Recruitment consultant

Recruitment consultants help employers find suitable staff, and match people to permanent and temporary jobs.


Typical Salary

£24,000 – £40,000

per year

Working Hours

38–40

hours per week

Career Area

Human resources and industrial relations officers

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • 'cold call' - make contacts and connections to generate new business
  •  interview and test job seekers, to create a pool of people ready to fill vacancies
  •  match candidates to suitable jobs
  •  screen and shortlist candidates before employers interview them
  •  meet targets for the number of vacancies taken or the number of people placed into jobs
  •  keep records of clients, employers and vacancies
  •  negotiate your agency's fees
  •  'headhunt' - find and approach candidates for executive or specialist jobs

Skills needed

  • knowledge of human resources and employment law
  • administration skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • the ability to work on your own
  • business management skills 
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

Career progression

With experience you could move into business development or management, or set up your own agency.