A recruitment consultant is the intermediary between organisations wishing to recruit (the client) and the individual seeking a career move or temporary assignment (the candidate). It is primarily a sales role, with high rewards for impressive results.

Many consultancies or agencies are industry specific, or are subdivided into industry specific sections so that the consultant is recruiting similar posts within different clients.

The role of the Consultant is broadly to:

• identify and develop client business relationships in a competitive environment/industry
• Contribute to the attraction of candidates and the integrity of the details held on them
• Assess and respond to the needs of each particular client or assignment providing relevant solutions
• Source suitable candidates, brief them on the opportunities offered by the client and prepare them for interview
• Manage the process through interviews to offer stage and beyond Offer CV, interview and general career advice

What will make you successful?

You will have an excellent opportunity to succeed as a recruitment consultant if you can answer ‘YES’ to the following questions:

• Are you able to sell yourself?
• Can you demonstrate first-class communication skills?
• Do you have: entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm, drive and determination?
• Are you self motivated and competitive? Are you adaptable?
• Can you change your style of delivery depending on your audience?

Industry specific sales training and on-the-job training are usually offered to new consultants by employers. Graduate starting salaries vary from consultancy to consultancy, & upon location and usually offer both a fixed basic salary (approximately £16,000 – £24,000) and a highly structured monthly or quarterly commission. Because success is highly rewarded in recruitment, consultants’ salaries are amongst the fastest growing available to graduates today. It is usually a work hard, play hard environment with long hours and a high burn out rate. Recruitment is hard work and not everyone is suited to the industry. One in every three new hries will leave the industry within 12 months because they were unable to hit their targets (and consequently were fired) or because they left due to the high pressure, high stress environment.

Management potential is usually spotted at an early stage, enabling faster progression than within many other longer established careers.