Life as a recruitment consultant - what's it like?
Discussion
Hi all
Not the right time for a fairly drastic career change but I wondered if anyone could give me some insight into the ups and downs of being a recruiter?
Background to this question is me mulling over my next career move.
I've only ever worked in Insurance and enjoy the profession, just a little bit bored I guess. I have done related volunteer work and my current role is hybrid to keep my juices flowing, I'm not just a plodder expecting things to come to me.
I would be interested in hearing from Insurance recruiters if possible but a general view would be welcome too. Is it satisfying or heartbreaking.... Or both? What are the highlights and downsides?
Thanks
Not the right time for a fairly drastic career change but I wondered if anyone could give me some insight into the ups and downs of being a recruiter?
Background to this question is me mulling over my next career move.
I've only ever worked in Insurance and enjoy the profession, just a little bit bored I guess. I have done related volunteer work and my current role is hybrid to keep my juices flowing, I'm not just a plodder expecting things to come to me.
I would be interested in hearing from Insurance recruiters if possible but a general view would be welcome too. Is it satisfying or heartbreaking.... Or both? What are the highlights and downsides?
Thanks
Genuinely never understood why recruitment consultants exist.
Surely the person doing the recruiting knows their specific industry and the type of skills and experience any candidate will require for the particular vacancy better than some broad based recruitment consultant?
Or am I not understanding just what a recruitment consultant is/does?
Surely the person doing the recruiting knows their specific industry and the type of skills and experience any candidate will require for the particular vacancy better than some broad based recruitment consultant?
Or am I not understanding just what a recruitment consultant is/does?
First up what type of recruitment? Perms is very different to temp.
Would you be taking over a book of existing clients or starting from scratch?
If it's a book how active are the clients it's no good if they used the agency your working for once five years ago.
Far more information needed to give a view just yet.
But to add unless you are very good as has been said yes most companies will hate you and cold calling perspective clients is soul destroying.
Would you be taking over a book of existing clients or starting from scratch?
If it's a book how active are the clients it's no good if they used the agency your working for once five years ago.
Far more information needed to give a view just yet.
But to add unless you are very good as has been said yes most companies will hate you and cold calling perspective clients is soul destroying.
mike74 said:
Genuinely never understood why recruitment consultants exist.
Surely the person doing the recruiting knows their specific industry and the type of skills and experience any candidate will require for the particular vacancy better than some broad based recruitment consultant?
Or am I not understanding just what a recruitment consultant is/does?
Time is a big one. If the hirer spends his time looking for candidates, then he isn't spending that time doing his actual job.Surely the person doing the recruiting knows their specific industry and the type of skills and experience any candidate will require for the particular vacancy better than some broad based recruitment consultant?
Or am I not understanding just what a recruitment consultant is/does?
Not to try and be negative, but if any of the conversations I have had with recruiters recently are anything to go by, ‘now’ sounds like the worst possible time to join this sector.
Obviously some specialists are doing well because they happen to be in the right niche, but it took them a while to get there.
Obviously some specialists are doing well because they happen to be in the right niche, but it took them a while to get there.
I don't know anyone who has actively chosen to join that industry... it's something you just find yourself in to as there isn't really anything else you can do.
99% are absolute dross and couldn't give a s
t other than if it involves them getting a bonus, and I'm hoping the 1% are the ones I'm yet to meet.
99% are absolute dross and couldn't give a s
t other than if it involves them getting a bonus, and I'm hoping the 1% are the ones I'm yet to meet. I did ten years. I was honest. No really I was. Above a certain level and/or time working with you the clients can spot if you are a lier or think about your sales more than the relationship. Its finding an employer that lets you be honest sometimes at the expense of a 'sale' that's the hard part.
99% of recruitment companies want sell sell and metrics up.
So it turns into a short term career especially when the client clocks on and stops using you. Then your employer thinks youve fragged the account even though it was their philosophy........
Personally I think there are much better job choices out there.
If you find the right company, your client will really trust your opinion because you listen and understand then give them what they want and you are honest about a candidates failings.
In ten years I worked for two companies. The last one was an US global business that was a fantastic employer.
In between the two I interviewed for a few well known national UK companies and I was shocked how boiler house they were. Their marketing bumpf sold an elusion.
Edit- I worked in senior defence/procurement/EMEA Project management. If you specialise you get some sort of respect. I probably lost about 10k+ a year
in personal bonus through being up front but it kept my accounts/job long-term.
99% of recruitment companies want sell sell and metrics up.
So it turns into a short term career especially when the client clocks on and stops using you. Then your employer thinks youve fragged the account even though it was their philosophy........
Personally I think there are much better job choices out there.
If you find the right company, your client will really trust your opinion because you listen and understand then give them what they want and you are honest about a candidates failings.
In ten years I worked for two companies. The last one was an US global business that was a fantastic employer.
In between the two I interviewed for a few well known national UK companies and I was shocked how boiler house they were. Their marketing bumpf sold an elusion.
Edit- I worked in senior defence/procurement/EMEA Project management. If you specialise you get some sort of respect. I probably lost about 10k+ a year
in personal bonus through being up front but it kept my accounts/job long-term.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Tuesday 18th August 19:34
FlyingPanda said:
Not to try and be negative, but if any of the conversations I have had with recruiters recently are anything to go by, ‘now’ sounds like the worst possible time to join this sector.
Obviously some specialists are doing well because they happen to be in the right niche, but it took them a while to get there.
This ^^^^Obviously some specialists are doing well because they happen to be in the right niche, but it took them a while to get there.
I have a few recruiters in my network and I would say over 25% are looking for a job at the moment.
Unless, you have something novel to add to this industry, I would avoid making a move in the current times.
Edited by paddy1970 on Tuesday 18th August 19:37
From the client side, if you can find a recruiter who totally gets what you are looking for it can be a godsend. I could ask for a PM, Dev, UX with no more detail than that - I need a PM. I would get 3 or 4 strong candidates quickly, right fit, right experience, in many cases all hireable. That took a lot of effort on both sides to get to that point.
miniman said:
From the client side, if you can find a recruiter who totally gets what you are looking for it can be a godsend. I could ask for a PM, Dev, UX with no more detail than that - I need a PM. I would get 3 or 4 strong candidates quickly, right fit, right experience, in many cases all hireable. That took a lot of effort on both sides to get to that point.
+1hyphen said:
Time is a big one. If the hirer spends his time looking for candidates, then he isn't spending that time doing his actual job.
This .. I recruit maybe 5 perms a year and depending on what im doing numerous contractors. But have built 100+teams from scratch.
My employer has a full time HR department but beyond arranging interviews they arent involved in the hiring process for perms AND have zero involvement for contractors. - so its down to the hirer.( ne )
Even if i know the specific contractor I want .( and often i've spoken to them and discussed the project etc.) i will still call a the consultant to sort it for me.
With IT contractors .. or specifically comms in my experience 80+ percent need to be babysat through the process , don't understand what their company is supposed to do ( and have less than a clue about ir35 )
I have 2 or 3 recruiters that i will call ... and know that they will find me candidates AND write my job descriptions for me having discussed the project and role with me. The ones i really get on with have followed me as i've changed employers ( and magically appear on the prefer supplier list if i need them to )
The CV forwarders who add zero value .. don't last long.
Oh .. and as a recruitment consultant . you will get the blame when i havent reviewed CV's , or my budget gets cut or my requirements suddenly change.. sorry ! But recruitment is a single line on my project plan and im busy spinning plates.
Thanks everyone, appreciate the responses.
It wouldn't be something right at the current time as I am lucky to be in a job I enjoy most of the time with decent benefits, just a little stale I guess.
I must admit, I've been on the receiving end of dreadful recruiters like the one that sent me to London instead of Reading so missed that interview or the postponed interview following that, she didn't even confirm to them that I was going so I turned up but they weren't expecting me.
It wouldn't be something right at the current time as I am lucky to be in a job I enjoy most of the time with decent benefits, just a little stale I guess.
I must admit, I've been on the receiving end of dreadful recruiters like the one that sent me to London instead of Reading so missed that interview or the postponed interview following that, she didn't even confirm to them that I was going so I turned up but they weren't expecting me.
A good friend was until last year a high-level recruitment consultant - a very good one. Placed senior management in construction, nothing less than salaries of £150k. Just needed a handful each year to earn a nice living.
He bailed out because in his own words, he was becoming an un-paid career development consultant.
He'd do all the initial searches, pre-screening, aptitude testing and the like. Determine their availability and what-not. They'd get an interview and an offer which most of them ended up turning down because their existing employer offered them a revised package with better terms that the new employer was seldom willing to match or better.
He bailed out because in his own words, he was becoming an un-paid career development consultant.
He'd do all the initial searches, pre-screening, aptitude testing and the like. Determine their availability and what-not. They'd get an interview and an offer which most of them ended up turning down because their existing employer offered them a revised package with better terms that the new employer was seldom willing to match or better.
I worked as a Trainee Rec, did well and in a short period of time had 17 contractors / temps / runners with a monthly billing of c£12k which earned me a senior rec position. After a year or so of this and consistently billing £20k PCM I had the opportunity to run my own entity.
I did this for 3 years and simply lost the love and burnt out. I was sick of trying to fit square pegs in round holes and the constant objections. Every day was a struggle even on the best day there was disappointment and it became demoralising.
It paid for my 1st house and there were many highs but it is not an industry I would recommend to anyone.
I did this for 3 years and simply lost the love and burnt out. I was sick of trying to fit square pegs in round holes and the constant objections. Every day was a struggle even on the best day there was disappointment and it became demoralising.
It paid for my 1st house and there were many highs but it is not an industry I would recommend to anyone.
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