what is a recruiter?
As a recruiter, you mediate between a client company and a job-seeker to find a good fit. Your job contains an inherent sales component, as you sell the client to the candidate and vice versa. The role involves communicating with job seekers and liaising with the company to respond to their inquiries.
It is important to understand an employee's position in the client's company. The client depends on you to shortlist candidates and suggests the best fit. Therefore, you help them find reliable employees who can transform their business.
Many recruiters work in human resources to gain experience. Your role has a strong sales component that differs from conventional sales jobs. Clients and candidates are attentive to your work and are anxious to close a deal. With companies constantly searching for high-quality personnel, there is no shortage of work. Growth opportunities abound, as there are multiple levels in the recruiting field. A driven recruiter will go from entry-level sourcing management to finding top executives for major corporations.
Would working as a recruiter suit your negotiation skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a recruiter role.
recruiter rolesaverage recruiter salary
According to Job Bank, recruiters take home an average salary of $61,673 per year or an hourly rate of $31.63. In Canada, entry-level recruiters earn $42,474 annually, while experienced workers take home over $90,874 yearly. Salaries vary per region, with some territories paying higher average salaries due to the high demand for recruiters. If you work in Quebec, your average salary is the highest at $68,250 per year, while recruiters in Nova Scotia receive the lowest earnings at $51,000 annually.
what factors affect the salary of a recruiter?
Your salary depends on experience and skills. When you are new in the role, you handle minimal recruiting duties, which lowers your earnings. As your experience increases, you earn more due to your expertise. The type of workers you recruit and the company you work for also influence your earnings. When you are in charge of recruiting entry-level employees, your salary is lower than a recruiter who finds senior executives for their company. Working for a large company boosts your earning potential due to the additional responsibilities. For instance, there is a likelihood of filling vacant positions throughout the year, unlike small businesses with minimal recruitment needs.
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access our tooltypes of recruiters
Recruiters differ depending on the companies they work for and the payment method. Some common types of recruiters include:
- in-house recruiters: as a recruiter, you can work in-house and focus on recruiting for one company. You headhunt potential employees, conduct interviews and onboard new workers.
- external recruiters: you work for a human resource consultancy firm. Your job is to find employees for different clients. That means you spend most of the year writing job descriptions, advertising vacancies, shortlisting and interviewing potential candidates.
- contingency recruiters: as a contingency recruiter, you receive payment when a successful candidate is hired. You receive a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary.
- executive recruiters: as an executive recruiter, you find executives for senior roles in the company. Your job is to headhunt top executives and negotiate the benefits on behalf of the company.
working as a recruiter
As a recruiter, you identify suitable candidates for various positions in a company. Let's explore the additional duties and responsibilities of recruiters.
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what does a recruiter do?
Some of the tasks of a recruiter include:
- creating a recruitment strategy: you plan how to source candidates and which sites to advertise for the best pool of candidates. For instance, you determine the best sources of workers for various departments based on the quality of applications and leads. You also advertise the vacancies and initiate recruitment programs, depending on the company's needs.
- screening resumes: after advertising a vacancy, you receive resumes from various candidates. Your job is to screen the resumes and identify candidates who best fit the position. While you use an applicant tracking system, you also screen some CVs manually before shortlisting candidates.
- conducting assessments: before a candidate proceeds to the interview stage, you conduct screenings to test their aptitude and other assessments. You use the results to shortlist candidates.
- performing interviews: you perform pre-screening interviews to reduce the number of applicants before planning the interview. You conduct interviews with the hiring manager of the client company and other stakeholders to ensure you decide on the candidate to fill the vacancy.
- completing background checks: as a recruiter, you complete background and reference checks before making a job offer. You complete the reference checks yourself and find reputable firms to do background checks.
- communicating necessary information to candidates: you communicate with candidates about interview dates and outcomes throughout the recruitment process.
- negotiating contracts: as a recruiter, you present a job offer to a candidate and discuss the job responsibilities and salaries. You represent the company during negotiations and ensure that the candidate and company are both satisfied with the offer.
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work environment of a recruiter
As a recruiter, you work in human resource consultancies or large companies. That means you work within an indoor office environment. Indoor work settings are usually lit well and have air conditioning. Sometimes, you attend workshops or job fairs to find potential candidates and network with other recruiters.
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who are your colleagues?
As a recruiter, you work alongside various professionals, such as HR managers, office managers, administrative assistants and hiring managers. You also work with digital marketing coordinators and business systems analysts. In an office setting, you work alongside payroll officers, accounting technicians and accountants.
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recruiter work schedule
A recruiter works regular working hours, as the role is typically a nine-to-five job. However, the nature of the position often requires late nights and early mornings. Attending events and visiting clients breaks up your workdays. Travel is sometimes part of the job, depending on the agency. In full-time positions, you work 38 to 40 hours a week. Part-time recruiter positions and short-term contracts are also available.
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career opportunities as a recruiter
The demanding nature of the position means that successful recruiters who enter the profession progress quickly. If you hit your targets consistently, your employer will notice and move you up the ladder. This is especially true in large firms with more room for upward mobility. Working for a small company may mean gradual growth, but it also translates into the potential of becoming a reliable partner in the future. Furthermore, the skills of a recruiter transcend other demanding fields. If you choose to make a career transition, displaying success in the human resources field is a powerful bargaining tool.
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advantages of finding a job as a recruiter through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
recruiter skills and education
Some of the educational qualifications of recruiters include:
- education: to work as a recruiter, you require a college diploma in a related field like business administration, commerce or personnel management. You are expected to complete a professional development program before working as a recruiter. Some employers also require you to be a Certified Human Resources Professional. In some regions, you require certification from a regulatory body to work as a recruiter. For instance, foreign worker recruiters in British Columbia are regulated by the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Unit.
- work experience: you require work experience to work as a recruiter. For example, having experience in clerical or administrative positions helps improve your skills.
competencies and characteristics of recruiters
A good recruiter combines a diverse skill set that helps them source quality candidates for clients. You need high emotional intelligence and practical skills to deliver results. Other skills include:
- communication skills: as a recruiter, you are expected to be receptive to what clients need and what makes candidates happy. Your communication skills put candidates at ease while obtaining all the relevant information regarding what they can offer the client company.
- relationship-building: as a recruiter, you establish clear communication with clients and candidates and build strong relationships. The recruiter-candidate relationship is important to discern whether the interviewee is a good fit. At the same time, you foster trust with clients to ensure they will want to work with you in the future.
- goal-oriented mentality: as a recruiter, you work with strict deadlines. Clients are looking to hire high-level employees as soon as possible. Having a goal-oriented mentality is crucial for producing results for clients.
- effective negotiation skills: the closer a hiring approaches completion, the more each side looks forward to cementing their demands. As a successful recruiter, you mediate between clients and shortlisted candidates. Salary, benefits, working hours, time off and other points of contention result from your ability to negotiate for the client and the candidate.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a recruiter.
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what is a recruiter?
As a recruiter, you specialize in placing skilled tradespersons in commercial and industrial environments. Your duties include advertising jobs, headhunting and screening resumes of potential candidates. You conduct interviews and complete background checks before presenting a job offer to the company.
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how do recruiters get paid?
When you are a contingency recruiter, you are paid a fee based on the candidate's salary. For permanent positions, your fee is a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary. If you are hiring candidates for a contract position, you receive a portion of the candidate's hourly rates.
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what is the average salary of a recruiter?
As a recruiter, you earn an average salary of $61,673 per year. You earn a lower salary in an entry-level position due to your minimal experience and skills. When starting, expect a salary of as low as $42,474 annually, but you earn over $90,874 yearly with experience.
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how to become a recruiter in Canada?
You require a college diploma to become a recruiter in Canada. Complete a course in business administration or another relevant field to learn the necessary skills. It also helps you have experience in administrative and clerical positions. Additionally, employers expect you to complete a professional development program before working as a recruiter. Some also require certification from a regulatory body.
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what are the essential skills of recruiters?
As a recruiter, you have excellent communication skills and create accurate reports for the hiring team. Your ability to communicate also helps you relate with potential employees, enabling you to find the right candidate for each role.
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how do I find a job as a recruiter?
Finding a job near you as a recruiter is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
meet a recruiter
Make sure your resume is up-to-date, including information about your technical skills and certifications. Then share it with us to connect with a recruiter and be matched with job opportunities.