The recruitment industry is highly competitive but if you have natural self-motivation, good time management skills and a goal-oriented approach, then you have the skills needed to thrive in this industry. Whether you're looking to run your own business, or you're putting feelers out to recruitment companies, these are our top tips for how to become a recruitment consultant.
The recruitment consultant skillset
There are a few key skills that recruitment consultants need to have to be successful. Firstly, ask yourself, "what makes a great recruitment consultant?"
You'll need to sell yourself and the benefits of your recruitment business to potential clients, to convince them that you're the ideal partner for sourcing their new talent. This means showcasing specific industry knowledge, good negotiation skills and demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines.
You'll need to screen candidates to find those with the right skills and qualifications to match your clients' requirements. You'll also be responsible for selling employers and their businesses to prospective employees and for getting the right candidate through to interviews with your clients.
Networking in recruitment
To start with, the first skill you'll need is the ability to build relationships and connect with people. Success in recruitment is all about networking, rather than one-off transactions. You’ll need to be confident meeting new clients and establishing trust. You'll also need to get to know your clients and understand their needs, so you can offer appropriate advice on suitable candidates.
Part of your value to clients is also your network of potential candidates. If you already work in a professional field, you may already have a ready-made list of potential recruits that you can tap into when you make the switch into recruitment. This is especially beneficial for trainee recruitment consultants who are just starting out. If you're starting out in a recruitment consultancy, you can ask your branch manager or senior consultants to supply you with a candidate database to get you started.
Recruitment market and industry knowledge
Along with getting to know your clients, you'll also need to gain an understanding of the markets you’re recruiting for. A recruitment consultant needs to be able to quickly understand and assess a company’s needs, as well as the skills and experience of potential employees. You'll need to stay up to date with industry news and changes so you can provide relevant advice to clients and candidates. You'll need to know about the average salary for each role, common complaints from employees and employers in your chosen industries, and trends that could impact the job market.
Businesses are looking for expert insight, and you can build your knowledge using LinkedIn to review news and commentary. Provide your own views on issues affecting relevant industries will bring added value to your clients and candidates. You can also join in with online discussions and draw on your own experiences. If you can identify failures in the way things are currently done, it could help you design ways to deliver a better service and fill a gap in the recruitment market. This will all help you to increase your standing and establish yourself as an expert at recruiting in multiple fields.
In theory, employers can use their own connections, social media, and platforms like LinkedIn to recruit for themselves. However, most industries still struggle to fill specialist positions with candidates who have the necessary skills. The most recent Employer Skills Survey shows that, depending on the industry, anywhere between 14–52% of job vacancies could be put down to skill shortages. So businesses still need niche recruiters who understand their industries and can reach the right candidates. When considering whether you have the necessary skills to become a recruitment consultant, have a look at your own CV and identify instances where you have demonstrated these skills and flesh them out.
Recruitment consultant insurance
Advising clients naturally comes with risk – should a client feel that the advice you provided impacted them negatively, they could take legal action against you. You may also hold large quantities of commercially sensitive and personal data. This means you'll need to make sure you're protected against a data breach. To protect your business against these risks, you'll want to take out recruitment insurance. This can help with reputation management and cover the costs of your legal defence should a client or candidate make a claim against you.
Becoming a recruitment consultant requires a combination of strong organisational skills, good communication skills, and a goal-oriented approach. Whether you aim to work for a recruitment agency or start your own agency, understanding the recruitment process and developing your professional skillset will be key to your success. With a positive attitude, ambition, and a commitment to exceeding targets, you can thrive in this dynamic field.
