Recruitment: A Great Career For New Grads?

Graduation is an exciting time, but for many of you the future that looms after you walk out of the university doors for the last time can feel quite uncertain. Which career should you pick, which employer should you apply for, which path will lead you to success?

These days, so many of your contemporaries have undergraduate degrees that it can be hard to decide what to do next so you can stand out from the pack. Do you want to enrol in further studies, take a year off to travel, or launch yourself straight into the workforce and work your way up? So many choices!

But what if you haven’t even decided on your career at all, you don’t have the money or inclination to travel, and the idea of opening another textbook makes you feel positively ill?

A career in recruitment is a great choice for new graduates.

For many graduates, recruitment is their first choice—offering a career that’s fast-paced, potentially very lucrative, and full of exciting networking opportunities.  Yet even if you’re not so sure it’s a long-term career, it’s a brilliant option for those wanting to get a foothold in the workforce and amass some fantastic skills, quick-smart.

The advantages of a recruitment career

1. It’s easy to get into.

There are normally a lot of jobs available, with a wide range of sectors to choose from, and no specific degree you need to enter.

2. You can make a lot of money.

And just how much you make…is up to you. Time and effort in= Rewards. Recruitment is a target driven environment and if this excites you then you will be well rewarded as a recruiter.

3. You learn how to network like a boss.

You will learn how to talk to everyone you meet, and figure out who’s connected to who, who might be looking for an opportunity, and who the big players are.   You get to take candidates out for coffee, pitch for new business in city boardrooms, and chat to candidates at job fairs.

4. You learn how to sell.

Selling is a highly-prized skill that will stand you in excellent stead no matter what job you end up in.

5. You get a huge sense of satisfaction.

You know that your job matters- that the staff you place can make the difference between a company’s success and failure, and that you can transform a candidate’s life for the better by finding them a great role.

6. You learn to be uber-organised.

Your day will move between emailing, calling clients and candidate coffee dates to attending networking events and talent mapping so you know who to approach next. It’s all go in a recruitment career, and it’s exciting.

7. You get quite a lot of autonomy in your work.

If you don’t like to be micromanaged, a recruitment career can be a very good choice.  Your supervisor will give you targets and advice, but a recruiter is generally fairly free to follow their own path to get to the goal (as long as you produce results.) The more success you have, the more leeway you’re given!

8. You will meet a wide array of people who are doing interesting things.

In a diverse recruitment career you’ll meet all sorts of people from academics to innovators, from artists to engineers.

9. You’ll learn so very much about many jobs, in many industries. 

It’s fascinating to get an insight into how different workplaces function, as well as different industries. If you’re only considering recruitment as a short-term career choice, this insight into different occupations and corporate cultures can be immensely valuable so you can plot your own next move.

10. You’ll learn a lot about people.

You will see candidates at their most nervous, and their most euphoric. You’ll deal with clients who want to hug you, and ones that will put all the blame for a bad hire at your feet. Every single client and candidate interaction you have is building your people-skills.

11. You will have endless variety in your work.  

There’s a constant motion of new opportunities and people, meaning that it is impossible to get bored as long as you’re putting genuine effort in and recognising all the potential around you.

12. You will learn to interview brilliantly.

Think about it- not only will you learn how to interview candidates, but you’ll also get a lot of knowledge about where candidates often go wrong.  Imagine how this information might come in handy in your own future job interviews!

13. People will always want to be on your good side! 

We all look for great jobs throughout our career, and everyone knows the value of a great recruiter.

14. You’ll become a whiz at technology and using different forms of communication.
Recruiting tools such as software and databases are constantly changing, while you’ll also be communicating with candidates via social media and job platforms.

15. There are great opportunities to fast-track your career.

Because there are no degree requirements or heavy training programs, you’ll know just how good you are within a matter of months- and if you’ve got clear potential, you’ll quickly be promoted.

Recruitment is therefore a superb career choice for graduates who want to find a job easily, make money fast, get promoted quickly, build diverse skills, and have an exciting career full of interesting people and worthwhile work.

Until next time,

Cheryl