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Today’s recruiters wear many hats, operating under various titles such as Sourcing Specialists, Talent Acquisition Managers, Hiring Specialists, and Recruiting Generalists, to name a few. Regardless of their official designation, their core mission remains consistent: to place the right people in the right roles, precisely when and where the company needs talented individuals to achieve its business objectives.
Multi-Skilled Professionals
Recruiters typically operate within a human resources
Some recruiters are employed by staffing agencies, where they find candidates for open positions at client companies. These recruiters may specialize in specific industries, such as healthcare or information technology, which require a deep understanding of roles and responsibilities within complex sectors. For example, a staffing agency focused on sales will have a
Unlike general staffing firms, these specialized agencies recognize the value of soft skills, which are often harder to develop than teachable sales procedures. For this reason, choosing a firm that specializes in your business field is crucial.
Being a Recruiter requires a multi-faceted skillset. On the surface, recruiters are “people persons.” However, to succeed in today’s workplace, they must also be able to analyze data, work within budgets, leverage sourcing technologies, market career opportunities, and help create a positive candidate experience.
Recruiters manage the entire process – from receiving an open job requisition to finalizing an offer of employment. Depending on the size of an organization, they may also be responsible for onboarding new hires and assimilating them into the company. Recruiters are also busy even when jobs are not abundant, as they need to fill the “talent pipeline” for future hiring needs.
Technology, Talent, and Technique
Technology is central to any successful talent acquisition strategy. Recruiters should be able to mine candidate databases; and LinkedIn; maintain a brand-appropriate social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, and effectively post job openings online.
They must also have knowledge of recruitment marketing techniques. Recruiters need to understand where their target audiences look for career information, what sort of content potential employees are most interested in viewing, and how to engage candidates so that they take the next step and apply for employment.
Being a Recruiter requires a multi-faceted skillset. To succeed in today’s workplace, they must be able to analyze data, work within budgets, leverage sourcing technologies, market career opportunities, and help to create a positive candidate experience.Click To TweetRecruiters are ambassadors of a company’s “employer brand,” with accountability for sharing messages that are consistent with the organization’s culture and business goals. They must meet company expectations in all recruitment communications they broadcast to job seekers, as well as in the conversations they hold with candidates.
Good communicators make for good recruiters, particularly as most contact will occur via e-mail and phone. Some recruiters will have the opportunity to attend job fairs and career events to meet prospective candidates and sell them on available positions. They may also be assigned to visit
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 21 percent growth in all human resources specialties through the year 2025. The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) recommends a well-rounded curriculum that includes behavioral science, social science, and liberal arts, along with a strong business concentration. Economics, labor law, marketing, management, and statistics are all important aspects of the human resources profession.
SHRM also champions advanced degrees, stating that “Master’s degrees in human resource management – whether a Master of Science in HR with coursework in industrial relations, organizational development, organizational behavior or other specialties or a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in HR—are a vital part of the preparation for an increasingly complex marketplace.”
A Final Note
The role of human resources continues to evolve as more companies realize the direct connection between people and profit. Previously relegated to a desk behind the scenes, human resources professionals now have a seat at the executive table. CEOs have come to view the discipline as being pivotal to the overarching success of organizations that want to compete effectively in today’s business marketplace.
Unlike most resume “experts,” Tony Beshara doesn’t merely write resumes. As a veteran placement specialist who’s been featured regularly on the Dr. Phil show, Tony actually uses resumes to get people jobs.
