To begin with, here are some steps you can take to get your recruiting job search off on the right foot:
Start small: Generally, recruiters begin their careers in a position other than that of recruiter. You might start out, for example, as an entry-level professional in a human resources or administration department of an organization. Get hands-on experience by working with senior HR specialists and gaining a thorough understanding of the recruiting process.
Network: While you’re at an entry-level position, make sure you make contacts with the movers and shakers of your company. Being polite and friendly really helps. You will need to attend social gatherings and company lunches in order to get to know more people. This will also give you a chance to uncover hidden job openings.
Visit your college’s career placement office: Get help from your college’s career services office. The people there will provide you with advice on finding recruiting jobs based on your requirements. If you think you’re ready to start your own recruiting firm, your college placement office can also provide you with industry contacts.
Search, search, and search some more: Shortlist the companies or recruiting agencies that you would like to work with, send out your resume, and follow up. Check out Internet job boards such as RecruitingCrossing or HRCrossing, and search for recruiting jobs by title, location, and/or keywords.
The above tips will definitely help you break into the exciting world of recruiting. However, many beginners are often confused about recruiting job roles and responsibilities. Here are some answers to the common FAQs on recruiting jobs:
What are the qualifications required for becoming a recruiter?
Nothing specific! Most recruiting jobs are based on experience rather than qualifications. However, an MBA in human resources or any major in business administration will help make you a competitive candidate.
What are the prerequisites to becoming a successful recruiter?
Recruiters can either be generalists or specialists. Niche recruiters may specialize in a particular geographic location, industry, or type of employee, such as entry-level professionals, senior-level executives, or sales professionals.
What are the responsibilities of a recruiter?
In order to hunt down fresh graduates, you will need to travel a lot and set up booths at colleges, career fairs, and other community jobs fairs. To locate experienced professionals, you will need to identify and keep track of both active as well as passive job seekers. This means that you will spend a lot of time making phone calls and mailing letters to lure candidates to your organization. The Internet is one of the best means to track candidates. Online social sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace act as the latest tools for finding the right candidates.
Conclusion
In 2006 alone, a total of 197,000 jobs were created for employment, recruitment, and placement specialists. What’s more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated a 17% growth in this field between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. With the current slowdown in the US economy and increasing unemployment, recruiters are all the more in demand. Finding the right recruiting job will open new avenues for your personal as well as professional growth.
