What does a recruitment consultant do?
A recruitment consultant works closely with companies and jobseekers, typically meeting both sides in person. They assist employers with defining their job specifications and composing appealing job advertisements, and then actively search for suitable candidates.
Recruitment consultants review candidate CVs and screen applicants to determine whether they have the skills and qualifications required for the role. For executive roles, recruitment consultants also often try to actively headhunt top talent .
Once a suitable candidate has been identified, the recruitment consultant prepares them for the interview stage and liaises closely with both parties to coordinate the next steps, culminating in assistance with contract or salary negotiations.
Recruitment consultant skills and qualifications
To succeed in the role, a successful recruitment consultant needs to have the following skills and aptitudes:
- outstanding interpersonal skills to form relationships and build rapport with clients and applicants
- excellent communication skills to provide clear details and avoid misunderstandings
- good negotiation skills
- excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail
- good understanding of the recruitment cycle
- resilience and ability to work under pressure
- familiarity with recruitment software, online job boards and social media campaigns
- discretion and ability to treat recruitment data confidentially
Recruitment consultant experience requirements
For a recruitment consultant, experience is less important than the right attitude and a desire to succeed in the role. This, coupled with the right skill set, will make for a successful recruiter, no matter how long they’ve been working in the role.
Employers seeking to fill high-end roles may, of course, wish to hire an experienced recruiter who may have acquired a more in-depth understanding of the recruitment process and developed the ability to quickly spot the ideal candidate for executive positions.
Lateral entrants to the role will benefit from previous work experience in sales or another customer-facing role.
Recruitment consultant education and training requirements
Although there are no official requirements to practise as a recruitment consultant in Australia, many recruitment consultants choose to obtain a diploma or other human resources qualification. A Senior Secondary Certificate of Education is normally expected, and a further qualification to consider is a vocational certificate, such as a Certificate IV in Human Resource Management or a Diploma of Human Resource Management. Alternatively, there is the option to pursue a relevant university degree, such as a Bachelor of Human Resource Management or Business.
Finally, some budding recruitment consultants may choose to complete a professional training course provided by the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association Australia & New Zealand or another industry association.
Recruitment consultant salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a recruitment consultant is $78,790 per year. Some employers may pay higher rates than others, but overall recruitment consultant salaries are fairly consistent across the country, with only the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne offering above-average salaries.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are a few roles that are similar to a recruitment consultant. Take a look to see if you need to hire one of these experts in addition to or instead of a recruitment consultant:
Recruitment consultant job description FAQs
Do recruitment consultants work standard office hours?
Recruitment consultants usually work standard office hours, i.e. around 8.30am to 4.30pm. However, given the nature of the role, some flexibility is required as some candidates or clients may only be available to catch up after their working day. This means that sometimes a recruitment consultant may have to work early mornings or late nights.
What makes a stand-out recruitment consultant?
Similar to sales and real estate roles, personality is a huge factor for recruitment consultants. Being able to build rapport with clients and applicants from all walks of life is essential, so a confident, outgoing demeanour will help.
The role is all about building relationships and working with people, and empathy goes a long way in this role as it allows the recruitment consultant to truly understand clients’ and candidates’ needs and concerns. Someone who possesses these qualities and is also positive and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment will make an ideal recruitment consultant.
Are lateral entrants suitable for the role of recruitment consultant?
In recruitment, lateral entrants are very common. As no official qualifications are required, it’s entirely feasible for a professional from a different field to try their hand at recruitment, especially if they are used to a customer-facing environment. If they have the right transferable skills from their previous role, they are likely to succeed. Lateral entrants from business or marketing backgrounds or even a tourism or hospitality role are definitely worth considering.
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