Recruitment Consultant

Typical duties include:

• negotiating contracts with clients
• advising clients on selecting suitable candidates for their vacancies
• interviewing and assessing prospective applicants and matching them with vacancies at client companies
• screening candidates and drawing up shortlists of candidates for clients to interview
• organising interviews and selection events
• making arrangements for the advertisement of vacancies
• helping applicants to prepare for interviews
• building and maintaining relationships with clients
• maintaining records of candidates and clients
• identifying potential new clients and acquiring their business.

The nature of recruitment means that recruitment consultants need to attract new clients regularly. This can involve an element of sales and cold calling to meet new client targets. For enthusiastic individuals this can be a very rewarding employment with a direct link between efforts made and financial bonuses.

You’re likely to work standard office hours (nine-to-five), although you may need work late from time to time – for example, to attend evening events).

Read our article on a graduate career in recruitment consulting to find out more about what life is like in recruitment and find out what to expect from your first recruitment consulting job.

Note that you could also as an in-house recruiter for an employer, specialising in filling their vacancies.

Graduate salaries

Salaries for recruitment consultants can vary depending on the sector of work and location. Based on individual job listings we’ve looked at, graduate and trainee starting salaries can range from £16,000 to £25,000. Senior consultants typically earn between £28,000 and £35,000 – salaries are higher for those in management positions, for example. On top of this, you’ll receive commission (known as ‘target earnings’) for any new clients you bring in, increasing the annual salary.

Typical employers of recruitment consultants

• Regional and national recruitment agencies.
• Local independent agencies.
• Specialist agencies that recruit in specific areas such as engineering and accountancy.

Vacancies are advertised on targetjobs and by careers services. You’ll also find them advertised by recruitment agencies themselves and by specialist jobs boards.