Things to Know Before Taking Up an International Students Recruitment Job

The international student recruitment industry, though established in various forms across different types of organizations, did not receive the same level of attention and intensity as it does now, compared to the pre-COVID outbreak era around 2019–2020. Just like the "less is more" paradox, the growth the industry experienced following the COVID outbreak was considered to be unprecedented.

This was a season when flights were halted, movements were restricted, businesses failed, and most people resorted to online courses in place of in-person classes. Potentially, the international student recruitment industry could have experienced a major steep decline, but for the slight turbulence which affected a few intakes, the growth experienced came as a "positive shock" to the industry.

At this point, I am wondering if we will ever stop talking about COVID.

The demand for international studies spiked; thus, universities struggled to manage applications, and the market became more interesting and diverse for even education agents to assist universities' recruitment processes.

As a result, the more people show interest in studying abroad, the more applications the universities get, then the more education agents & partners are needed to streamline the application and vetting processes. Hence, a resultant availability of jobs to take up in the international students recruitment industry.

One of the most popular jobs is in the sales arm of the sector, which comes in various forms and job titles. The common ones have been tagged "Education Counsellor," "Admission Counsellor," "Student Support Staff," "International Student Recruitment Counsellor," etc.

Regardless of the shape and size of the job titles, they are mainly to perform one key duty. That is to be at the forefront of the market, engage with prospects, and support their application process till they resume in their desired study destination.

It is an honourable job if the applicant is lucky enough to work with a reputable firm, as the increase in demand has equally paved the way for crooked actors infiltrating the industry as well.

In this episode, I will talk about the pros & cons of the job role, what to look for when applying to a firm, what to do to prepare you for a role in the industry to help you ace your job interview, and what you need to keep doing in the role.

PROS

1. NETWORKING

One of the most impressive benefits of working as an education counsellor or admission counsellor in the international students recruitment industry, especially in the UK higher education sector, is that you get to build meaningful connections with people who are important to your role. These include but are not limited to university representatives, lecturers, other education counsellors at other firms, students (who are often top players in their fields), and governing body officials.

Building these connections helps you to grasp the importance of the role and understand its impact from various lenses. It also gives you access to other opportunities within the industry, provided you want to grow into other roles within the industry. After all, your role is considered to simply be at the bottom of the hierarchy in the sector.

To work your way up, build meaningful connections.

2. TRAINING

You never have to figure things out alone or work alone. The governing bodies such as British Council, UKCISA, pathway providers, universities, and agencies provide different forms of training at various levels to ensure you are up to date with trending information and skills that are needed to efficiently perform your tasks as an education counsellor.

These include the basic understanding of how the higher education system works, key information about recruitment, how to support prospective students, work ethics, product knowledge, escalation paths, etc. You should prepare your mind for continuous learning.

You never graduate; you only transition.

Before applying for the next role, take the basic courses provided by these governing bodies as it will give you an edge in your interviews and prepare you for the role right away.

3. INDUSTRY INSIGHT

There are intricacies and insider information that you benefit from being an education counsellor. This includes university rankings, deadlines, recruitment analysis data by different organizations based on different metrics, trends, immigration policy changes, scholarships, discount opportunities, and lots more.

Aside from being of benefit to your job and building your product knowledge per academic intake, it helps you as a person to learn more of the important stuff. One key benefit that stands out to me is the potential to understand and know more about various course options and choices.

You get to understand the importance of each program in-depth, and in turn, you are armed with the potential to guide prospective students rightly. This tends to be more useful when you have students who desire to switch fields through their university degree.

Such persons will need your full attention and knowledge to help them make the right decisions.

4. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES & SKILL DEVELOPMENT

This largely depends on the employer and your own exposure to opportunities. Usually, agencies will have a multi-level organizational structure in the form of an organogram, creating a clear pathway to growth, both professionally and financially.

Also, there are follow-up courses available to help build your soft skills, which all build up over time. However, you need to double-check every contract to be sure the organization has a growth plan for you, or you will have to figure things out on your own.

However, it is okay to warn ahead that most agencies in the sector do not have any solid plan in place for your growth.

You might have to take the bull by the horns and own your growth.

5. FINANCIAL STABILITY

Let's imagine a world where all promises are kept, and contract terms are honoured by employers, and you do not have to scratch and beg for appraisals and salary increases—being an education counsellor can be pretty much financially rewarding. Recall that I said we should imagine a perfect world.

Ideally, education counsellors have two payment structures: the base salary and commissions, with the commissions being the big icing on the cake.

However, your base salary should be decent and fitting for the lifestyle you desire. You need to go armed to the teeth when going in for interviews because you most likely cannot have a side hustle working as an education counsellor.

Hence, ensure you are being paid what gets your bills paid and secures a brighter future for you as well.

CONS

1. WORK SCHEDULE

Most employers will typically declare your work hours to be Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or anything around that limit. However, you should bear in mind that the nature of the job requires you to work on people's dreams, passions, and desires.

In addition to the tasks done in suit and tie, you have anxious prospects with various levels of anxiety and misinformation waking you by 3 a.m. to express their worries. You need to be available to reassure them that you are on top of the situation while providing them with accurate information.

Also, the average employer will subtly hint that they expect you to be reachable outside of working hours, which, if you do not draw necessary lines, will result in you working round the clock and burning out more often—or being burnt out through your entire career.

Therefore, you want to be watchful of the jobs you take and the contracts you sign to ensure that you are aware of the possibilities that you may sometimes work out of office hours engaging people or preparing to engage people when you resume work.

2. DEPENDENCIES

However fast you like to work, the industry is a controlled environment. Things have to be checked and reviewed at multiple levels to ensure mistakes are not made. The most minute errors can cause the biggest damage to a client's financial investment in their education.

Hence, you may be subjected to compliance terms and checks. Your work will definitely be slowed down by universities, and you will have to chase for admission offers, CAS letters, and interview bookings. Looking on the bright side, it gives you room to breathe, doesn't it?

3. HIGH EXPECTATIONS

All eyes are on you! Your employer wants you to rack in the numbers, converting as many students as possible, ensuring they get their desired courses at the company's choice universities, while reducing the cost of operation.

The students are expecting you to get them the cheapest offers within the shortest time possible with a very small number of tasks for them to do. That is to help you visualize the nature of expectations that might be on you as an education counsellor.

It is a far-reaching expectation for an untrained person, but with all the training and guides available, you will be able to figure things out.

4. NO ROOM FOR ERRORS

As previously stated, the smallest errors can amount to the biggest life-changing mishaps in the life of your prospect, leading to losses in the tune of millions or thousands (depending on the currency being considered).

While we are all humans and are more prone to imperfection than perfection, you need to follow your company's policies and governing body standards to ensure these errors are reduced to the barest minimum. It is possible to have no errors at all. It is.

5. ENDLESS READING

Fair warning! If you do not like to read, DO NOT TAKE THE JOB! A lot of the vital industry news, product information, terms and conditions, offers, and much more are written documents and emails that have to be read word for word, patiently.

Reading through documents in the sector requires lots of reading between the lines and referring to previous written communication, which are all co-dependent and interdependent. You have a high chance of success if you are able to diligently read through documents.

These also include student application documents, which will mostly involve spotting errors and indications of forgery. To succeed in your role as an education counsellor or any other related field, you need to fall in love with reading diligently.

CONCLUSION AND TIPS FOR ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS

Before joining any organization as an education counsellor, understand that your job might take you through a roller coaster of emotions.

Joy when your student successfully enrolls at a university with their visa in hand, and disappointment from various angles and desks when you lose a prospect to a competitor, university rejection, or visa refusal. Yet, it remains a respectable and rewarding role.

Reputation is a common currency in the sector. When scouting for a firm, agency, or university to join as an education counsellor, you need to be sure of their reputation and records in the industry. Double-check their registration with governing bodies, company culture, and ultimately, their employee satisfaction rating.

Being a demanding job, you need a healthy place to land and a supportive team behind you. Finding that out is the least you can do for yourself.

Do not be desperate to get in, as you may eventually be desperate to exit within a short period of time.

I'll love to keep in touch with people with like minds.

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