How to become a Recruitment Consultant
Recruitment consultants interview applicants to determine their job requirements and suitability for particular jobs, assess their training needs and help employers to find suitable staff. Recruitment consultants in private industry may also specialise; some may work primarily with office and clerical job seekers, while others work only with professional and executive level recruitment. It is possible to specialise by industry — for example, several consultancies recruit exclusively in the computer industry.
Personal requirements for a Recruitment Consultant
- Good intuition and understanding of people's qualities
- Good analytical and decision-making skills
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Tactful and discrete when dealing with people
Education & Training for a Recruitment Consultant
You can work as a recruitment consultant without formal qualifications, but employers usually prefer you to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. You will probably get some informal training on the job.Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have qualifications and you may like to consider a VET course. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.You can also become a recruitment consultant by studying human resource management, behavioural science, psychology or a related field at university. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.The Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) also offers a variety of qualifications and training courses for those wishing to enter the field. Contact the RCSA for more information.
Additional information
With appropriate training and experience, graduates can apply for membership of the RCSA. There is a range of membership types available to those at various stages in their career.
Duties & Tasks of a Recruitment Consultant
Recruitment consultants:
- Interview people looking for work, and record relevant personal and work details to match them with appropriate jobs
- Receive and record job vacancy information from employers
- Organise advertising, interviewing and selection processes for recruitment campaigns
- Conduct and analyse psychometric (personality, behavioural style, ability or aptitude) tests
- Interview jobseekers and prepare shortlists of candidates for referral to prospective employers
- Check references and suitability of applicants before referring to employers
- Prepare résumés and correspondence for suitable applicants to forward to employers
- Advise jobseekers regarding personal presentation at interviews and about their written applications and résumés
- Arrange appropriate training in job skills
- Assist with sales and marketing duties designed to increase the client base, including visiting employers to assess working conditions and discuss consultancy services and fees
- Observe jobs to obtain information about job requirements
- Prepare job descriptions and letters of appointment
- Prepare rosters and duty statements, as well as organise security passes and identification.
Tasks
- Undertakes negotiations on terms and conditions of employment.
- Receives and records job vacancy information from employers such as details about job description, wages and conditions of employment.
- Arranges for advertising of job vacancies, interviewing and testing of applicants, and selection of staff.
- Provides information on current job vacancies in the organisation to employers and job seekers.
Working conditions for a Recruitment Consultant
Consultants in private industry often work long hours to interview jobseekers who are not available during normal business hours.
Employment Opportunities for a Recruitment Consultant
Recruitment consultants are employed in both the public and private sectors. Positions are regularly advertised in metropolitan and national newspapers. Some recruitment consultants also establish their own businesses.
Specializations
Case Manager (Recruitment)
A case manager (recruitment) is an experienced recruitment consultant who provides in-depth, intensive assistance to clients who are having trouble finding work because they have been unemployed for a long time or are disadvantaged.
Recruitment Consultant
Recruitment consultants interview applicants to determine their job requirements and suitability for particular jobs, assess their training needs and help employers to find suitable staff. Recruitment consultants in private industry may also specialise; some may work primarily with office and clerical job seekers, while others work only with professional and executive level recruitment. It is possible to specialise by industry — for example, several consultancies recruit exclusively in the computer industry.
Average age
36
Future Growth
N/A
Gender Share
69% female
Average full-time
41 hours
Weekly Pay
N/A
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
83%
Employment Size
33,000
Employment by state
ACT: 2.1%
NSW: 37.7%
NT: 1.1%
QLD: 17.6%
SA: 5.7%
TAS: 1.4%
VIC: 25.3%
WA: 9.3%
Age brackets
15-19: 0.4%
20-24: 7.8%
25-34: 36.8%
35-44: 27.7%
45-54: 17.1%
55-59: 5.2%
60-64: 3.2%
65 and Over: 1.8%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 16.6%
Bachelor degree: 32.3%
Certificate III/IV: 15.1%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 9.8%
Year 10 and below: 4.6%
Year 11: 2.8%
Year 12: 18.8%
