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Recruiter Duties and Responsibilities

While a recruiter's day-to-day duties and responsibilities are determined by where they work, there are many core tasks associated with the role. Based on our analysis of job listings, these include:

Find Potential Candidates Recruiters develop creative strategies to identify and source hard-to-find candidates by designing and executing a proactive hiring plan to attract the highest-quality candidates in the shortest amount of time. They source candidates by placing job advertisements online, contacting fellow recruiters, and using local job boards.

Coordinate and Conduct Interviews Scheduling in-person and over-the-phone interviews with candidates is a major part of a recruiter's role. They also coordinate interviews with the hiring managers they partner with. Recruiters qualify candidates through resume reviews, scripted interviews, pre-recorded interviews, or a combination of the three. After completing these interviews, recruiters follow up on the interview process with relevant parties.

Manage and Administer the Application Process Recruiters manage the entire application administration process by completing paperwork, screenings, required company assessments, appropriate background checks, reference checks, and proper documentation. Companies value recruiters because of their ability to handle this bureaucratic workload and keep the candidate pipeline flowing according to company standards and guidelines.

Support the Recruitment Life Cycle Recruiters support hiring managers by facilitating the entire recruitment process. They coach hiring managers through the whole recruitment life cycle: building candidate profiles, sorting through applicants, interviewing, deciding salaries, negotiating offers, and onboarding new hires. The best recruiters provide a speedy, well-organized experience for new candidates and client companies. They are the key drivers pushing the interview process forward.

Communicate with Hiring Managers Partnerships with hiring managers are the lifeblood of a recruiter's success. They communicate to form these relationships, discover staffing needs, acquire recruiting contracts, and make recommendations to company hiring managers. Recruiters maintain relationships with clients inside their own company or outside companies to ensure that recruitment goals are reached.

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Recruiter Skills and Qualifications

No matter what industries they work in, recruiters are motivated to locate the highest-quality candidates while minimizing a company's cost per hire. Employers typically look for candidates who have a bachelor's degree along with two years of experience. They also prefer candidates with the following skills:
  • Sourcing research - recruiters locate viable candidates by corresponding with college career directors, fellow recruiters, employment agencies, and internet job boards
  • Computer skills - recruiters attract applicants by creating job advertisements, sending multiple emails, and using recruitment software, so computer skills are a must
  • Marketing - open positions must be positively marketed to attract the right candidates, and successful recruiters use savvy marketing techniques to promote job opportunities among many different parties
  • Interviewing - successful recruiters interview applicants, evaluate their qualifications, and qualify interviewees according to consistent criteria
  • Relationship building - recruiters must build excellent relationships with hiring managers in order to become a trustworthy partner and go-to resource for talent acquisition
  • Communication skills - interpersonal communication skills are essential for recruiters who must build rapport with clients and candidates while they facilitate the interview process
  • Organization skills - it takes an organized individual to coordinate schedules, manage interviews, and maintain effective follow-through while keeping track of dozens - even hundreds - of candidates for a potential opening
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Recruiter Education and Training

It's common for a recruiter to have bachelor's degree, although some jobs only require a high school diploma. At larger companies, recruiters often work up to the role and may first hold a recruitment specialist position in an HR department. Candidates with proven experience or certification in web-based application tracking systems may be even more attractive to employers.
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Recruiter Salary and Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for recruiters is $60,350. Recruiters in the bottom 10 percent earn around $35,810 a year, and the highest paid make more than $103,570. Full-time recruiters employed by large companies typically get a benefits package that includes health insurance. Many employers also have a bonus commission structure based on individual or group performance.
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Helpful Resources

We searched the web to find the best industry resources to help you continue exploring a career as a recruiter. From thought leadership resources to industry groups, this list is packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and engage:

Recruiting.com - access a powerful library of career and industry information from the Association for Internet Recruiting

"53 Best Recruiting Resources" - read through this compilation of the recruiting industry's latest tips, news, and meet-ups

Recruiting 101: The Fundamentals of Being a Great Recruiter - learn the 15 most important recruiting skills to help you land your first junior recruiting job and excel to a senior recruiter level

The Rich Recruiter - this insider guide, authored by Andrew Long, is specifically designed to help new and aspiring recruiters thrive

HR Recruiter RED-HOT Career Guide - get the preparation you need to ace your next recruiter interview

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