Posted by Jonathan Kidder on April 19, 2022March 6, 2023

Have you ever pondered about how to kick-start a career as a professional Recruiter, but were unsure of where to begin? Frequently on social media, I come across this question, which prompted me to write a book that could assist other professionals in commencing their career in recruiting. I named the book “How to Launch Your Recruiting Career.”

My aim was to develop a springboard for professionals who aspire to switch careers. The field of recruiting is ever-evolving and necessitates continuous on-the-job learning. It is possible to achieve success as a Recruiter even without prior experience or a related background.

Irrespective of whether you are a recent graduate or an individual seeking a new career path, acquiring a college or university degree is not a prerequisite to becoming a Recruiter. Several high-performing Recruiters earn a salary of $100,000+ annually, and the journey commences with landing your first recruiting role.

Here’s what the book covers in detail:

Setting clear and attainable goals.
Understand what a Recruiter does every day.
Find and network for Recruiter job openings.
Gain confidence with talent sourcing and conducting phone screens.
Have a clear ramp up guide for becoming a professional Recruiter.

What is a Recruiter?

A recruiter is a professional who helps organizations find and attract candidates for job openings. Recruiters are typically hired by companies or recruitment agencies to manage the entire hiring process, from posting job openings to screening resumes, conducting interviews, and making job offers. They may specialize in recruiting for specific industries, job roles, or geographic locations.

Recruiters often work closely with hiring managers and human resources teams to understand the specific qualifications and skills required for a job opening. They may use a variety of methods to identify potential candidates, including online job boards, social media, and professional networks. Once they have identified promising candidates, recruiters may reach out to them directly to gauge their interest and qualifications.

Overall, the goal of a recruiter is to find and attract the best possible candidates for a job opening, and to help both the company and the candidate through the hiring process.

Even if you’ve only been in the job market for a short period of time, you’ve probably crossed paths with a Recruiter or two already. For many industries, they are a crucial component that keeps organizations running as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

How much do Recruiters make?

For starters, we’ll need to discuss the two different types of Recruiters in the business: internal and external. Though their duties remain largely the same, payment standards differ between the two. So, which one will make you the most money?

External (Agency) Recruiter salary

These Recruiters work for a staffing firm/agency, which other businesses can outsource to help them find candidates for their open positions.

Now, what makes this position interesting is the way external Recruiters are paid. Rather than provide a flat salary, most staffing firms pay their employees through commissions. Now, this is where things can get slightly complex, since it’s all based on percentages.

Here is how the process usually works out:

1. The company outsourcing the staffing firm typically agrees to pay them 15-20% of the candidate’s starting base salary once the position is filled. So, if the job’s first-year compensation is $100,000, the staffing firm could earn up to $20,000.

2. The staffing firm assigns a Recruiter to fill the position, who will receive up to half of that amount as payment.

3. If all goes well and the position is filled, the staffing firm holds $10,000 and pays the Recruiter $10,000 in commission.

As you can see, this means an external Recruiter’s salary depends largely on their performance. The faster they fill a position (with a quality candidate, of course), the more money they will make.

So, those first starting out shouldn’t expect to immediately rake in six figures. Still, it’s worth practicing your skills, as more experienced Recruiters can take home upwards of $200,000 yearly.

Internal (In-house) Recruiter salary

On the opposite end, a Recruiter might opt to work for a company’s internal HR department. This means they’ll be solely sourcing candidates for one business, rather than for multiple clients.

Though these are probably the most widely available positions, they also offer some of the lowest salary options for those hoping to enter the recruiting field. Since internal Recruiters are paid salary instead of commission, their earnings may be limited to as low as $35,000. Those who spend a few years in the field can expect to earn a higher wage through promotions. Many recruiters make over $100K after 3-4 years within the field.

Alternatively, a short-term contracted in-house Recruiter usually makes more, though their highest earnings stop at around $50-65 on average per hour.

Tips to help launch a career in recruiting:

Develop an understanding of the industry: Read blogs, articles, and books about recruiting. Research the different aspects of recruiting, such as candidate sourcing, interviewing, and hiring.

Learn to build relationships: Effective recruiters have strong relationship-building skills. Practice networking and building rapport with people in your professional and personal circles.

Gain experience: Consider taking on an internship, working in a related field, or volunteering to gain experience in recruiting. This could provide you with exposure to the recruiting process and help you develop important skills.

Focus on communication skills: Clear communication is crucial in recruiting. Practice your writing and speaking skills, and learn to tailor your message to different audiences.

Use social media: Social media is an essential tool in modern recruiting. Learn how to use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to source and engage with candidates.

Be persistent and patient: Building a career in recruiting takes time and effort. Be persistent, and don’t get discouraged by setbacks or rejections. Keep learning and growing, and the results will come in time.

Want to launch your career in recruiting? I recommend reading my book on amazon here←

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Jonathan Kidder

With more than 12 years of recruitment experience, Jonathan has helped startups and small businesses find the talent they need. He runs the blog WizardSourcer, which explores the latest trends in talent sourcing, provides reviews of recruitment tools, and features interviews with prominent figures in the industry.