UK Recruitment
The recruitment industry serves all business sectors, forming strong partnership with organisations from sole traders to multinationals. These partnerships can be incredibly lucrative, so naturally recruitment agencies will pursue exclusive deals with as many companies as possible.Recruitment Agencies act as a filtering service, attracting candidates and matching them to jobs in client companies on a temporary or permanent basis. The Consultants" job is the vital link between candidates and clients and they operate in almost all sectors of the employment market. There are a number of publicly quoted companies and firms that operate multi-nationally as well as thousands of small independent ones, such is the attractiveness of the rewards on offer.
Recruitment Consultants
The role of the recruitment consultant is diverse, demanding and very fast paced and requires a certain type of person to succeed. Recruitment Consultants often come from a sales background however the ‘hard sell’ approach is not applicable in recruitment. Consultants must demonstrate excellent relationship building skills and must be able to just the character and credentials of an applicant in relation to the company and position they are applying for. Putting forward a totally unsuitable client reflects very badly on the agency in question.
The role itself involves attracting recruiting business from companies using sales, business development and marketing techniques. This includes meeting with clients on a regular basis in order to establish strong working relationships, keeping in touch over the telephone and also in writing. It is essential that consultants know about the companies they are recruiting for - what they do, how they operate and the general culture or atmosphere of the workplace.
Consultants are also required to attract candidates by drafting advertising copy and creating maximum exposure for their job adverts using a wide range of media. Screening candidates thoroughly by meeting them face-to-face and testing their interview skilld is incredibly important, as it helps in selecting suitable candidates to put forward to client companies. Recruitment consultants are also involved in negotiating pay and salary rates and finalising arrangements between client and candidate.
Salaries for Recruitment Consultants vary from one company to the next but it is usual for recruitment businesses to pay Recruitment Consultants a basic salary plus performance-related bonus or commission. For those who are prepared work hard and are good at their job the rewards can be substantial.
The recruitment industry generally employs candidates from various educational backgrounds and there is a great future for those with the drive and determination to succeed. It is generally said that personality and attitude is more important than educational achievements when it comes to recruitment. There is, however, a lot of copy writing involved in the role of a Recruitment Consultant so a good grasp of the English language is essential.
Some employers may have dedicated career development programmes for graduates or those wishing to progress quickly.