Why Recruitment May Not Be for You

If you're considering a career in recruitment, you'll find plenty of resources that outline the benefits of the industry and discuss both the rewarding and challenging aspects. However, many of these resources fail to delve into the specific reasons why certain aspects of the job may pose a challenge and how they can impact you in the role. As someone who works in talent acquisition for a recruitment company, I frequently discuss recruitment with people who may not fully understand its realities. One thing that has become apparent to me is that while recruitment can be a fantastic career choice with many benefits and possibilities, it's not suited for everyone.

That's why my best advice to anyone considering a career in recruitment is to do your research. Take the time to learn about what recruitment actually entails, consider its advantages and challenges, and assess whether this career aligns with your personality, interests, and goals. With this in mind, I've written this article to provide more insight into the particular challenges of recruitment and how they can impact those working in the industry. By gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges you may face in recruitment, you'll be better equipped to decide whether this career is the right fit for you.

Long hours

In the recruitment industry, it's common for professionals to work longer hours than the standard 9-to-5 schedule. This can be particularly challenging for new hires, especially those who have recently graduated from university. The reason for this is twofold. First, recruiters need to be flexible with their schedules to communicate with candidates who are often only available outside of their own working hours. Second, recruitment is a fast-paced and demanding industry, and consultants may need to stay late to complete their daily tasks and hit all of their goals.

In London, for example, most recruitment firms start work at 8 am and finish between 6 to 7 pm, depending on the workload. While some individuals may leave on occasion at 5:30 pm for personal commitments, it's not uncommon for recruitment consultants to work long evenings. This can make it difficult to maintain a proper work-life balance, especially for those who commute to London, have extended commitments outside of work, or participate in sports or other activities. Equally, by understanding the demands of the job and finding ways to manage your time effectively, you can learn to maintain a healthy work-life balance whilst also accommodating the longer hours involved.

Working with KPIs

Recruitment is a demanding industry that places a strong emphasis on meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets. These goals are typically centered around candidate and client outreach, booking interviews, and securing placements. A benefit of tracking this work is being able to pay attention to conversions and understanding if your input is returning results. The reason for such a focus on KPIs is that recruiters are given a certain amount of autonomy in deciding where to focus their time and which leads to pursue. As a result, KPIs serve as a crucial tool for evaluating performance and progress. They provide a benchmark against which recruiters can measure their work, helping them to gauge their progress and identify areas for improvement.

By using KPIs, recruiters gain a clear understanding of their normal workload, enabling them to exceed expectations by putting in extra effort when necessary. This is particularly valuable in an industry where success often hinges on being able to deliver results quickly and effectively. The focus on KPIs and targets provides a useful framework for recruiters to evaluate their performance, the key is adjusting to such black-and-white indicators of success and the challenges that presents.

Clear indicators of success

Using quantitative measures whilst helpful can present a significant challenge for recruiters as these metrics offer clear indicators of success, but they also make it easy to compare oneself to colleagues or other professionals in the industry. The recruitment process is fast paced, with a focus on achieving results, and recruiters often discuss their KPIs, number of placements, and commission to demonstrate their success. Recruiters are constantly aware of how well they and their team are performing, and this means having to confront your failures alongside your successes. Working in recruitment will come with good and bad months, and it's essential to recognize that a bad month does not necessarily reflect a lack of skill or effort. Instead, recruiters need the ability to put the hardships behind them and stay motivated and focused to put in the effort to meet targets and wait for it to pay off. Recruitment consultants who keep faith in their hard work and don't let setbacks discourage them are more likely to succeed. Therefore, it's vital to maintain a positive attitude, continuously monitor progress, and adapt to new challenges to overcome recruitment challenges and achieve success in the industry.

Fast-paced environment

Recruitment is a demanding industry where things move at a fast pace, and changes can happen very quickly. This can make it challenging for new recruitment consultants to adapt and succeed in their roles. Recruiters need to have a strong sense of urgency and the ability to determine when immediate action is necessary. This could involve contacting a candidate as soon as they become available, getting in touch with a client as soon as they start hiring, or expediting the interview process before other factors come into play.

However, meeting these demanding timelines requires more than just a sense of urgency, you also need to have excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks based on their importance. This is a critical component of success in recruitment, as the priority of tasks can shift rapidly. Being able to assess your to-do list and determine the most important tasks to focus on is crucial to achieving the best results. It is easy to lose track of your targets or allow things to be pushed back or forgotten and this can lead to a high amount of stress if you allow your workload to become disorganised. Success in recruitment requires a combination of skills, including a strong sense of urgency, excellent time management, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. By prioritizing tasks effectively and taking action, when necessary, you can thrive in this fast-paced industry and achieve great results as a recruitment consultant.

Cold calling

Cold calling in recruitment is a daunting task that requires a great deal of preparation and perseverance. It can be particularly challenging for those who lack experience in the industry or who are not naturally comfortable with sales. The process of reaching out to potential employers or candidates without any prior introduction or arrangement can be intimidating, and it requires a high level of confidence and resilience to withstand the frequent rejections that come with it. Cold calling can also be a time-consuming and emotionally draining process, as it involves a lot of trial and error, testing different approaches and strategies until you finds what works. It can also be challenging to balance the need for persistence with the need to respect people's timelines and not push them too far.

Despite these challenges, cold calling remains a critical part of the recruitment process, as it provides a way to build up a client base and to identify potential candidates who may not be actively looking for a job. It also allows recruiters to develop their sales and communication skills, which are essential for success in the industry. By developing a solid strategy, honing their sales skills, and remaining committed to building relationships with potential clients and candidates, recruiters can overcome the challenges of cold calling and achieve success in their careers.

Dealing with rejection

As I’ve reiterated, recruitment comes with many challenges, and disappointment and rejection is a big part of that. While cold calling may result in a lot of rejection, there are other aspects of the job that can lead to disappointment as well. As a recruiter, a significant portion of your job is working with clients and candidates, and it's important to keep in mind that even when you’re offering advice, selling, and maintaining contact, people can still make decisions that cause a deal to fall through.

Whilst people do get rewards from their hard work, the toughest part of recruitment comes when you're putting in the maximum effort, but things aren't working out. Candidates may take other jobs, clients may hire internally, or finding people to work with may prove challenging. Learning to persevere through rejection and disappointment is one of the most significant learning curves for first time recruiters. While disappointment and rejection are an inevitable part of the job, developing strategies to deal with them and staying motivated during tough times is a critical skill to being successful in the role.

In conclusion, recruitment is a challenging but rewarding industry that requires a unique skill set and mindset. While it may seem that this article is painting recruitment in a negative light, the takeaway should not be to discourage individuals from pursuing it. I have personally experienced the rewards of recruitment and have seen many people find success and fulfillment in the role. However, it's important to approach it with a realistic understanding of what it entails. Rushing into recruitment out of necessity or without considering its impact may lead to a bad experience and people leaving the role after only a few months. As an internal recruiter, my job is to ensure that potential candidates are informed and prepared for the realities of the job. Our approach at Harnham is to give candidates a realistic overview of the industry, rather than just selling benefits, and this leads to better retention and most importantly helps encourage people into the role who will be happy within it.

Ultimately, recruitment isn’t for everyone, and I hope that this article will provide valuable insight for those considering a career in recruitment and help them determine whether it's the right fit for them.