Thinking of Recruitment as a Career? Here's what you need to know.

THINKING OF RECRUITMENT AS A CAREER? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Many (until today) assume that recruitment is an easy job, but for those who have been in it knows this is far from the truth. Good Recruiters are not mere paper-pushers. They operate in a tedious recruitment process that needs to be carefully managed. A Recruiter may not be solving the toughest algorithm questions, but the job is still challenging in its own way, requiring impeccable people management skills that no other job would expect from an individual.

There are two types of Recruiters. The External Recruiters and Internal Recruiters. An Internal Recruiter more often an Employee of the Company’s human resource department, whose responsibility is to fill vacancies within the business. External Recruiters on the other hand don’t work for the Companies that they hire for. They act as a 3rd party agent, and are paid by the Company that they hire for based on Retainer or Contingency agreements.

JOB STABILITY

Internal Recruitment serve as a supporting function for any business, and they usually exist only in bigger firms. Some feels that it gives better job security. However the stability has been questioned in recent years due to market volatility. External Recruiters on the other hand manages their own desk, like operating a smaller business within a bigger one. In comparison, an Internal Recruiter has no control over their own employment, but an External Recruiter does, so long as they continue to generate good revenue for the Company.

EARNINGS

Internal Recruiters usually make fixed earnings between SGD50,000 to SGD100,000 of annual wage, and External Recruiter’ yearly earnings can range from SGD35,000 to SGD300,000 depending on commission structure and bonuses.

JOB NATURE

While it can be possibly financially rewarding for External Recruiters, they will need to hit the reset button for fresh new financial targets when they enter a new month or quarter. Some may find this overly exhausting to follow if money is not the main motivation. On the other hand, an Internal Recruiter's job may appear to be more objective driven in accordance to a Company's needs. All this not the mention a more routined 9 to 6 work which some will be looking for in a job.

External Recruiters can be differentiated into Specialist and Generalist Recruiters. A Specialist Recruiter recruits within a particular or niche industry, usually on higher level jobs with particular skills. Generalists on the other hand have broader focus, and work on a wide variety of positions across different industries. The latter is usually Jack of All Trades, and the earlier an Industry Expert for Recruitment. Unlike Generalists, Specialist Recruiters are also expected to appear more at industry events. The physical presence of Specialist Recruiters allow them to extend their personal network and build stronger work relationship with candidates and clients, nurturing them into a quick and well-informed HR professional. More importantly , be seen as part of the community. ?

In terms of earnings, some argue that a Generalist can navigate across a larger market, hence making it easier to cushion a bad economy. On the flipside, a Specialist Recruiter who operate within a specific sector has the ability to navigate with better clarity to where "money" can be made within their own space.

IS THE JOB FOR EVERYONE?

I would say - No. Recruiters operate in a very fast-paced environment with demanding KPIs to meet. These KPIs can exist as calls made, resume sendouts, interviews arranged, jobs filled or financial targets. It is never a 9 to 6 job, especially for External Recruiters. Never one day is the same for any Recruiter, as they need to adapt well to rapid-changing tasks and hiring managers. They need to be quick to unlearn, and relearn each time they are handed with a new task or Client.

Whether an Internal or External Recruiter, you help people find good jobs that they are not aware of. If you are a natural conversationalist with passion for connecting and helping people, recruitment could be a natural and exciting fit for you.

Talk to us @Direct Search Global if you want to learn more about a career as Recruiter.