Is Recruitment a Good Career?

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, Recruitment is without a doubt a great career for people who are people-oriented, goal driven with great communication skills.

You'll interact with many people in the hunt for top talent. Recruitment provides an opportunity to work with a variety of people with different strengths and at different stages of their careers. Ultimately, it's a quest to help both individuals and businesses alike achieve their goals. And it's up to you to find the right 'shaped' people to help those teams & businesses hit those goals. The ability to influence and persuade people is key in this career, as is the ability to build relationships and trust. If you are looking for a career that is both challenging and rewarding (see typical recruiter salaries below!), Recruitment may be the perfect fit for you.

IS RECRUITMENT A GOOD CAREER PATH?

The field of recruitment itself offers many opportunities for upward mobility. With experience, you can move into more senior recruitment consultant roles. Choosing to niche down into particular geography or vertical offers the opportunity to become a respected expert within that niche. Once you've earned your recruitment stripes, choosing to start your own recruitment firm can be very lucrative for any recruiter with an entrepreneurial streak. A recruitment career path also offers the opportunity to move into other related roles like HR or Talent Acquisition. The ability to work well with other people and quickly assess the strength & skills of individuals & teams will make you a strong candidate for Leadership roles within any organization.

IS RECRUITING A STRESSFUL JOB?

The field of recruitment itself offers many opportunities for upward mobility. With experience, you can move into more senior recruitment consultant roles. Choosing to niche down into particular geography or vertical offers the opportunity to become a respected expert within that niche. Once you've earned your recruitment stripes, choosing to start your own recruitment firm can be very lucrative for any recruiter with an entrepreneurial streak. A recruitment career path also offers the opportunity to move into other related roles like HR or Talent Acquisition. The ability to work well with other people and quickly assess the strength & skills of individuals & teams will make you a strong candidate for Leadership roles within any organization.

WHAT TYPE OF RECRUITER MAKES THE MOST MONEY?

Recruiters remuneration usually consists of base salary and commission, so it's no surprise that recruiters working in higher paying industries make more money. Tech, Pharma, Energy, and Finance are some of the industries where top-billing recruiters earn six figure salaries. Recruiters that choose to niche down within these verticals and further add to their domain level expertise command the highest salaries of all.

IS THERE MONEY TO BE MADE IN RECRUITMENT?

Yes, there is good money to be made in recruitment, especially for those with the skills to be successful at it. Are you good with people? Are you goal driven, eager to hit the targets that have been set for you or you have set for yourself? The sky's the limit for top-performing recruiters. For those just starting out, most recruitment companies offer a base salary plus commission structure. This means that your earnings will be directly related to your performance. The better you are at your job, the more money you will make.

CAN I MAKE 6 FIGURES AS A RECRUITER?

Yes, it is possible to make six figures as an agency recruiter. In order to do so, you'll need to be working in a high-paying industry like tech, pharma, finance or energy. You'll also need to be somewhat knowledgeable in your chosen field, working to build a strong network of clients and candidates. Finally, you'll need to be driven and motivated to achieve your goals. If you have what it takes, the sky's the limit!

CAN YOU MAKE 200K AS A RECRUITER?

We've mentioned 'six-figures salaries', but what about breaking the 200k barrier? Can you do that as a recruiter? Absolutely. Check out our recent Tech Recruiter London article where we profiled several tech recruitment companies in London. Many of those recruitment companies offer commission structures for those billing 400k per quarter. At 25% commission rate, you can see how that 200k barrier can not only be surpassed but absolutely overtaken.

IS RECRUITMENT A LONG TERM CAREER?

We've all seen the job descriptions (and the memes making fun of them). Join our "Fast-paced environment" where you'll "Thrive under pressure" and "Be Part of a Dynamic Team''. Perhaps it sounds like a young person's game? The reality couldn't be further from the truth. At its core, recruitment is about building relationships - both with clients and candidates. Trust is paramount in any relationship, and that takes time to build.

Recruitment is therefore also a long-term career. It's a career where the biggest rewards go to those who are in it for the long haul. Those who are willing to take the time to build up that reputation and expertise in their vertical. This is probably why so many recruiters eventually spin up their own recruitment firms. At a certain point 'they' become the person that the client wants to speak to. With that reputation comes respect, and a desire to work with the best. If that's you, then you'll find stability in a satisfyingly long career.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A RECRUITER?

The hardest part about being a recruiter is also the most rewarding; it's the people. You'll work with many different types of people in your role as a recruiter. From junior positions right up to VPs & C-suite executives, and everyone in between. To roll out that cliche again, it is a fast-paced environment and things can change quickly! One minute you're on a call with a candidate, the next you're on a call with a client. And in between that either candidate or client can change their mind. You might be juggling multiple offers and trying to keep everyone happy. It can be a lot to keep track of, but that's also what makes recruitment so exciting.

While it can be challenging at times, the people you work with make it all worth it. You'll develop strong relationships with both clients and candidates, and feel a sense of satisfaction when you're able to make that perfect match. Not to mention when you secure the financial reward that comes with it.