If you read this blog, it means you’re interested in becoming a recruiter. Truth be told, very few recruiters actually plan to get into recruitment, nor had previous experience, which makes this industry even more fascinating and diversified.
You might have been drawn to it early on or found your way to it by accident, either way, being a recruiter can also be a starting point for many different career paths. The path to becoming a recruiter is not straight, does not end with it and is incredibly rewarding. But can you become one if you’re light on experience? The answer is yes!
It just happens and more is to come
There is no such thing as majoring in recruitment, it usually just happens.
For that reason, you might work with recruiters who have backgrounds in a variety of fields. According to a LinkedIn study (2015), the five most common degree that recruiters majored in are – Psychology, Business, Marketing, Human Resources and Sociology – with a “passion for people” being the common denominator. But rest reassured, no university degree is required and certifications and trainings to become a recruiter exist in the UK.
The same study showed that further down their career path, many recruiters eventually become recruiting and HR leaders, search firm leaders, or top executive recruiters.
It’s all about having the right personality and skills
At the end of day, you need to have the right personality and skills. Now, if you’ve had a look online at the essential skills that a recruiter must have, no doubt that you’ve seen the word “sales” many times… perhaps too many times for your taste?
If you’ve got sales experience, congratulations, that will certainly help you but essentially a recruiter needs to be a matchmaker rather than a salesperson. One of the essential skills that you need is a high Emotional Intelligence – which is the capacity to listen, understand, communicate with others, and even anticipate people’s desires – it will make you be a good recruiter and collaborator.
You will also need project management, problem-solving, research and attention to detail skills. Adaptability and a willingness to always be learning are also very important when working in recruitment as no two days are ever the same.
Go out and sell yourself
If becoming a recruiter is an active decision, go out and sell yourself! Check the recruitment agencies in your area, tell them your story, ask for a meeting with the branch manager, active your network, keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. Act like the talent warrior you are about to become. At Recruiting Talent, we’re always happy to answer questions you may have about the industry – contact us today!