecting suitable candidates to put forward to client companies. Consultants are also involved in negotiating pay and salary rates and finalising arrangements between client and candidate. The sense of satisfaction you receive from placing the right candidate in the right job can be overwhelming.
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What opportunities are there for career progression?
A Recruitment Consultant will generally enter the industry as a Junior Consultant. From here you can progress through Consultant and Senior Consultant and then to Manager or Strategic Consultant. As the organisation develops further branches, prospects of further promotions to Area and Regional Management would be possible.

Other possible avenues lie in related roles such as New Business Development Manager or Administrative Support. Diversifying into different sectors is possible as the principles of recruitment are similar. Some Consultants specialise in executive recruitment once they have a number of years' experience to draw upon or move into online, web-based recruitment services.

For individuals with the required drive and commitment, a range of opportunities exist together with the potential for very high earnings.
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What rewards could a Recruitment Consultant expect?
Salaries will vary from one company to the next but it is usual for recruitment businesses to pay consultants a basic salary plus some sort of performance-related bonus or commission. This may be individual and/or team based. Earnings are dependent on the industry sector, location and the business/industry economy. Bonuses (commissions) are flexible within different sectors and calculate from 15% to 35% of gross (take-home) pay. The higher end of this scale relates to specialised executive search markets. For those who work hard and are good at their job rewards can be substantial.

Graduate trainee salaries start from £12,000 basic. Good performance will result in 'on-target earnings' (OTE) of anything £25,000 upwards. After two to three years, consultants are expected to earn from £40,000 to £60,000. Senior consultants must have a minimum of three years' experience. The range of typical salaries at senior levels can be anything from £40,000 to upwards of £100,000+ (with OTE). 
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What level of education does a Recruitment Consultant need?
The Recruitment Industry generally welcomes candidates from a range of educational backgrounds and any degree discipline. There is a great future for those with the drive and determination to succeed. Some employers have dedicated career development programmes for graduates or those wishing to progress quickly, however competition for posts is fierce. To build on your academic achievements there are industry specific qualifications which can be studied.
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What sort of work experience does a Recruitment Consultant need?
At its core this is essentially a sales job with individual targets and performance-related pay and bonus schemes. The recruitment industry is fast moving and challenging. Graduates who are keen to learn and have the right personal attributes will always be welcomed into the recruitment industry. Mature graduates who are seeking a second career will find recruitment consultant offers a stimulating and dynamic role where experience will be both useful and rewarding.

Entry might be difficult without prior sales experience, or relevant work experience in the market into which you would be recruiting, especially in some specialist recruitment agencies. Therefore, if you have a background knowledge or professional qualifications in a specific market sector this can be very helpful in a specialist recruitment consultancy. For example, an IT, secretarial, law, accountancy or engineering qualification can be extremely valuable in a recruitment firm specialising in those sectors of the market.
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What makes a good recruitment consultant?
To be successful in the recruitment industry you must have the following qualities and attributes:

  • self-confidence

  • ambition and drive

  • tenacity

  • motivation

  • excellent communication skills

You must also be able to:

  • negotiate and influence

  • multi task

  • prioritise

  • listen

  • problem solve

  • work to deadlines and targets

  • enjoy responsibility and working in a high-pressure environment

  • have a good sense of humour

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