| Recruitment Consultant is the perfect Job for a | | | | for detail and an analytical mind. A determined and |
| graduate coming out of university to find themselves | | | | commercially aware person with the ability to manage |
| faced with a highly competitive job market, armed with | | | | projects to on-time completion. Works well on own |
| a degree not specifically targeted to any job in the real | | | | initiative and can demonstrate the high levels of |
| world. | | | | motivation and organisation required to consistently |
| I had a 2nd Class Degree in Philosophy when I | | | | meet sales and performance targets. Possesses |
| graduated. There wasn't a single job in the paper | | | | excellent interpersonal skills and communicates well at |
| asking for that! Nevertheless there are numerous | | | | all levels. Thrives in high pressure, target driven working |
| ways to get a job in recruitment and earn the big | | | | environments." |
| bucks. | | | | Feel free to edit that to your hearts content. |
| The standard procedure is to post your CV on a job | | | | Underneath have your educational record and then |
| board like Monster and then apply to the recruiter jobs | | | | any work experience. Format for this can be as |
| posted there in. This method can be effective in | | | | follows: |
| generating interest. Depending on your location barriers | | | | "May 2004 - September 2006 |
| to entry in the industry are sometimes very low, | | | | Commercial Recruitment Consultant & New |
| however competition can be high. | | | | Business Developer |
| Actual recruiting experience, though desirable, is most | | | | Handbag Recruitment, Colchester, Essex |
| definitely not essential. Telephone or face to face | | | | A recruitment consultancy specialising in Commercial, |
| sales experience, or even just the right attitude coming | | | | Sales and Service Sectors |
| straight from school or university can be all it takes to | | | | I beat the monthly sales target set for experienced |
| get your first job. | | | | consultants by the end of my third month, and have |
| A good way to break into a firm is to know someone | | | | continued to meet and exceed all monthly sales and |
| working there already that will put in a good word for | | | | performance targets since then.o Establishing and |
| you. Assuming that you don't have that luxury the best | | | | maintaining strong client relationships for repeat |
| thing you can do to demonstrate you have the | | | | business.o Managing multiple clients in diverse industries. |
| fearless, entrepreneurial attitude that will impress any | | | | Etc..." |
| recruitment manager is to approach a firm yourself, | | | | Depending on the company you worked for it is |
| just like I did when I started out. Coming out of | | | | always wise to include a short line describing what |
| university I broke into the industry by turning up at an | | | | they do. It is not always apparent what ABC Ltd do |
| agency first thing in the morning, a copy of my CV in | | | | from their company name. If your job title and bullet |
| hand, and asking to speak to the manager. I handed | | | | points are also somewhat generic it may not be clear |
| him my CV and looked him straight in the eye. I told | | | | what kind of work you actually did! This happens a lot |
| him I wanted a high paying job, and asked what he | | | | more than you might think, so ensure it doesn't happen |
| had for me? The combination of my up front confident | | | | on your CV. |
| attitude, and surprising him by turning up first thing on a | | | | Once you have your hot CV ready, and you have |
| Monday morning impressed him and he asked me | | | | forwarded it to 20 plus firms and called them all up or |
| back to meet a team leader that very day. | | | | visited in person you will no doubt have some interview |
| I researched what recruiters do and made sure I | | | | requests. If not, you may need to work on your CV |
| asked the team leader as many if not more questions | | | | some more! Or you can post your CV on all the Job |
| than he asked me. Within an hour I had a job offer and | | | | Boards online and apply for every recruiting job on |
| began my career. That was at a small firm with | | | | offer. |
| approximately 15 recruiters. It was also over 6 years | | | | Now I am confident you have interviews arranged. To |
| ago. Since then I have interviewed countless potential | | | | ensure your success do as I sad before and book as |
| consultants for my employers, and I have worked | | | | many as you can. Even if you are not interested in a |
| alongside many recruiters who have moved around to | | | | particular firm, attend anyway! You want to approach |
| different firms in the industry during their career. Not | | | | each interview as though it is a Practice Interview, and |
| only that, I went through a grueling series of interviews | | | | you are researching the company and the industry. |
| to secure my dream recruitment job in London. I have | | | | This is what you are doing, and will ensure you take |
| more than enough experience of the recruitment | | | | the pressure off of yourself and are able to relax and |
| industry hiring process to improve your success rate | | | | ask questions without fear of messing up. Trust me - |
| at interview. So if you are looking to get your first job | | | | after 5 interviews at different firms you will be as |
| in recruitment, or to change firms and move up the | | | | sharp as a razor and the offers will flood in. |
| career ladder, I suggest you do the following. | | | | Before you set off remember to put on smart |
| Research | | | | business attire. Suited and Booted. Tie done up. Clean |
| If you are new to the industry do your research. | | | | shaven (and the equivalent for girls). It is better to be |
| Reading this book will be more than enough to ensure | | | | over rather than under dressed. You must give the |
| you have the skills to do the job, but a few hours on | | | | impression that you are 'all business' and that you are |
| the net finding as many sources as possible will be | | | | serious about the job. Even if the agency you are |
| valuable time well spent. Once you have done that ring | | | | going to operate casual dress - many do - you must |
| up a firm you are interested in and tell them you are | | | | turn up dressed to impress. Make your first impression |
| looking to get into recruitment. Ask if there is someone | | | | count. Have plenty of pre prepared questions, and |
| you can speak to, to ask a few questions. Have plenty | | | | when they are answered you must reply describing |
| of questions ready. Asking questions is a huge part of | | | | how elements of your professional experience, or |
| the job and if you interview the recruiter they will | | | | personal character, are what is desired / or make you |
| notice it, and remember you. Speak loudly, slower than | | | | suited to the job. Recruiters are loud, confident |
| usual and clearly. Learn everything you can from the | | | | communicators, driven by a desire to make lots of |
| call. Just this call will be enough to pique their curiosity, | | | | money. You must show you are money motivated, |
| and there is every chance they will ask for your | | | | competitive, and thick skinned. A hard work ethic and |
| contact details or ask you in to meet them. At the end | | | | expecting to work long hours when required always |
| thank them for their help, and ask if they have any | | | | goes down well. You will have to work long hours |
| openings at the moment? | | | | starting out. Once you are billing above your targets |
| Whatever their answer, ask who is in charge of hiring | | | | and bringing in lots of new business, hours will be |
| and if you can send them a copy of your CV to hold | | | | shorter! |
| on file. Tell them you would be very interested in joining | | | | Concentrate on the impression you want to give at |
| should an opportunity become available. Once again | | | | interview. The same person can interview with 5 |
| this will make a very good impression. The recruiter will | | | | different companies and come across completely |
| be telling their manager about your call. Any good | | | | differently at each one. Begin by making good eye |
| recruitment firm is always ready to hire another | | | | contact (without holding on forever like a weirdo) giving |
| consultant. Each new consultant means more money, | | | | a firm handshake, and a smile! Watch how the |
| and more profit. It's just a matter of whether they are | | | | interviewer acts, how they talk, and remember what |
| prepared to train you from scratch or only hire | | | | you think is important to them as the meeting |
| experienced consultants. | | | | progresses. After each interview go home and write |
| Next you want to find as many firms in your area as | | | | out every thing you remember. Several interviews |
| possible to apply to. Use the telephone directory and | | | | along you should have lots of notes to digest. Model |
| Google and local papers. A fantastic resource is the | | | | yourself on the interviewers themselves, and the most |
| website KellySearch where you can look up numerous | | | | important notes you have written down. You will be |
| companies in a particular sector. Record email, | | | | well on your way to having all the knowledge you |
| telephone and website details for all the agencies you | | | | need to give stunningly good interviews from then on. |
| can find. You will be calling through the list, and emailing | | | | At the end of each interview if you have not been |
| them all a copy of your CV. The aim here is to secure | | | | offered the job you must close by telling the manager |
| as many interviews as possible. 3 or 5 interviews | | | | you have been impressed and would love to work |
| down the line and you will have been asked every | | | | with them. Then ask 'What is the next stage?' This |
| question you can imagine. You will be prepared for | | | | makes clear your interest, and ensured that you know |
| anything. No matter how nervous or unprepared you | | | | what happens next and when. If you have done all of |
| were at interview 1 by now you will be relaxed at | | | | the above, I expect you will have been offered the job |
| interview. You can name drop other firms you are | | | | before you have to ask. However, they may have |
| interviewing with and probably offers you have | | | | other applicants to see so you must make your intent |
| received too. | | | | clear. If you are told that you will be contacted in a |
| This makes you appear calm, confident and in demand. | | | | weeks time then press the issue. Say that you 'have |
| A hot prospect who turned up to the office in person | | | | some other offers on the table' and that you 'want to |
| asking for the manager, who has interviews all over | | | | make an informed decision asap'. Follow with 'Is there |
| town, and has already received offers from | | | | anything you are unsure about or you would like to |
| competitor agencies is 100% more likely to receive an | | | | know more, about me?' If the manager has any small |
| offer than a student who emails their CV in and calls a | | | | doubts you will hear them now. Answer well and clear |
| week later to ask if it has been received! | | | | these up and knowing you have other options 9 out of |
| An aspect of recruitment you may not be aware of is | | | | 10 times you will get your offer and the job will be |
| 'Rec2Rec' or Recruitment to Recruitment. Rec2Rec | | | | yours - if you want it. They may not have even had |
| firms help recruiters move from firm to firm and | | | | other people to see, and just been testing your interest. |
| charge agencies for finding them new consultants. | | | | Do not accept a 'no' or a 'not yet' and always press |
| Agencies despise paying fees to Rec2Rec's who are | | | | for a reason why that you can respond to and then |
| basically doing their job for them, and charging a | | | | re-express your interest. Being able to push in a |
| premium. If an agency is looking for a new trainee | | | | negotiation like this is a key part of the recruiter job. If |
| consultant and a Rec2Rec has recently sent them | | | | you get the chance to do this at your interview you |
| several graduate CVs that look good, but then you | | | | must take it. As it is guaranteed to impress the |
| turn up at the door; maybe not as well educated but | | | | manager! |
| obviously confident, well researched, and well | | | | So you got an offer - well done! Do you accept right |
| presented, they will hire you and avoid paying the | | | | away? Well that depends how happy you are with it! |
| Rec2Rec every time! Rec2Recs often source their | | | | If you have several others on the table then you could |
| trainee recruiter candidates from Graduates who have | | | | try and negotiate further. Say that you are really keen |
| posted their CVs online. Use this technique to jump | | | | to accept but you have been offered more by several |
| ahead of them. | | | | other agencies. Tell them you would love to join, and if |
| Your CV | | | | they match X figure then you will accept right away. |
| Recruiters look at thousands of CVs a year so it is | | | | See what you can get on top of the offer. If nothing |
| important that yours is well presented. Have a look | | | | else it will be fun to do. Of course if you are happy |
| online for some examples. Make sure to include an | | | | then go for it. I would still attend any other interviews |
| abstract under your contact details. This is a short | | | | you have booked. You never know, you might like |
| paragraph written in the third person describing your | | | | them more, or get a better offer. You will find every |
| skills and personality. Assuming that you are fresh | | | | agency is different, so having offers from several will |
| from education and have limited experience then you | | | | enable you to choose the one most suited to you, and |
| are aiming for something along the lines of: | | | | what you are looking for. |
| "An enthusiastic and dedicated Graduate who enjoys | | | | So there you go, that's how you can get a job in |
| being part of a successful and productive team. A | | | | Recruitment. It's a fantastic industry to work in, where |
| dynamic and hard working individual with a keen eye | | | | the financial rewards can be substantial. |