Recruitment consultants help companies to employ suitable staff. Depending on the type of agency they work for, recruitment consultants could deal with permanent or temporary work, and all levels of jobs from junior to managerial. 

Their work involves:

• dealing with employer clients - finding out about their recruitment needs, taking vacancy details and negotiating fees
• 'cold calling' - contacting businesses to market their agency's services and generate new business
• interviewing and testing job seekers and matching them to available jobs
• drafting and placing job adverts
• arranging interviews and getting feedback on candidates
• monitoring the progress of candidates placed
• keeping records and meeting sales targets
• dealing with their workers' pay
• 'headhunting' - identifying and approaching suitable candidates for executive jobs.

Hours and Environment

Working hours are usually between 8.30am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday. Consultants working for specialist agencies may work shifts or have early starts or later finishes.

Recruitment consultants are mainly office-based, but they may also sometimes travel to visit employers. A driving licence is useful.

Skills and Interests

To be a recruitment consultant, you should:

• have good spoken and written communication skills
• be confident and have good people skills
• be persuasive and persistent
• have sales skills and be prepared to meet targets
• have a smart appearance
• be able to cope with pressure
• be flexible and adaptable
• have good organisational and administrative skills.

Entry

You do not need specific qualifications to become a recruitment consultant, although employers will usually prefer you to have some GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent qualifications. Some employers may ask for A levels/Highers or equivalent.

Employment agencies that deal with executive jobs may prefer you to have a Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/HND) or a degree. Several large agencies offer graduate training schemes. Useful degree subjects include business and management, marketing or finance.

To enter a degree you will usually need at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) plus two A levels/three Highers or equivalent qualifications.  An Access to Higher Education qualification may be accepted for entry to certain courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

You will have an advantage if you have previous experience in sales, personnel or customer service work.

Some employment agencies specialise in a particular industry, such as nursing or construction. You will find it useful to have knowledge and experience of the sector to work in a specialist agency.

You will usually start as a trainee recruitment consultant, and become a consultant within a few months of joining an agency.

Training

You will usually be trained on the job by experienced staff. Large agencies often run their own structured in-house training programmes.

Your training may include qualifications from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and/or the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Recruitment and Employment Federation:

• Certificate in Recruitment Practice - aimed at people new to the recruitment industry, or people with experience but no formal training or qualifications in recruitment.
• Diploma in Recruitment Practice - for recruitment consultants with at least one year’s experience, or those with less experience who have studied for A levels/Highers or a degree.

You can study for the Certificate and Diploma by distance learning. The Certificate is also available by short fast-track courses held at various locations in the UK. The REC also offers a range of short courses for continuing professional development (CPD).

The REC also offers a Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) degree in Recruitment Practice, available through distance learning or part-time study at Middlesex University. If you hold the Diploma in Recruitment Practice you can go directly to the second year of the course.

See the REC's website for more information on their qualifications and training.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development:

• Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment and Selection
• NVQ Level 3 in Recruitment.

The CIPD also offers a Professional Development Scheme and range of other qualifications in personnel practice. See the CIPD's website for more information on their qualifications and training.

Opportunities

There are several recruitment agencies in most large towns and cities across the United Kingdom. Many agencies deal with office workers but some agencies specialise in other areas, for example driving or nursing.

Large firms have more clearly defined promotion structures. Smaller firms may not have as much scope for promotion. Recruitment consultants may also become self-employed and set up their own agency. Some consultants move into personnel or sales.

Annual Income

These figures are intended as a guideline only.

Trainee recruitment consultants may start on between £11,000 and £18,000 a year.
With experience, consultants earn between £15,000 and £25,000 a year.
Some consultants earn over £40,000 a year.

Recruitment consultants may earn extra in bonuses and commission.

Further information

15 Welbeck Street
London
W1G 9XT
Tel: 020 7009 2100
Kimberley House
47 Vaughan Way
Leicester
LE1 4SG
Tel: 0116 251 7979
151 The Broadway
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200