What is a Recruiter?
A recruiter is a professional who works for a company or staffing agency to find and attract qualified candidates for job openings. Recruiters are responsible for a variety of tasks, including developing job descriptions, posting job ads on various platforms, screening resumes and cover letters, conducting phone and in-person interviews, and checking references.
Recruiters work closely with hiring managers to understand the qualifications and experience needed for each position, and then seek out and assess potential candidates to ensure a good match. They play a critical role in ensuring that a company or organization can attract and hire top talent to meet their staffing needs.
What does a Recruiter do?
There are several types of recruiters, each with different areas of expertise and job responsibilities. Here are a few common types of recruiters:
Corporate recruiters: Corporate recruiters work within a company or organization to fill open positions. They work with hiring managers to develop job descriptions, post job ads, review resumes and applications, and conduct interviews. They may also be responsible for onboarding new hires.
Staffing agency recruiters: Staffing agency recruiters work for employment agencies that connect job seekers with companies looking for temporary or permanent staff. They are responsible for sourcing, screening, and placing job candidates with appropriate companies.
Executive recruiters: Executive recruiters specialize in identifying and recruiting top-level executives for senior leadership positions. They have extensive networks and work closely with both companies and candidates to identify the best fit.
Contingency recruiters: Contingency recruiters work on a commission basis and are only paid if they successfully fill a job opening. They may work for staffing agencies or be self-employed, and their job is to source and screen candidates for a specific job opening.
Contract recruiters: Contract recruiters work on a temporary basis for companies or staffing agencies to help fill short-term staffing needs. They may work on a project basis or for a specific period of time.
Campus recruiters: Campus recruiters work with colleges and universities to identify and recruit recent graduates or current students for internships or entry-level positions. They often attend career fairs and networking events on campus to connect with potential candidates.
The daily responsibilities of a recruiter can vary depending on their type of employment and the specific staffing needs they are working to fill. However, here are some common tasks that recruiters may perform on a typical day:
- Sourcing candidates: Recruiters may spend a significant amount of time searching for potential candidates using online job boards, social media, and other resources to find suitable candidates for specific job openings.
- Screening resumes and applications: Recruiters are responsible for reviewing resumes, cover letters, and job applications to determine if the candidate meets the qualifications for the position.
- Conducting interviews: Recruiters may conduct phone or video interviews to further evaluate a candidate's qualifications and determine if they would be a good fit for the position and company culture.
- Communicating with candidates and clients: Recruiters often act as the main point of contact between job candidates and the hiring company. They may provide updates on the status of the job search or interview process and answer questions from candidates or clients.
- Managing the hiring process: Recruiters may be responsible for coordinating interview schedules, providing feedback to hiring managers, and making job offers to successful candidates.
- Administrative tasks: Recruiters may also be responsible for managing paperwork, tracking metrics and data related to the hiring process, and managing other administrative tasks related to staffing.
In addition to these tasks, recruiters may attend job fairs, networking events, and other recruitment events to connect with potential candidates and build relationships with hiring managers and other professionals in the industry.
What is the workplace of a Recruiter like?
The workplace of a recruiter can vary depending on their type of employment. Here are some common work environments for recruiters:
- Corporate offices: Corporate recruiters are often based in the main office of the company they work for. They may work in a designated HR department or alongside the hiring managers of various departments.
- Staffing agency offices: Staffing agency recruiters are typically based in the office of the employment agency they work for. These offices can range in size from small, locally-owned firms to large, national staffing agencies.
- Remote work: Many recruiters have the option to work remotely or from home. This can be especially common for contract recruiters or those who work on a freelance basis.
- On the go: Recruiters may spend a significant amount of time traveling to job fairs, networking events, or meeting with potential candidates or clients. They may also conduct phone or video interviews while on the go.
In terms of work environment, recruiters may work in a traditional office setting or a more open and collaborative workspace. They may work individually or as part of a team, and often collaborate with hiring managers, HR professionals, and other stakeholders within a company or employment agency.
Recruiters typically spend a significant amount of time on the computer, using software tools for applicant tracking and communication, but may also need to interact with people in person, over the phone or via video calls.
Recruiters are also known as:
Head Hunter
Staffing Recruiter
Independent Recuiter
Retained Recruiter
Corporate Recruiter
In-House Recruiter
HR Recruiter
Contingency Recruiter
Staffing Agency Recruiter
Internal Recruiter
Outplacement Recruiter