The Ups and Downs of a Career in the Recruitment Industry

People often tell you different things about what it's like to work in Recruitment. Some people will say it's the most difficult and "soul-destroying" job you could have. Others will tell you that it's a very satisfying and financially rewarding way to make a living.

But who should we believe? Is it all targets, pressure, and worry, or is the overwhelming emotion experienced in assisting people in finding jobs they'll enjoy the most?

Although facts will vary depending on the individual, the company, and the field, I will provide some broad information regarding the recruitment sector. What follows is, in my opinion, a complete list of the positives and downsides of working in the recruitment sector, and I am confident that many of my colleagues and friends would agree.

The Advantages of Having a Career in Recruitment

There is a wide range of potential success in pursuing a career in recruitment. The following are some of the benefits of working in recruitment:

A high level of independence and freedom (which is an important aspect of meaningful work)

When a candidate decides to accept a new position, it's rewarding to feel like you've done your job.

You get to help people find jobs that make them happy and allow them to reach their goals.

The best thing about the job is that each day is different.

Recruitment involves getting to know people. Many people find the high level of interaction with other people to be rewarding and energizing. The added benefit of this is that you won't have to stay at your desk all day!

A chance to make a lot of money

Opportunities to work across multiple industries. The advantage of this is that you can work in an industry or for a company that you are deeply passionate about. Also, you may want to switch industries if your interests, passion, values, and goals change over time. And it can be useful to change the industry you work for if your specific industry suffers an economic downturn

The chance for quick career progression

You can learn important life skills, like how to be confident in yourself and talk to other people.

The Drawbacks of Working in the Recruiting Industry

There's a lot of competition (which is only bad depending on your personality and attitude towards work)

Spending a lot of time on the phone during the day, which can be exhausting for some.

You'll surely have to learn how to deal with disappointment, as some of your candidates won't get the job.

Work that is focused on getting commissions, which can also be stressful

Being a recruiter can mean working long hours, especially at the start of your career. This could make it hard to find a good balance between work and life.

Candidates can change their minds and turn down a job offer without knowing how much work it would have taken to get them on board.

You will need to deal with challenging candidates, such as those who don't show up for interviews or who consistently fail to react to emails or take your calls. You will have to deal with this.

Based on these pros and cons of working in recruitment, you should be able to decide if this career path fits with your personality, interests, and career goals. If you think you'd be a good recruiter, the next step is to figure out which industry you'd like to work in the most.