How to Become a Recruiter
Becoming a recruiter is an exciting and rewarding career path for those with a passion for connecting people with opportunities. Recruiters play a crucial role in the job market by identifying and attracting top talent for various organizations. This dynamic profession involves understanding client needs, sourcing candidates, and managing the recruitment process from start to finish. As a recruiter, you’ll develop a deep understanding of industry trends, job market dynamics, and candidate motivations, enabling you to match the right talent with the right roles. With skills in communication, negotiation, and relationship-building, recruiters not only facilitate successful hires but also contribute to the overall success and growth of businesses. Whether working within a recruitment agency or as part of an internal HR team, the role of a recruiter offers the chance to make a significant impact on both candidates’ careers and organizational success.
Develop a Specialized Skillset
Since talent acquisition takes place at the intersection of an intuitive sense of human psychology, mastery of the art of persuasion, a certain degree of salesmanship, good communication skills and relationship-building, you’ll want to focus on developing the following traits and abilities.
1. Become a Master Communicator
Since communication will be the foundation upon which all your other skills will be based, begin now to develop superior communication capabilities. At the core of communication is the knowledge that communicating isn’t just about words, either verbal or written, although they too are important. Experts in the field will attest to the fact that how one presents themself visually and behaviorally speaks volumes. Delve into online resources and books about presenting yourself in such a way that prospective recruits will want to follow your suggestions. Realize it is all about what you say, how you say it and how you appear when you’re doing those two things. As a recruiter you will be in a very prestigious and high-level sales position, and the first thing you will have to sell to candidates will be you. A quick google search reveals free articles, courses and insights into becoming a master communicator. (For example reputable magazines like Psychology Today have a large selection of articles on the topic.)
2. Learn How to Source Candidates
The initial primary focus of a recruiter is to identify and attract potential candidates for job openings. It is never too early to begin learning some of the methods employed by successful recruiters. One resource will be utilizing job boards to both place ads which will attract potential recruits, and by combing through the resumes to find individuals who will be qualified for the positions you’re seeking to fill. Practice doing mock-up versions of both.
3. Learn the Art of Interviewing
Once you have located potential individuals to fill the positions you have in your portfolio, you will need to interview them for further assessment purposes. Immerse yourself in learning how to interview by scouring the internet for credible sources from which you can learn the ins and outs. Practice on your family and friends. Skills such as these you can only learn by doing, so start doing now.
Get Experience in a Related Field
There are many ways to gain experience which will translate seamlessly into becoming a top-notch recruiter. Entry-level positions in human resource departments, customer service, all types of sales positions, even becoming a receptionist responsible for screening calls will assist you in learning and practicing the skills you will need to be a success.
Network, Network, Network
If you think about it, the job of recruiting is actually the epitome of networking. You are in the business of connecting two parties—the candidate and the hiring manager. Calculated networking is one pool you will want to dive into the deep end of. The best way to do this is by joining a trade organization and/or professional association. These are the key to meeting those who are already successful, gaining valuable advice and updates in the industry, learning about educational opportunities, attending events and conferences, and finding out about job opportunities. Most all of these entities welcome those who are in the process of becoming a recruiter, some often even have mentorship programs of which you can avail. Here are three you will want to investigate:
1. Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP)
“ATAP is a global association for talent acquisition professionals, including recruiters, sourcers, and talent acquisition leaders. We provide education, research, and networking opportunities to advance the profession.”
2. The Recruitment Network (TRN)
“TRN is a membership community for recruitment agency owners and leaders. We offer networking events, workshops, and resources to help recruitment professionals grow their businesses.”
3. American Staffing Association (ASA)
ASA is a trade association for the staffing and recruiting industry. They provide resources, education, and advocacy for staffing firms and professionals.
Education Requirements for Recruiters
While education is not necessarily a requirement to be a successful recruiter, if you wish to work for a recruitment company with benefits and security, a bachelor’s degree is going to be required. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, begin today to find a college which has a well-developed program in human resources, business administration, psychology, communications, or a related field. When researching colleges be sure to ascertain whether or not the institution is accredited. It is imperative to earn a degree from a reputable and respected college or university. There are a variety of options at esteemed institutions of higher learning, to earn a degree both on campus and online. If you cannot financially afford to attend a four-year program initially, consider attending a junior or community college to satisfy your general education requirements. One important thing to remember—make sure your credits from the junior or community college will transfer to the 4-year college you are interested in eventually attending.
Job Outlook for Recruiters
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/), Recruiters have promising opportunities for the time period spanning 2022-2032. The field is growing by 6% per year, which is the average growth rate. Government experts predict that each year over 78,700 openings will become available (between 2022-2032), due to replacing workers who leave the profession, leave the work force and/or retire. Over the ten-year time span (2022-2032) it is projected that a total of 51,400 new positions will be created. In 2022 there were 874,500 individuals working as recruiters. The median pay per year was $64,240, while the median hourly wage was $30.88. (As a reminder, the “median” amount is not an average, it is the middle value of a dataset. For the U.S. BLS definition go to: https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#medianearnings).
By developing your skillset, gaining experience in a related field, networking with others in the recruiting field, and getting your college degree, you will be on your way to your own real-life version of a Hollywood blockbuster!
